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‘Every second could mean somebody’s life’: Non-emergency calls plague Guilford Metro 911 (NC)
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Dispatchers work around the clock answering the community’s calls for help, but some people are tying up the lines to 911 with calls that don’t qualify for emergencies. “It’s dangerous to play with 911,” said Paige Cummings, a senior supervisor for...
$9.6-million Lafayette Parish Emergency Communications Center: ‘one of the best in the south’ (LA)
Lafayette 911 has moved from the windowless basement at the courthouse to a $9.6-million facility designed for virtually any emergency. The Lafayette Parish Emergency Communications Center was built with 911 operators in mind. It was designed to allow for new...
California 9-1-1 dispatchers honor Salas as ‘Legislator of the Year’
SACRAMENTO — This week, the California Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association (CALNENA) and over 8,000 9-1-1 emergency dispatchers across the state of California, presented Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) with its first ever Legislator of the...
‘Not a want but a need’: Two new emergency services facilities to be built in Clinton (NC)
CLINTON — Two emergency services facilities being built in Sampson County will replace a building that often floods during storms, county officials said. The new $18.4 million facilities being constructed on 9.5 acres of land will be the home for all the county's...
Dispatchers share experiences, reflections on work behind the phone during 911 calls (CA)
Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Lead Dispatcher Amanda Hart said the first responsibility of a dispatcher responding to an emergency call was to be professional and compassionate, even when facing danger, trauma or uncertainty. "Obviously, calls are going to affect us in...
Integration Will Let Dispatchers Livestream Body Cam Video
Axon, the biggest provider of body-worn cameras in the U.S., is integrating with the emergency data startup RapidSOS, giving more information to first responders as well as to 911 dispatchers. “Many agencies already rely on both Axon and RapidSOS to manage emergency...
21st Century meets 911 versatility (WI)
Congress Members Express Support for NG 9-1-1 Act in Letter to House Leaders
The co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services and Law Enforcement Caucuses sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy supporting the Next-Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2021. The act, which is part of the Leading Infrastructure...
Estes appreciates dispatchers (CO)
They are the unsung heroes of the front lines of first responders working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, unseen and unthought of by most. That is until someone needs to call 9-1-1. They are the dispatchers that answer our emergency calls and send...
MOWW honors Gillespie Communications Center (TX)
The Hill Country Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) recognized Public Safety Telecommunicators Week at its April meeting. The guest speaker was Les Metzler, director of the Gillespie County Communications Center. In his remarks, Metzler described...
Lexington County Emergency Services Launches Text to 911 (SC)
Lexington County Emergency Services is pleased to announce the successful launch of Text-to-911 service. The County’s Text-to-911 uses the latest state-of-the-art technology allowing hearing- and speech-impaired residents, as well as those in potentially dangerous...
Penobscot County dispatch center staff test positive for COVID-19 (ME)
The communications center that handles 911 calls and dispatches emergency services in Penobscot County is the site of a coronavirus outbreak, according to its director. Two employees of the Penobscot Regional Communication Center in Bangor have tested positive for the...
‘Dispatchers are the first of the first responders’ (WA)
Emergency dispatchers are trained to operate six computers, four speakers, one headset and handle multiple callers all at once. Last year, Whitman County Regional Communications Center 911 answered over 92,000 service calls, 7,000 911 calls and 20,000 non-emergency...
New Hanover 911 telecommunicator receives award (NC)
New Hanover County 911 Communications presented the Mary Antley Telecommunicator of the Year Award to telecommunicator Nina Britt, who has been with the department since 2015. The Telecommunicator of the Year Award is named after former 911 Telecommunicator...
Lewis Commission recognizes tele-communicators (WV)
The Lewis County Commission recognized telecommunicators during its Tuesday, April 20, meeting by reading a proclamation in their honor. The proclamation declared April 18 through April 24 as Lewis County Telecommunicators Week in honor and recognition of the...
Proposed Overhaul Of Oregon’s Mental Health Care System Starts With Phone Number
Oregonians may see a day when 9-1-1 is not the emergency number to call for a behavioral health crisis or need. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would provide a statewide phone line for people to call when they need help with behavioral health needs -- whether...
Dispatcher of the year awarded (TX)
BALDWIN -- At the end of National Telecommunicator's Appreciation Week, Tera Philipp was selected by her peers and others as Dispatcher of the Year. Tera was recently appointed as a Lead Supervisor, and has been with Lake County 911 Central Dispatch since August of...
Morgan County 911 upgrades call center, computer software (AL)
The Morgan County 911 is making sure you get the best response when it comes to emergencies. The center upgraded both their physical space and their software. Morgan County 911 Director Jeanie Pharis says the upgrades were "badly needed." The center was improved so...
Westchester County Honors County Dispatchers (NY)
Westchester County Executive George Latimer handed out two proclamations paying tribute to County dispatchers for National Public Telecommunications Week. The week is commemorated annually from April 11-17, honoring the men and women who provide critical 9-1-1 life...
Okaloosa County eyes major public safety communications system upgrades (FL)
SHALIMAR — By mid- to late 2023, first responders from dozens of local, state and federal agencies should be able to start using a single Okaloosa County-wide emergency public safety radio communications system that’s expected to be a vast improvement over the...
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.
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