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National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is Just around the Corner – How is your center celebrating?
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is just around the corner (April 11-17, 2021). We are thankful for the day-in-day-out hard work, professionalism and dedication of all 911 telecommunicators. According to APCO’s NPSTW website, National Public Safety...
North Vernon police chief to retire, join CRH department (IN)
After more than 27 years of service with the North Vernon Police Department, Chief James Webster announced he plans to retire on March 27. “It has been an absolute honor to serve the citizens of North Vernon for all these years," Webster said. "I began working for the...
Next Generation 9-1-1 Included in House Infrastructure Bill
The Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition recently released a press release applauding the introduction of the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2021 as part of the LIFT America Act. The inclusion of Next Generation 9-1-1 in the legislation signals that Congress...
Text to 9-1-1 When Voice Doesn’t Work (CA)
Big Bear News – Big Bear, CA – Over the past several days, the Big Bear Valley has experienced inclement weather. During these times, cellular service could be interrupted. The Big Bear Fire Department would like to remind you that often times you can text to...
Stutsman County Communications Center traffic down in 2020 (ND)
The number of calls for service dispatched by the Stutsman County Communications Center continued a downward trend, according to Jerry Bergquist, emergency manager and 911 coordinator for the county. Statistics for 2020 indicate 26,521 calls for service compared to...
WA Rep. Smith proposes bill to divert funds to unarmed 911 response efforts
While state legislators are working on a series of bills to reimagine policing at the local level, Washington Rep. Adam Smith is targeting a more national approach. Police reform efforts at state level focus on accountability That came in the form of a new bill Rep....
More than 7,600 addresses in Bristol, Virginia to change due to NextGen 911
More than 7,600 addresses and 150 street segment names in Bristol, Virginia, will change due to the upcoming NextGen 911 system. The City of Bristol, Virginia has been preparing for the federal and state mandated upgrade to the upcoming NextGen 911 system. Officials...
How to Text 9-1-1 in an Emergency if You Can’t Call
If you’re anywhere in the United States, you’re probably aware dialing 9-1-1 connects you to local public safety answering points (PSAPs) that can deploy nearby emergency services. But in some places in the US, cell phone users can also contact emergency dispatchers...
Dispatchers say they’re seeing more mental health-related calls (IN)
A year-long global pandemic has been tough on everyone. CDC data shows increases in the number of adults who experienced anxiety and depression, substance abuse and even thought about suicide this year. We spoke to the St. Joseph County, Indiana 911 dispatch center...
ADRF launches new public safety repeater
When first responders enter a building during an emergency, there aren’t too many factors more important than that they’re able to hear one another as they make their way through the property. Uninterrupted communication between first responders could literally be the...
ECC director urges use of Code Red alert system (TN)
A computer server that failed to re-boot is being blamed for knocking many of the county’s 9-1-1 phone lines out of service early Friday morning. Sumner County residents who subscribe to the Code Red notification system received messages and/or calls at around 2 a.m....
Verizon 911 connection issues repaired (CT)
WFSB) - Issues with Verizon customers calling 911 have been repaired. Waterbury police posted on Friday morning that Verizon customers trying to reach them via 911 had connectivity difficulties. "Please stay safe and aware of this," Waterbury police said... READ...
Local police continue to struggle with 9-1-1 hangups (Canada)
The North Bay Police Service continues to try and cope with a frustrating trend that hampers many emergency services; that's 9-1-1 hangup calls. "On an average day we receive 10 to 15 9-1-1 hang-ups," admitted Scott Tod, North Bay's Police...
Smart 911 helps Gahanna’s first responders save time, lives (OH)
Gahanna public-safety officials recently launched a free service that is expected to save time during emergencies. The city of Gahanna on March 3 announced that Smart911, a service allowing individuals and families to subscribe to provide important information to 911,...
Williamson County dispatcher assists in baby delivery (TN)
SPRING HILL, TN (WSMV) - A Williamson County emergency dispatcher had an exciting day at work when she helped a couple deliver a baby over the phone. Dispatcher Taylor Kinney received a call from a man who said his pregnant wife had gone into labor at their...
New radio tower at Mt Elliot expands public safety network (Australia)
The Central Coast’s Public Safety Network has been expanded, with the construction of a new radio site at Mount Elliot now complete. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said the new radio tower was delivered by the NSW...
APCO Applauds Federal Proposal to Provide $15B for Next Generation 9-1-1 Grants
Today, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced the LIFT America Act, an infrastructure bill that includes $15 billion for the deployment and implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) throughout the country. The NG9-1-1 provisions (section 15001) adhere to principles established by APCO and its partners in the Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition, a broad group of national public safety organizations representing law enforcement, fire, EMS, and 9-1-1. The NG9-1-1 portion contains a number of important measures in addition to the significant funding by:
Protecting and building upon existing investments in NG9-1-1;
Promoting interoperability;
Preserving state and local control;
Providing significant resources for cybersecurity;
Establishing a mechanism for ongoing public safety input for the grant program; and
Achieving end-to-end NG9-1-1 capabilities for emergency communications centers nationwide.
The leadership of Congressman Frank Pallone, the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, a committee member and long-time co-chair of the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus, was essential for the introduction of this bill.
“APCO wishes to sincerely thank Representatives Pallone and Eshoo and their staff for being strong allies of the public safety community and for their work in introducing this much-needed legislation that will greatly benefit 9-1-1 professionals and the public they serve,” said APCO Executive Director and CEO Derek Poarch. “We look forward to working with all members of Congress to build support and achieve passage of this bill, which is so critical to modernizing the nation’s emergency communications infrastructure.”
Gallatin Co. offers new 911 options to more accurately locate people in emergencies (KY)
WARSAW, Ky. (WKRC) - Gallatin County may be Kentucky’s smallest, but it has its share of challenges for 911 dispatchers. I-71 runs through it and the county butts up against the Ohio River. "Interstate 71 has around 12,000 collisions a year, and there's a lot of other...
IDOT unveils $7M communications center
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Department of Transportation gave WCIA 3 News a look inside its new communications center at Station One. The focal point of the new center is a video wall that will allow operators to track the locations of IDOT snow and ice...
Family Remembers Dead 911 Dispatcher, Seeks $35 Million From City (AZ)
Cooper was admitted to the hospital on February 27 after her lungs stopped. The night before, she had been ordered to work a 15-hour shift in the understaffed dispatch center despite reporting trouble breathing. She was still recovering from COVID-19, which her family...
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.
PETITIONS
Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
PSBTA UPDATES
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
GRANTS
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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