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Newton County launches Text-to-911 service for emergency situations (MO)
NEWTON COUNTY, Mo. (KY3) - Newton County Central Dispatch has announced that dispatchers are now accepting Text-to-911 cases. Text-to-911 is a service that can be used in an emergency when making a call is not possible. It is meant to help if a caller is deaf or...
Fairhaven PD unveils Sully’s dispatch center (MA)
This plaque hangs in the foyer of the Fairhaven Police Department, where all who enter can see the smiling face of Michael A. “Sully” Sullivan, and read his story and the reasons the dispatch center was named after him. Photo by Beth David. By Beth David, Editor By...
Study: 911 system consolidation in Sebastian County feasible; cost savings possible (AR)
Call volumes The call center at the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office received 13,070 emergency calls and 78,500 nonemergency/administrative calls in 2020, which comes to a total of 91,570 calls. The Fort Smith Police Department call center got 57,045 emergency calls...
Menominee County joins Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)
MENOMINEE, Mich. (WJMN) – According to Menominee County 911, the Menominee County Board of Commissioners approved a plan to replace the county’s more than 20-year-old emergency communications system. The County began working with GCCSS Consulting in early 2020 to...
Harrison County Commission discusses 911 dispatcher pay raises (WV)
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — The Harrison County Commission discussed pay increases for E-911 workers, restructuring of Charles Pointe tax increment financing bonds and voter precinct redistricting during a special work session held Wednesday. Following discussions...
Dispatchers get tech to pinpoint 911 callers (CA)
SAN BERNARDINO — The communications center that runs the dispatch for San Bernardino County Fire Department and handles all 911 calls for fire or emergency medical services is working with new partners and technology to accurately track cellphones during 911 calls....
Emergency 911 text now available to residents in Grosse Pointe communities, Harper Woods (MI)
GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. – Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 30, citizens anywhere in the Grosse Pointe communities and Harper Woods will be able to send text messages directly to 911 in case of an emergency. Having the option to text during an emergency is beneficial to...
Public Safety Advocate: PSSA 4.9 GHz Filing with FCC, How to File
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance’s (PSSA) stay request for the previous FCC’s plan to take back the 50 MHz of 4.9-GHz spectrum it had granted to public safety in 2002. Claiming it is under-utilized, the FCC...
At Bloomington’s 911 dispatch center, helping others makes the tough days worth it (IL)
The Bloomington Communications Center is the first dispatch center in Illinois to earn accreditation from the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch in part for its handling of calls with diligence and respect. That's not an easy thing to do in the middle of a...
Demonstrating Priority and Preemption in the Boulder FirstNet Lab
By Kim Coleman Madsen, Senior Public Safety Advisor, First Responder Network Authority The Boulder FirstNet Lab is a state-of-the-art laboratory in which the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) tests public safety functionality and...
Stephen Whitaker: Local leaders must get involved in planning public-safety network (VT)
This commentary is by Stephen Whitaker of Montpelier, an author who has worked for 30 years on integrating planning, government transparency and accountability, public records access and more recently utility networks resiliency. We should all take some time to...
Staffing crisis impacting response to 911 calls in Seattle (WA)
SEATTLE - Calls for help are sometimes meeting long delays as the city’s 911 system finds itself understaffed and overwhelmed. It is a potentially critical collapse in Seattle's public safety net and it could be months before the problem is solved. Until then, a...
Washington County Emergency Services gets updated 911 technology (MD)
WILLIAMSPORT, Md. (WDVM) — A new system has been installed at the Washington County Emergency Services Center. The new system is called Next Generation 911. It helps more accurately depict where a caller is calling from when they need help. READ MORE
911 technology upgrades, projects across NC awarded $14 million; new grants for PSAP … (NC)
RALEIGH — The N.C. 911 Board has approved $8.45 million in grants to 12 local public safety answering points and $6 million for three statewide projects. The grants will fund improvements to 911 PSAPs, radio-and-dispatch equipment upgrades and creation of new Public...
Carteret commissioners approve 12.5% raise for 911 communications center staff in effort to … (NC)
In an effort to better recruit and retain workers in the field, the Carteret County Board of Commissioners recently approved a 12.5% across-the-board pay increase for employees in the emergency communications center. According to information from Carteret County...
Meriden Pension Board votes down early retirement for dispatchers union leader – Record-Journal (CT)
MERIDEN — The city’s pension board earlier this month voted not to approve an early retirement application with normal benefits for emergency communications dispatcher Elizabethan Marotti. Marotti, who serves as president of the union that represents...
Harrisonburg-Rockingham ECC maintains accreditation by CALEA – Augusta Free Press (VA)
The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center was awarded national accreditation on Nov. 19 by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies in the communications program. The agency was first accredited in November 2011. Following a...
City of Lawton names deputy director of Emergency Communications (OK)
Richard Franz has been named the Deputy Director of the City of Lawton’s Emergency Communications Department. As deputy director, Franz will be responsible for coordinating, directing, evaluating and supervising the work of the emergency communications center’s...
911 goes digital to allow texts, photos and video (Canada)
Grey County is renewing its contract with Owen Sound Police Services, which is its 911 public safety answering point, dispatching emergency responders. The new contract includes a small share of the costs for equipping the OSPS service for coming changes to emergency...
Newton County launches Text-to-911 service for emergency situations (MO)
NEWTON COUNTY, Mo. (KY3) - Newton County Central Dispatch has announced that dispatchers are now accepting Text-to-911 cases. Text-to-911 is a service that can be used in an emergency when making a call is not possible. It is meant to help if a caller is deaf or...
Reauthorization SurveyMORE>
PSBTA Releases Survey on First Responder Support for FirstNet Reauthorization
New Survey: First Responders Overwhelmingly Support Reauthorization of FirstNet
A new bipartisan national survey commissioned by the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association finds near- unanimous support among first responders for reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority)– the agency overseeing America’s dedicated public safety broadband network.
PETITIONSMORE>
Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
PSBTA UpdatesMORE>
Podcast
FirstNet and the 4.9 GHz Spectrum
This episode dives into the critical evolution of public safety communications, focusing on the recent FCC decision to establish a nationwide Band Manager framework for the 4.9 GHz spectrum, and discuss the evolution and deployment of the FirstNet System. Host Chris Tubbs interviews Chief Jeff Johnson, a leader in public safety technology and the development of FirstNet. Together, they explore the history, governance, and transformative potential of FirstNet and the 4.9 GHz spectrum in enhancing public safety operations with emerging technologies like AI, 5G, and augmented reality. The discussion emphasizes the importance of protecting and optimizing public safety spectrum, the lessons learned from past advocacy efforts, and a call to action for public safety leaders to remain engaged in ensuring the spectrum’s effective use and governance.
LISTEN TO PODCAST
Public Sector GrantsMORE>
Webinar
Accessing Federal Resources When an Emergency or Major Disaster Strikes
In light of the major disasters that our nation has recently experienced, PS Grants is offering this FREE webinar to review Disaster Assistance Programs and how to access them. Learn what federal funds and resources are available through Disaster Assistance, understand the process of requesting assistance, know what to expect before, during, and after, and find out who to contact for help.
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