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State looking at future of 911 (IL)
Emergency services could get a boost after a major communications company was told it will receive a grant to help establish an enhanced 911 network. AT&T will receive a grant that would allow it to create an internet-based network that would be more reliable and...
Meigs County dispatcher provides CPR over the phone, helps save a man’s life (TN)
New legislation required dispatchers across Tennessee to learn a new skill this year: giving CPR instruction over the phone. Within just a month of learning this, that skill was put to good use this past week in Meigs County. “It’s a high-stress situation, so there’s...
Residents say staffing issues within public safety agencies are causing lives to be lost (MD)
BALTIMORE, MD (WEAA) — Residents are blaming staffing shortages within the police and fire department for lives being lost in Baltimore City. On Sunday, multiple people were shot at Carroll Park in south Baltimore, one person was killed. The Baltimore Firefighter’s...
APCO International Announces 2021 Award Winners
Alexandria, VA – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Public Safety Communications Awards and Technology Leadership Awards. The winners will be recognized, along...
County a step closer to bringing Text 911 system online
SYCAMORE – The ability to text a 911 operator in DeKalb County remains months away, but progress in implementing the system is inching forward, according to local emergency personnel. DeKalb County E911 Coordinator Heather Butler said during a Wednesday emergency...
Abilene police dispatch gets new tool that helps track location of 911 calls (TX)
ABILENE, Texas (PRESS RELEASE) – APD announces the addition of Jurisdiction View, a new data and situational awareness tool to access critical location and additional data during an emergency. APD is one of the first agencies nationwide to test and implement this new...
Upgrades coming to statewide 911 network (IL)
CHICAGO - Illinois officials announced Wednesday upgrades are coming to the state's 911 network. AT&T was chosen among numerous vendors to develop the new Internet-based NG911 Network which is intended to cut down response times and...
MegaRange and AirgainConnect – Built for Public Safety
By Richard Mirgon, Public Safety Consultant As I was writing some comments on social media the other day I had to go back and look at the legislation that brought us FirstNet and the requirement that FirstNet be built using commercial standards. That entire section...
New Emergency Medical Dispatcher school course offers career path, dispatch training (CA)
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Central California adult school is taking action to offer a new pathway, for people thinking about making a career change. Emergency medical dispatcher student Myra Duran says she's always had a passion for helping others "I was very...
Cascade County Sheriff’s Office launches online reporting system (MT)
GREAT FALLS — The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that it now offers online crime reporting for non-emergent incidents.Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter says the system enables people to make reports from the safety and comfort of their home,...
Work continues on public safety radio system study (ME)
DOVER-FOXCROFT — A feasibility study for a Piscataquis County public safety radio system is nearing completion and should be presented to the Piscataquis County Commissioners in the near future. Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency Director Tom Capraro told...
Telecom Alert: 900 MHz Applications; NG911 Waiver Process Request; FWHA Memo; 4.9 GHZ Band Stay Draft Order; EBB Launch Date [Vol. XVIII, Issue 18]
FCC to Begin Accepting 900 MHz Applications The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released a Public Notice last week announcing that it will begin accepting 900 MHz broadband segment applications. In May 2020, the FCC realigned the 900 MHz band to make available six...
Dispatch center successful since transition (OR)
The Grant County Emergency Communications Agency continues to grow since it became its own agency in 2019. Dispatch Director Valerie Maynard said things have gone well since the transition. The dispatch team moved from the John Day Police Department to the John Day...
Commissioners planning work session to discuss 911 upgrades (NE)
Scotts Bluff County commissioners could decide in the coming weeks how the county would like to proceed on radio and communications center improvements. On Monday, April 19, Scotts Bluff County Commissioner Mark Harris had been among the audience members as the 911...
Charlotte city manager unveils $2.7B budget, no join communications center (NC)
CHARLOTTE — Charlotte’s City Manager revealed details in his proposed budget Monday. The proposed $2.7 billion budget does not include a tax increase, but it does introduce several new programs, and moves funding away from some familiar projects. The city is not...
Federal computer system to blame for Billings alert blasted out to all Yellowstone County residents (MT)
BILLINGS — A fault in a computer system was the reason why an emergency alert message planned to be broadcast to a one-block radius in the Billings Heights was instead sent to everyone in Yellowstone County Monday morning, said KC Williams, director of Yellowstone...
Dispatch centers look at combining (NE)
The Box Butte County and Alliance Police Department dispatch centers are considering combining, according to discussions during the Box Butte County Commissioners' April 26 meeting. Box Butte County Sheriff Tammy Mowry was on the agenda to discuss Box Butte County...
Dispatch center move to Fort Sill improves services, camaraderie (OK)
FORT SILL, Oklahoma (April 30, 2021) -- When a 911 telephone call is made from a Fort Sill 442- or 558- prefix, the emergency call now goes directly to the Directorate of Emergency Services’ Emergency Communications Center (ECC). In the past, these calls went to the...
It’s National Smart 911 Day, facts to know (UT)
(ABC4) – Law enforcement across the Beehive State are asking communities two questions: who are you going to call when faced with an incident? and do you know when to do so? According to the Logan Cache Police Department, when dealing with an incident that involves...
Massachusetts police prevent grandmother from losing $25,000 to scammer
Three Massachusetts police officers and a dispatcher are earning praise for preventing a Florida grandmother from losing $25,000 to a scammer. Dracut Sgt. Lawrence Flynn, Lt. Wilmer Buote, Detective Megan Farley and dispatcher Andrew Talmacci went into action on April...
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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