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Public Safety Advocate: Who Knows Best, PTT Update, FirstNet/LMR Interoperability
Who knows more about what public-safety and critical-communications users need? I think the answer has changed several times over the years, and today it is those within the public-safety community itself who best know which communications capabilities they need and...
E-911 first link in emergency response (GA)
SPRINGFIELD — Workers situated in an out-of-the way location are always at the center of emergency responses in Effingham County. The E-911 Call Center at 181 Recycle Way serves as a communications bridge between citizens in need of public safety assistance and people...
Chowan County 911 Communications Center renamed for former director (NC)
Chowan County’s 911 Communications Center was renamed and dedicated to a former 911 director who was instrumental in the center’s creation and the design of its current facility. Current 911 Communications Center Director Herman Weiss officiated over a ceremony...
One airport with seven 911 jurisdictions | Here’s why it matters (GA)
Atlanta’s airport is not in Atlanta. It's actually in four different cities and two different counties. When people call 911, they may not get CPR instructions. ATLANTA — Anyone having a heart attack at the nation’s busiest airport should be prepared to...
Columbus Police 911 dispatchers will fall under a new umbrella starting this weekend (OH)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The Columbus Division of Police Communications Bureau will transition over to Support Services this weekend. The Communications Bureau is over 911 dispatch. Bureau staff will now be a part of Support Services which falls under...
NJ Firefighters Union Concerned About Dispatch Changes
Newark, NJ, Mayor Ras Baraka, right, speaks at a press conference with Public Safety Director Brian O'Hara, left, about a new initiative for firefighters on May 28, 2021. Newark firefighters will be dispatched to all life-threatening calls beginning this weekend,...
Hampden Selectboard discusses dispatch transition ‘bumps,’ lawsuit (MA)
HAMPDEN – Dispatch Director Anthony Gentile updated the Hampden Board of Selectmen on the status of transitioning emergency dispatch to the Town of Wilbraham. On May 18, emergency calls from landlines and mobile devices were transferred to Gentile’s operation. He...
RapidDeploy and Western Fire Chiefs Association Announce Strategic Partnership
"WFCA's storied history of grappling with the many hazards associated with the Western states' unique environment and geography will bring unparalleled perspective for the team at RapidDeploy," RapidDeploy CEO Steve Raucher said. "Our new alliance will offer an...
Sac County Board approves $4.8 million bond for communication tower (IA)
The Sac County Board of Supervisors approved a $4.8 million bond to build a communication tower between Schaller and Early so the county’s first responders have access to the statewide emergency communications network. Sheriff Ken McClure told The Storm Lake Times the...
Kentucky 911 Dispatch Begins Accepting Smartphone Photos, Videos
New technology adopted by Owensboro-Daviess County 911 dispatch allows people to send video and photos from smartphones directly to dispatchers. City-county 911 Director Paul Nave said the technology could help emergency crews prepare their responses to incidents, and...
Delaware starting to formulate plans for ‘988’ mental health hotline
Delaware officials are still sorting out how to take advantage of an upcoming shortened national phone number to access suicide prevention help. An FCC goal is in place that by July 16, 2022, dialing 988 will allow callers to more quickly reach the National Suicide...
Grant allows enhancement of Crisp emergency communications (GA)
Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Christopher Nunn made a stop in Cordele Wednesday to announce the awarding of a $347,454 grant from the DCA to Crisp County that will allow enhancements of the emergency communications system. “These...
MetroSafe in need of dispatchers, call-takers as 911 center is consistently understaffed (KY)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Over 30 positions are vacant at the MetroSafe 911 center and officials say filling these vacant positions has been a challenge even before the pandemic. “There are people who retire out of this position and when they do, we need to fill those...
VIDEO: Combating 911 Dispatcher Burnout (CA)
911 dispatchers have some of the most stressful jobs in the world. They are constantly helping people through the toughest moments of their lives. All that stress can lead to high levels of burnout and turnover. That is bad news not just for the dispatchers, but for...
Arlington Emergency Communications Deputy Wins State Recognition (VA)
The Virginia Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (VA APCO) has honored Arlington’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) Deputy Administrator Jeffrey Horwitz with its Public-Safety Communications Information Technologist of the Year award. The honor...
APCO Applauds FCC Action on 4.9 GHz Public Safety Spectrum
Alexandria, VA – Today the Federal Communications Commission adopted an order staying – or suspending – provisions of its rules for the 4.9 GHz spectrum band that would permit licensing of the spectrum for commercial purposes. This action is responsive to...
Director of Michigan P25 network clarifies L3Harris role: 'No intentions to swap out any of the system'
Agencies on Michigan’s statewide P25 system again are able to buy L3Harris Technologies equipment for their operations on the network, but the system director said there is no shift from Motorola Solutions, despite significant industry speculation sparked by a recent...
Dispatcher Recounts Call With Homeless Woman That ‘Changed Her Life Forever’ (CA)
A 911 dispatcher recalls a heartfelt phone call from a homeless woman that “changed her life forever.” The woman begins by sharing her background and the events that led to the life-changing encounter. “My name is Priscilla and I am a 911 dispatcher in Santa Clara...
Calls for service increased for 911 center in 2020 (KY)
The Owensboro-Daviess County 911 dispatch center took 25,000 more calls in 2020 than during the previous year, according to statistics released by the Owensboro Police Department. But while overall calls were up, the number of people calling 911 with an emergency...
County to begin negotiations for new E911 system (VA)
The Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors (BOS) unanimously voted to take the next steps in moving the county further in developing a new E911 radio communication system. The new system, which could see construction begin next summer, will cost the county around $3.8...
UPCOMING WEBINARREGISTER>
FirstNet Independence: A governance case study
Thursday, February 19, 2026
1:30 PM PT | 2:30 PM MT | 3:30 PM CT | 4:30 PM ET
As we are near the time Congress must reauthorize FirstNet, there needs to be a discussion on the review of FirstNet Governance. Join former FirstNet Board Chairs Sue Swenson, Chief Richard Carrizzo, and former Vice-Chair Chief Jeff Johnson, as they discuss the value of an independent FirstNet Authority, program oversight, and the need to protect and advance the nation’s public safety network.
The creation of the FirstNet Authority marked a deliberate and historic policy decision by Congress to establish an independent, nationwide public-safety broadband authority insulated from traditional departmental control. Born out of the lessons of 9/11 and codified in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, FirstNet was designed to operate with a singular mission: to ensure reliable, interoperable communications for the nation’s first responders. The discussion will examine the governance structure, rationale for its statutory independence, and oversight model.
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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