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FirstNet Enables Remote Training, Enhanced Mapping Capabilities for Emergency Management in Pennsylvania
Indiana County is located approximately 60 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. Covering roughly 834 square miles with more than 80,000 residents, Indiana County is home to historic sites, outdoor adventures, and more than 250 cultural events each year....
Gov. Ivey introduces new technology upgrade to support public safety at Redstone Arsenal
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – Thursday Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and U.S Army officials announced new technology that they say will transform the military installation’s infrastructure in the future by boosting first responder and security personnel’s wireless...
Toledo Fire & Rescue calls increased (OH)
TFRDPvt. Sterling Rahe says that you can reduce the burden by asking yourself if you are really dealing with an emergency before calling 911. Toledo, Ohio — Toledo Fire Rescue Department Is dealing with a significant increase in telephones and is having a major impact...
St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office needs more dispatchers to meet growth (FL)
As the county's population continues to multiply by leaps and bounds, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is the looking to hire a growing number of dispatchers to handle an influx of 911 calls. Technically called public safety telecommunicators, those who fill the...
She gives birth at home thanks to the instructions of 911 (UT)
A 911 dispatcher from the state of Utah in the United States was able to guide a couple through the birth of their baby. The dispatcher only had a few months of experience in this position. Laura Meyerink was due to give birth on November 29. It was rather on the 18th...
Longtime N’West Iowa EMS workers honored (IA)
ORANGE CITY—Two N’West Iowa emergency medical services personnel who each have more than two decades of experience in the field were recently recognized for their outstanding work. Seventy-year-old Aiko Kamies of Boyden was inducted into the Iowa Emergency Medical...
The FirstNet Network: Prepared, aware, and ready for hurricane season
By Bruce Fitzgerald, First Responder Network Authority Senior Public Safety Advisory When hurricanes strike, many communities become vulnerable to high winds and widespread flooding that can cause injury and damage infrastructure. Communities in a storm’s path are...
Dorchester Co. developing first public safety strategic plan (SC)
DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Dorchester County public safety leaders are developing the county’s first strategic plan for public safety, and they’re using a survey to get feedback from the community. The county wants to create a “collaborative vision for public...
KITTCOM rolls out text-to-911 feature Wednesday (WA)
Kittitas County residents will have an entirely new way to summon first responders beginning Wednesday. KITTCOM is rolling out its text-to-911 service after months of preparations. The service will allow certain demographics, including the hearing impaired to make...
BC 911 Operators Can Now Hang Up On Callers Waiting For Ambulances (Canada)
The people who answer 911 calls in BC may disconnect if their callers wait on the line for an ambulance, according to new changes by the county’s largest 911 dispatcher. Allowing 911 operators to hang up allows them to take more calls in total, including urgent police...
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...
SURVEY
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.
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Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
PSBTA UPDATES
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.
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GRANTS
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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