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Accidental calls to 911 add stress to emergency dispatch call centers (OK)
Oklahoma 911 call centers are experiencing a large amount of accidental 911 calls due to safety features available on mobile devices including iPhones and Apple watches. According to the Oklahoma 911 Management Authority and the State 911 Coordinator, 12 percent of...
Southeast Communications to dispatch for Richardson County (NE)
During a city council meeting Tuesday evening, the City of Beatrice unanimously agreed to operate an enhanced 911 and radio dispatching system for Richardson County. Beatrice Police Chief Bruce Lang gave a brief history of dispatch centers in Gage County, explaining...
Greenwich police chief calls retiring communications specialist the ‘heart and soul’ of department (CT)
GREENWICH — A police officer who specialized in communications and who helped to implement the town’s 911 emergency dispatcher center has retired after a 32-year career in law enforcement. Officer Gerald “Terry” Fitzgerald, who retired earlier this month, was tasked...
Shawnee County set to hold Dispatch hiring event (MO)
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Shawnee County Communications is hiring! They will hold a dispatcher hiring event Friday, July 16th at the Law Enforcement Center located at 320 S. Kansas Ave. The family-friendly event will run from 5-8 p.m. and include food trucks and live...
5G is safe and key to New York’s recovery
Given the popularity of telecommuting and the efficiencies it offers, remote work is likely here to stay. In fact, a few surveys have determined that fewer than one in five executives want to return to a pre-pandemic routine, and one in three employees would...
NIST Prize Challenge Launches Research for Unmanned Aircraft in Search and Rescue
BOULDER, Colo. – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a new prize competition to advance the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in first responder search and rescue operations. Named the First...
Cyber attack shuts down City of Joplin’s online services, 9-1-1 still operational (MO)
JOPLIN, Mo. — The City of Joplin’s computer system is down causing online services to be unavailable to the public. As City staff works on this issue please note the following service changes during this time: City phones are not working as system is internet based....
VSBLTY partners on face biometrics and threat detection data for first responders
VSBLTY and RapidSOS have announced a new collaboration to provide first responders and 911 telecommunicators with the ability to access biometrics and other incident data from VSBLTY’s Vector software via RapidSOS. The data will include immediate weapons detection,...
County supervisors address public safety communications concerns (VA)
‘We do have a life-safety issue when the volunteers don’t get the calls’ At the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors’ monthly meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the board discussed the impacts of the county’s lack of adequate telecommunications infrastructure on...
DHS Awards Nearly $1M to Small Business to Secure NG9-1-1 Multimedia Content
Newswise — Washington, D.C. – Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) technology will allow responders and the public to employ real-time text, images, video, and voice calls during emergencies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research...
E-911 pay raises OK’d (TN)
The Cumberland County Emergency 911 District Board of Directors approved a new salary schedule management says will make the agency better able to recruit and retain dispatchers. “This payroll structure will put us ahead of Roane County,” Terry Williams, director of...
Volusia alarm calls now answered faster thanks to new ASAP system (FL)
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Dispatchers in Volusia County are now responding to emergencies faster than ever, and they say it’s thanks to a new automated system that responds to burglar, fire and medical alarms instantly. At Sweet Marlay’s Coffee, owner Tammy Kozinski...
City Commission Votes To Merge Harrodsburg Dispatch With Bluegrass 911 (KY)
The Harrodsburg City Commission voted to consolidate 911 services with Bluegrass 911 at a special-called meeting on Wednesday, July 7. In a 3-1 vote, the commission voted to abolish the telecommunications department once they were accepted by Bluegrass 911, which is...
New suicide prevention hotline aims to divert callers from 9-1-1
A few hours after she was admitted to the ER last year, Holly was released. She then followed through on her threat to take her own life, dying on Sept. 19, 2020. She was 28. Dairi said he doesn’t blame the officers who responded. Just as he wouldn't know what to do...
Beaver Dam man placed on $25000 bond after making over 70 harassing calls to dispatch (WI)
JUNEAU – A 41-year-old Beaver Dam man was placed on $25,000 cash bond Wednesday for multiple charges, including making over 70 phone calls to Dodge County Dispatch. With Americans spending more time at home than ever before, it's even more important to help ensure you...
Gatesville PD new system to improve medical and responsive training for EMS, dispatchers (TX)
The few minutes between life threatening emergency phone calls and the arrival of responders can be critical. This is why Gatesville Police Department emergency dispatchers will be implementing a new system to better serve Gatesville and Coryell County residents. The...
Watch Your Tech: Accidental 911 dials are on the rise (TX)
CARROLLTON, Texas — Technology is making it easier to call 911 for help in an emergency, but some experts say it’s also making it easier to dial the number by accident. Operators at the North Texas Emergency Communications Center in Carrollton are picking up more 911...
Ipswich advances plans for public safety building (MA)
IPSWICH — A proposal to construct a new $27.6 million public safety facility for the town of Ipswich off Linebrook Road could go before voters in a Special Town Meeting this fall, following the completion of a feasibility study. Town officials announced late last...
Public Safety Advocate: FirstNet Authority Goes International, Federal Agencies Coordinate Rural Broadband Efforts, NPSTC Awards, AT&T 5G Core in MS Azure Cloud
In this week’s Advocate, I will look at The FirstNet Authority’s expanding role as it works with countries around the world. Also this week, several federal organizations have decided to work together on digital-divide issues, while another group of federal agencies...
St. Lawrence County 911 to temporarily take on Ogdensburg police dispatch (NY)
OGDENSBURG — As part of a short experiment, St. Lawrence County 911 will take on the city’s police dispatch. Matthew R. Denner, director and fire coordinator for St. Lawrence County Emergency Services, said that starting July 11, his office will be conducting a “pilot...
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.
LISTEN TO PODCAST
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.
REGISTER
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