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International Statement: End-To-End Encryption and Public Safety
The Justice Department released a statement on the challenges end-to-end encryption poses to public safety. The joint statement includes the signatures of ministers from the Five Eyes Alliance and the governments of India and Japan. This statement reiterates the need...
Mad River Twp. to join Clark County 9-1-1 dispatch center (OH)
Mad River Twp. trustees have voted in favor of joining Clark County’s new 9-1-1 dispatch center. The agreement will take effect on Dec. 1, Mad River Twp. Trustee President Bob McClure said, and it will apply to the Mad River Township (Enon) Fire and EMS department......
Text to 911 now available in Sedona (AZ)
For as long as 45 minutes on Sept. 28, parts of Yavapai County — including the Verde Valley — were without 911 service. While investigators are looking into the cause of the outage, which impacted several other states, Yavapai County and other law enforcement agencies...
Sheriff’s Office establishes telecommunicator emergency response team (FL)
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center has established a Tele-communicator Emergency Response Team for the first time in agency history. The T.E.R.T program allows for public safety telecommunicators to offer mutual-aid to other...
U.S. Army Selects FirstNet, Built with AT&T, for Public Safety Communications Across 72 Installations in the U.S.
What's the news? The U.S. Army has selected FirstNet to support firefighters, law enforcement and security personnel at 72 Army installations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Now, U.S. Army public safety personnel have access to an unmatched level...
Weber County Sheriff dispatchers featured on ABC’s ‘Emergency Call’ (UT)
WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4 News) – The Weber County Sheriff’s Office has been ancipiting the release of a new show airing on ABC called “Emergency Call,” and for a good reason. Emergency Call, an American unscripted series hosted by Luke Wilson features dispatch centers...
Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office activates Text to 9-1-1 (OH)
Guernsey County took a big step forward in emergency services on Sept. 30 by joining 20 other counties in Ohio to deploy Text to 9-1-1. The Guernsey County 911 coordinator notified the Ohio 911 Program Office and Federal Communications Commission of the status two...
Controversial 911 consultant already at work for county (MI)
BRANCH COUNTY — IXP Public Safety Service Corporation staff member Kevin Keams was in Branch County this week beginning interviews under the contract signed Oct. 1 with the county commission to review 911 operations. Under the contract, IXP is billing the county $250...
Can Congress stop a government auction of spectrum would cost public safety officials millions? (PA)
Allegheny County 911 dispatchers field about 1.3 million emergency calls a year and coordinate ambulances, police units and fire crews — using radio signals at a precise frequency that was set up 50 years ago to guarantee smooth operations in regions with...
Public Safety seeks input on dispatch fee system (VT)
The Vermont Department of Public Safety would like to hear from first responders and members of the public as part of the process of enacting a fee structure for dispatch services through Vermont State Police Public Safety Answering Points. Dispatchers most often are...
Newport News residents can ‘Text-to-911’ to send message to emergency dispatcher (VA)
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Newport News announced on Thursday that residents can now “Text-to-911” in the event of an emergency if they are not able to call 911 dispatchers. Effective immediately, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules to commence...
Billy Bob Brown Jr. Appointed Assistant Director for Emergency Communications at CISA
Today, Director Christopher Krebs appointed Billy Bob Brown Jr. as Assistant Director for Emergency Communications at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). CISA enhances public safety interoperable communications at all levels of government and...
Richmond police dispatcher helps father deliver baby (VA)
In a situation that would frighten any father, a Richmond man recently called 911 to say his wife was in labor and they weren’t going to make it to the hospital. Thankfully, a well-trained police dispatcher was on the other end of the line. Just after 11:30 a.m. on...
Wake County, N.C. deploys ASAP to PSAP
Wake County, North Carolina, including the City of Raleigh, joins a growing number of municipalities across the nation to implement Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP) at its Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). ASAP technology automates communication from alarm...
Recognizing 35 years of service (OR)
COOS BAY — Sept. 17 marked the 35-year anniversary of Rhonda Wilson as a 911 dispatcher for the City of Coos Bay. Wilson began her career as a part-time dispatcher in the Coos Bay Police Department Communications Center in September 1985 and was hired as a full-time...
New radio infrastructure for public safety and emergency services (ND)
North Dakota public safety and emergency services are getting a long overdue radio upgrade as part of a new program called SIRN20/20. SIRN stands for Statewide Interoperable Radio Network. “Interoperable” means all the agencies involved (law enforcement, firefighters,...
Building Bridges & Breaking Biases: Collaborating with Public Safety and Local Community Groups
By Jason Porter, senior vice president, FirstNet Program at AT&T
Empathy leads to change. Change starts with us.
Recent national discussions on police reform have been largely focused on federal and state legislative initiatives, however the foundation for meaningful common-ground reform begins locally and requires collaboration between local communities and their law enforcement agencies. And National Faith & Blue Weekend (NFBW), taking place Oct. 9-12, strives to do just that by connecting law enforcement and residents to find common ground through collaborative and respectful communication via local houses of worship.
The NFBW initiative is based on the premise that strong communities are built on mutual respect and understanding. By reinforcing the connections between public safety professionals and the communities they serve, this national program aims to help build bridges and break biases locally. And it’s why all of us at FirstNet, Built with AT&T, are honored to support this groundbreaking event. Activities include community dialogue, service projects and other interactive experiences to help foster ongoing, authentic and mutual community-law enforcement trust. READ MORE
Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center Handles More Than 100 911 Calls During Wednesday Evening Storms (MA)
Director Steve Hooke reports that the Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center handled more than 100 calls Wednesday during the fast-moving storms that hit Norfolk County. During the three-hour period between 6 and 9 p.m., HRECC telecommunicators received 120...
RapidSOS, Responder Corp, Orleans Parish Communication District, and Western Fire Chiefs Association Win $1 Million R2 Network Challenge (LA)
RapidSOS, Responder Corp, Orleans Parish Communication District, and Western Fire Chiefs Association were awarded the $1 million Accelerate R2 Network Challenge grant funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the National Institute of Standards and...
Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents can now text 9-1-1 (NC)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has now integrated texting capabilities into its 911 answering system, allowing residents in need of emergency services to reach a first responder via text when calling 911 is not an option. “In the event...
UPCOMING EVENTREGISTER>
The Inaugural Howard C. Liebengood Foundation Symposium: The Evolving Law Enforcement Landscape & the First Responder Mental Health Crisis
Wednesday, September 30 to Thursday, October 1, 2026
Law enforcement is operating in one of the most demanding environments in modern history. Shifting public expectations, critical incidents, and ongoing organizational pressures have reshaped the profession, and the impact on officer health and agency stability has never been greater. This inaugural symposium convenes law enforcement leaders, mental health and health care experts, researchers, and bipartisan policymakers to explore practical, evidence-informed solutions. Grounded in research and lived experience, this symposium focuses on translating knowledge into action.
Over two days, participants will examine the evolving policing landscape, confront the profession’s mental health crisis—including elevated rates of suicide, PTSD, depression, and anxiety—and identify strategies to strengthen resilience, crisis response, and organizational leadership.
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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