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NG911 funding not included in $1 trillion bipartisan Senate infrastructure proposal
Federal funding to accelerate deployment of IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) technology is not included in the bipartisan infrastructure bill introduced in the U.S. Senate, according to the text of the massive $1.2 trillion spending package that was released...
Carriers, Public Safety Weigh In on 9-1-1 Outage Notification Requirements
Wireless carriers and public-safety organizations weighed in on the FCC’s proposal for changing its rules governing notification of disruptions to 9-1-1 service to public-safety answering points (PSAPs). In April, the FCC released a third notice of proposed rulemaking...
Senators Markey and Rubio Applaud Commerce Committee Passage of “Secure Equipment Act”
Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) today applauded the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s markup of their bipartisan legislation, the Secure Equipment Act of 2021. This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to adopt rules clarifying that it will no longer review or issue new equipment licenses to companies – such as the People’s Republic of China state-backed firms Huawei and ZTE – on the agency’s “Covered Equipment or Services List” that pose a national security threat. The FCC is required to maintain this list under the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019, which laid out detailed criteria for determining what communications equipment or services pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. safety.
Utah dispatcher arrested for possession of child porn
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – A former Utah dispatcher has been arrested for possession of child pornography. Court records show an arrest warrant was issued in Utah for 34-year-old Rex Long’s arrest. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on July 29 on the warrant...
Schmidt column: 911 hang-ups pose challenges (WI)
{{featured_button_text}} Law enforcement has a responsibility to respond to 911 calls for service and we do so every day. Many of those 911 calls end up being hang-ups in which someone calls 911 accidentally. Other times individuals call 911 and then hang up because...
Lycoming County Public Safety says they will begin implementing ‘Text-to-911’ capabilities (PA)
Williamsport, Pa. - Lycoming County's public safety department is changing the way in which citizens may report emergencies. According to a release issued by the department, Lycoming County is now using 'Text-to-911', with all four of its carriers deployed. The county...
Gaithersburg-Germantown chamber honors dozens for exemplary public safety work
The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce on Friday honored dozens of law enforcement and public safety workers on Friday in an annual recognition event. The 16th Annual Public Safety Awards presentation was produced in advance and posted on YouTube. The...
Hudson’s $1.2 million public safety radio system gets up and running (MA)
By Justin Roshak, Contributing Writer Hudson’s fire station headquarters sit at 296 Cox Street. (Photo/Laura Hayes) HUDSON – A major upgrade to Hudson’s public safety radio system is nearly complete. It offers the police and fire departments higher performance and...
Mistaken 9-1-1 Call Leads To Impromptu Basketball Game With Waxhaw Police (NC)
A mistaken 9-1-1 call led to an impromptu basketball game with Waxhaw Police over the weekend. 9-1-1 dispatchers received a hangup call Saturday afternoon in which they heard screaming in the background. They sent officers to check out the situation. When the...
Tampa police set to launch a mental health co-response program for answering crisis calls (FL)
PHOTO BY DAVE DECKERCommunity activists in Tampa have been calling for changes in the conventional police response to mental health crises. And in its own way, the city is now heeding the call. After more than a year of debate between Tampa city leaders and community...
Sheriff’s office launches text message tip line (KY)
FLOYD COUNTY Ky. (WSAZ) - Starting Monday, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office launched a text message tip line. These messages will go straight to deputies in their cruisers. “It would increase the response time and speed of how we react to something that requires...
Bakersfield City Council to vote on placing mental health clinician in 911 dispatch center (CA)
Due to the mental health crisis, the number of calls to the Bakersfield Police Department dispatch center was the highest. Currently, the city wants to have an expert in charge of these calls before the police have to respond. On Wednesday, Bakersfield City Council...
Law enforcement needs your help to reduce 911 hang-ups (WI)
DODGE COUNTY (WKOW) -- The Dodge County Sheriff's Office is asking for your help to reduce the number of 911 hang-up calls they receive. The sheriff's office said law enforcement has a responsibility to respond to 911 calls even when a caller hangs up, and that is...
City streamlining non-emergency call operations (OH)
The city says they are merging some call operations between the Lucas County Sheriff's Office and Toledo Police. A change is coming to the way the Toledo Police Department handles non-emergency phone calls. Gretchen Debacker, legislative director with Mayor Wade...
As crime rates soar 9-1-1’s location flaw is exposed
It’s a terrifying scenario, it’s 2:37 AM, you’re asleep in your own bed and suddenly you’re awakened by sound, a criminal has broken into your home. You pick up your cell phone and dial 9-1-1, the operator answers, you’re frightened and trying to be quiet so the...
911 Center Design Considerations for Dispatcher Mental Health
More often than not, an experience that involves interaction with a 911 dispatcher is often a part of someone's “worst day” ever. Constantly on the receiving end of calls from persons experiencing emergency situations, that “worst day” reality is experienced ten fold...
E-Comm warns of continued high call volumes and lengthy waits on police non-emergency lines (Canada)
Extraordinarily high demand for emergency services has led to longer wait times on police non-emergency lines answered by E-Comm, as call takers prioritize a record-breaking number of 9-1-1 calls from people in life or death situations. A number of major...
Letter: Ludicrous to outsource public safety dispatch (MA)
I have learned that The Ipswich Public Safety Dispatch Center is being threatened and in danger of being shut down thus closing our police station. The Ipswich Dispatch Center is staffed by highly qualified, trained and dedicated men and women. The idea of outsourcing...
Columbus sees early success in alternative 911 response teams (OH)
COLUMBUS – Columbus city officials say a six-week pilot program aimed at reimagining police response to 911 callers suffering from mental health and addiction issues yielded promising results. Data collected over a span of 72 operation hours in June and July showed...
Report by Cleveland-based think tank calls for social workers to deal with mental health emergencies instead of police (OH)
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Imagine calling 911 and having the option to have police or a mental health professional respond to the call. “Really think about how do we transform policing so that we keep our residents safe,” said Piet Van Lier, lead researcher at Policy...
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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