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Most proposed NG911 funding slashed from latest reconciliation-bill text
About 95% of once-proposed federal funding to accelerate next-generation-911 (NG911) deployment nationwide was eliminated from the text of the $1.75 trillion reconciliation bill that was released yesterday, although the $500 million included still would be the largest...
Hamilton County 911 Emergency Communications District To Provide Feedback Service (TN)
Residents of Hamilton County on Wednesday will be some of the first in the state to use a new citizen satisfaction and feedback solution after a call for service to Hamilton County 9-1-1 Unified Emergency Communications Center. This new service uses text messaging to...
Hank Investigates: 911 Pocket Dials (MA)
(WHDH)– What if police couldn’t answer your 911 call because they were tied up investigating a mistake: Someone who called by accident. 7 Investigates found the number of those calls is increasing, and they’re diverting emergency crews away from people really need...
Washington County 911 system levy to be on ballots (OH)
MARIETTA, Ohio. (WTAP) - A Washington County 911 system levy will be on next week’s ballots. Chief Deputy Mark Warden says this levy is an important part of operating the 911 system. It came into play five years ago due to operating costs surpassing the revenue made....
New Research Suggests 911 Call Centers Lack Resources to Handle Behavioral Health Crises
Every year, millions of 911 calls involve a person experiencing an emergency related to a mental health or substance use disorder—situations often referred to as behavioral health crises.1 How these calls are handled can determine whether the incident ends...
Momentum builds toward 988 line, other mental health crisis advances
Weber Area 911 dispatcher Matt Graves works at dispatch and emergency services on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019. It started when a young woman desperately sought help in a mental health crisis and her call went to voicemail. She then took her life. State Rep. Steve...
Holy Hill concerns amid communications tower plan (WI)
TOWN OF ERIN, Wis. - The well-known view from Holy Hill could be changing. Washington County is considering building a communications tower not too far from the iconic church that, in fall, offers one of the most iconic views in the state. Holy Hill draws visitors...
DIU test portable private 5G network for responders
DIU test portable private 5G network for responders To improve communications for public safety, the Defense Innovation Unit announced a year-long test of a private, portable, wireless 5G network for first responders in California, including the California National...
National First Responders Day Is Thursday (TN)
National First Responders Day is Thursday. The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board “recognize the bravery, heroism and commitment to training by Tennessee’s emergency communicators on National First...
BC’s 911 Dispatcher staff flagged understaffed until a year before the deadly heat wave (Canada)
A senior executive at British Columbia’s emergency dispatch agency had expressed concern about the shortage of personnel that killed more than 500 people until a year before the historic heat dome in June. An email released through a request for freedom of information...
Report: Trenton first responders ‘negatively impacted’ by 345 incidents with radio system (NJ)
TRENTON — So that’s why legislators don’t want to pay. As Trenton faces a looming deadline to fork over $218K to MPS Communications in unpaid bills, a new report points to 345 incidents when communications between first responders was “negatively impacted.” At least...
911 Crisis Center: What It’s Like To Work At Emergency Dispatch
When someone is choking, what do you do? What if there's a fire? Or gunshots at the neighbor's house? What if someone is about to deliver a baby? We don't blame you if you wouldn't know how to properly handle even one of those scenarios. But for 911 dispatchers, they...
Sylvania Participates in Lucas County’s Integrated 911 Dispatch Program (OH)
Lucas County, Ohio — The area around the Sylvanian Police Station is very quiet. As of October 26, it is one of three regions in the Lucas County region that has already postponed 911 dispatch calls to the Lucas County Emergency Services Building in downtown Toledo....
Stafford Police Communications Division Wins Accreditation (NJ)
Pictured from left right: Dispatcher Frank Ciraulo, Lieutenant James Haldenwang, Captain James Vaughn, Retired Chief Harry Delgado, Accreditation Manager Thomas Preiser, and Dispatcher Dan Rooney. (Photo courtesy Stafford Police) STAFFORD – The Stafford Township...
Public Safety Advocate: FirstNet Record Adds, In-Vehicle FirstNet and LMR, NextNav’s New Partnership, Biden Nominates Rosenworcel
FirstNet (Built with AT&T) just closed out its best quarter for new users. Numbers at the end of September 2021 show 18,500 agencies and 2.8 million individual users are now on the FirstNet network. Increased user numbers are a result of more agencies finding that...
Barrington ‘excited’ about planned switch of 911 provider (IL)
Barrington plans to join Northwest Central Dispatch System, which provides 911 services to its neighboring communities, in a move that will be beneficial to the village, officials said. The agreement with Northwest Central Dispatch System was approved by the village...
Prop. 2 would modernize 911 with $41 million (WA)
By Mike De Felice Special to Bainbridge Island Review It’s 2 a.m. and a police officer has pulled over a driver on an isolated rural road on suspicion of driving under the influence. The officer calls for back-up before approaching the vehicle, but emergency dispatch...
11 Leaders Appointed to FirstNet Board, New Board Chair Named
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo appointed 11 public safety, technology, and finance leaders to serve on the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board. Stephen Benjamin, mayor of Columbia, SC, was named the FirstNet Authority’s new board...
Guilfoyle to end medical dispatch service, hand over to Jefferson County (NY)
WATERTOWN — After 30 years, Guilfoyle Ambulance Services is giving up its emergency medical dispatch services, handing them over to Jefferson County. The ambulance service, a private company that has provided emergency medical services in Jefferson County since 1973,...
San Diego City Council OKs $51M Public Safety Radio Contract With Motorola (CA)
A radio tower. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons The San Diego City Council unanimously approved a 10-year contract with Motorola Solutions Inc. Monday for a $51 million public safety radio modernization program. The contract will help the city switch its first responders’...
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.
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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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