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New 911 plan saves money for Mishawaka, county and makes libraries, small towns pay a share (IN)
The last time St. Joseph County officials considered carving out a chunk of income tax money to pay for the 911 dispatch center, the plan stalled after backlash from libraries, townships and other public agencies that would lose money. Now, officials are once again...
AT&T opens sub-6 GHz 5G access for FirstNet in 10 cities
AT&T on Monday said first responders that are signed on to FirstNet now have access to its low-band flavor of 5G in 10 cities. In the 10 locations, FirstNet users can tap the carrier’s sub-6 GHz 5G spectrum, and they include: Austin; Charlotte, North Carolina;...
Crittenden County communications center struck by lightning; 911 calls routed to West Memphis (AR)
CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. (WMC) - The Crittenden County communication center was struck by lightning Friday afternoon. Phone lines are down following the lightning strike, causing police, medical, and fire emergency 911 to be re-routed to West Memphis. The Crittenden...
Holbrook Select Board Recognizes HRECC Director Steve Hooke on APCO International Director of the Year (MA)
HOLBROOK -- The Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center is pleased to announce that Director Stephan Hooke was honored earlier this week by several local and state representatives regarding him being named 2021 International Director of the Year by the...
Broadband advocates disappointed in Waldo County’s early plan for stimulus money (ME)
Waldo County officials plan to invest roughly $3 million in federal stimulus money in upgrades to emergency services infrastructure, disappointing broadband advocates in the region who were hopeful that more would be dedicated to investing in high-speed internet. The...
Now Hiring: Urgent need for 911 dispatchers in Rock Co. (WI)
JANESVILLE, Wis. (WMTV) - 911 dispatchers are in high demand across the country and in Rock County. Rock County 911 Communications Center is currently hiring for seven 911 Telecommunicators. Kathy Sukus, the 911 Communications Director, says always tough to hire...
St. Pauls leaders learn the town needs to upgrade its emergency dispatch services (NC)
Town leaders here learned Thursday an update is needed soon or the emergency services system will default to county 911 services. St. Pauls dispatches its calls through a landline system and functions as a PSAP, or public safety answering point, and does not contract...
Council hears presentation on 9-1-1 funding, honors local hero (TX)
The Harker Heights City Council on Tuesday heard a presentation by Jim Reed, executive director of the Central Texas Council of Governments, concerning the funding of the 9-1-1 program for Bell County. The Texas Health and Safety Code was amended to establish ment of...
County dispatch center back up and running after sprinkler incident (KS)
The Ellis County Dispatch Center is back up a running after flooding from a sprinkler head activation caused significant damage to equipment. On Monday, Aug. 2 at about 5 p.m. workers soldering on the dispatch center’s HVAC accidentally set off a fire suppression...
Firefighters join Lawton dispatch due to staff shortages (OK)
LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - City of Lawton officials said some firefighters and city workers will fill staff vacancies at the Emergency Communications Center. The firefighters and other staff members who are familiar with the inner workings of the center have been...
Powhatan County Leading in Public Safety Communications Innovation among Rural 911 Centers County’s modernization initiative enables it to provide next generation 911 services to citizens (VA)
Powhatan County today announced a number of next-generation 911 (NG911) enhancements to their 911 Center (known as a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)),...
Letter: Police officers see no merit in regional 911 system (MA)
Photo by Orin Zebest via Flickr Please Support Local Advertisers The members of the Ipswich Police Association respectfully offer our views, and objections to the proposed closing of the Ipswich Emergency Communications Center and subsequent transition of emergency...
FirstNet Authority seeks input on potential solutions to off-network challenges
FirstNet Authority officials released a request for information (RFI) seeking input about direct-mode and other technological solutions to address the issue of providing broadband communications support “off-network”—when first responders are in a location not...
With hospitals overwhelmed by COVID cases, Brevard asks residents to use 9-1-1 sparingly (FL)
Officials in Brevard County are asking residents to limit 9-1-1 calls to “true emergencies” because of long waits at local hospitals inundated with COVID-19 patients. The recent surge in hospitalizations have overwhelmed facilities, some of which have had to divert...
St. Pauls leaders learn the town needs to upgrade its emergency dispatch services (NC)
St. Pauls — Town leaders here learned Thursday an update is needed soon or the emergency services system will default to county 911 services. St. Pauls dispatches its calls through a landline system and functions as a PSAP, or public safety answering point, and does...
TO THE RESCUE: Emergency first responders save ‘victims’ during mock exercise (OK)
Local emergency first responders on Thursday, Aug. 12, held a full-scale mock exercise, during which hazardous chemicals were sprayed on “civilians.” The full-scale exercise began with a classroom session at the Tahlequah Fire Training Center, Aug. 10-11. “All...
Watertown Police Dispatchers Receive Safety Communications Awards (CT)
WATERTOWN — The Watertown Police Department Administration and Communications Administration congratulated Dispatcher Patricia Bessette and Dispatcher Melissa Bostick, as they had been selected as the Atlantic Chapter of the Association of Public-Safety Communications...
8-Year-Old 911 Caller Tours MCPD Center (MD)
On Sunday, July 25, 8-year-old Carson called 911 to help his grandfather who was in distress. He carefully followed all of the instructions he was given. And his grandfather responded favorably. In recognition of his quick thinking and assistance to his grandfather,...
Report: Alaska’s cellphone emergency alert system malfunctioned during the last earthquake
Aug. 11—State and federal officials say they still don't know why many Anchorage and Mat-Su residents received cellphone emergency alerts during a tsunami warning in late July. Anchorage is at almost no risk of a tsunami, even during a large earthquake, and the...
Falls man dials 9-1-1, refuses treatment, gets charged with felonies (KY)
On Sunday morning at approximately 4:27 a.m., the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 240 block of Blue Bird Road in Falls of Rough to assist Grayson County EMS and the Falls of Rough Volunteer Fire Department with a patient who had called to report...
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.
PETITIONS
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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