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Lowndes residents can now text 9-1-1 in an emergency (GA)
Residents or visitors to Lowndes County can now send a text message to 9-1-1 for help in an emergency. While Lowndes County 911 emphasizes calls are still the best and fastest way to contact 9-1-1, text messages are an option when a call may not be possible. “Lowndes...
Cobb 911 now accepts text messages (GA)
Cobb County will receive Text to 911 calls from unincorporated Cobb County and the cities within Cobb. Information will be relayed to the appropriate city if necessary. Smyrna 911 has deployed its own Text to 911. The county will work with Smyrna to provide seamless...
Wilkin Co. dispatchers were struggling with workload, new law (ND)
In July, the Wilkin County Board approved three new full-time dispatcher positions, totaling four this year. The new positions bring the total number of full-time dispatcher positions to eight, an amount that’s needed to sustain the 24/7 workload, according to Wilkin...
‘Led to a great outcome’: Fairfield first responders honored for saving resident’s life (CT)
FAIRFIELD — Several first responders were recently honored for their quick actions that officials say saved a resident’s life this summer. Lt. Patrick Barry, officer Felix Gonzalez, firefighter Justin Crawford, telecommunicator Lynn Erazmus telecommunicator Jennifer...
Opinion: America’s aging 911 infrastructure needs a ‘medic’ but there is hope
When the first 911 call was made in February 1968, few imagined that our nation’s 911 system would bloom into nearly 6,000 local, state, and regional 911 centers across the country answering 650,000 daily emergency calls. Now, despite its success in saving countless...
Emergency management seeks to reduce accidental 911 calls (AK)
Almost 1,000 people accidentally called 911 in July, according to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management. That’s up 55% from last year. In a post shared to Facebook last week, OEM’s emergency alert system — KPB Alerts — provided information on how...
‘Every day is different’ at Tustin Police Department 911 dispatch center – Behind the Badge (CA)
The ability to multitask is a requirement in several careers, but for 911 dispatchers multitasking is taken to level beyond what most people can comprehend. At the Tustin Police Department, dispatchers are simultaneously answering calls and dispatching officers , with...
Westbrook emergency radio system upgrade does away with dead spots (ME)
A radio connection upgrade has eliminated between six and eight dead areas in Westbrook where portable public safety radios didn’t work. “We had a lot of dead spots in the city. It made it very difficult for officers, as their transmissions were often garbled in these...
Cobb Emergency 911 hiring (GA)
Cobb 911 is hiring. The Marietta Police Department posted on their Facebook page the following plug for career opportunities with Cobb Emergency 911: Our friends at Cobb 911 asked us to share with you that they are hiring and need quality communicators to join their...
FDNY replaced its 45-year-old computer system (NY)
Written by Colin Wood Aug 10, 2021 | STATESCOOP The New York City Fire Department retired a 45-year-old computer aided dispatch system last week, following a four-year project to develop a modern platform that officials said is more reliable and has new functionality...
Obtaining Grant Funding for Your Radio Communications Project
One hears phrases like “communication is key” and “we need an open line of communication” so often in everyday life that it has become a cliché. But, when it comes to public safety and first responders, this cliché is a stark reality. From the moment the call comes...
New technology allows local 911 dispatchers to see emergency, not just hear it (GA)
ATLANTA (CBS46) — When you dial 911, you may expect dispatchers to immediately know the location and send emergency crews. But that’s not always the case. The process can take minutes, but when every second counts, that can be too long, so dispatchers are now using...
Martin County School District touts new technology to keep students, staff safe (FL)
STUART, Fla. — When students head back to the classroom this year, all Florida school districts must be in compliance with Alyssa's Law. The law is named in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, a student killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland when a gunman...
Survey: Taking the pulse of public safety communications
Help FireRescue1 learn how you are using communications technology on the job – and tell us what you need to better manage emergency response Communications are critical for informed and appropriate emergency response, and the technology designed for the fire service...
Keith Thornton: Chicago Police Dispatcher Praised [AUDIO] (IL)
Keith Thornton, a 911 dispatcher with the Chicago Police Department, is being praised for his handling of the tragic police shooting that took the life of 29-year-old Officer Ella French and wounded her partner. On social media, Thornton was praised from people who...
VIDEO: Langley City seeks province-wide support for call to improve coordination between ambulance and fire service (Canada)
Langley City is calling on all B.C. municipalities to join a call to better coordinate ambulance and fire services. Martin’s motion wants the provincial government and BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) to allocate funding to improve response times and coordination...
Pittsburgh amateur radio group celebrates 80 years of providing emergency communications during disasters (PA)
After eight decades of providing emergency backup communications on a volunteer basis during some of this region’s worst storms and disasters, members of the Steel City Amateur Radio Club will be hitting the airwaves this week to sing their own praises. The club of...
New Mexico city program sends medic, cop to low-threat 911 calls
On a recent afternoon, Antoine Mosley was panhandling on Cerrillos Road when the city's Alternative Response Unit arrived. The unit includes a caseworker, a paramedic and a police officer who respond to low-threat 911 calls usually related to behavioral health issues....
COUNTIES, CITIES WANT LOCAL CONTROL OF 9-1-1 MONEY (TX)
Hoping to bring local control of fees charged to pay for 9-1-1 services, the Central Texas Council of Governments is asking its members to create a regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District. “It was advantageous for us to stay (before) because we were getting...
Arlington County Recognized for Emergency Communications Center Remote Call-Taking & Dispatch (VA)
RICHMOND (August 5, 2021)—The Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) announced the 30 recipients of the 2021 Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in local government programs. VACo received 102 submissions. Winning entries focused on addressing...
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
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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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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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