Top Comm Center Headlines
News & Articles
FirstNet expands responder communications in Sawyer area (ND)
SAWYER – First responders in Sawyer are getting a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of a new FirstNet cell site, according to AT&T. This new infrastructure is a part of the FirstNet Network expansion taking place across the state,...
Can’t call? Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office announces start of Text-to-9-1-1 (AZ)
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and its law enforcement partners throughout the county have announced that a “Text-to-9-1-1” service is now available countywide. Partnering agencies include police departments in Clarkdale, Jerome, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino...
Dispatch center shows off makeover; new radios are coming (TX)
The City of Brownwood’s 9-1-1 dispatch center has received a makeover. While the makeover so far has consisted of morale-boosting aesthetics — in the form of new carpet and new, modern consoles at the dispatchers’ work stations — new radios that will be installed next...
The FirstNet Network Expands Across Georgia to Advance Public Safety Communications Capabilities
Georgia’s first responders are getting a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of new, purpose-built FirstNet(link is external) cell sites supporting 11 counties across the state. Plus, high-quality Band 14 spectrum has been added to more than...
Text-to-9-1-1 now available in Placer County (CA)
Sending a text to 911 is now available in Placer County. Text-to-9-1-1 is available to Placer residents and individuals traveling through the county. According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the text function provides a life-saving option to speech- and...
County Commission focuses on purchases and grant applications during regular action session Thursday (KS)
Lyon County Commissioners approved a number of purchase requests during their regular action session Thursday morning. First on the agenda was a request from Lyon County Emergency Communications Center Director Roxanne Van Gundy to consider the payment of the county's...
Dupo, Ill. couple called 911 four times as shirtless man ransacked their garage. Officers never arrived (IL)
Imagine calling 911 and no one ever shows up. It happened to a local couple when a weapon-wielding stranger ransacked their garage and wandered around their yard for hours. They called 911 four times, but no officer ever arrived. Rose and Joe Everett's peaceful place...
Text-to-911 comes to Pinal County (AZ)
As of today, text-to-9-1-1 is available to all residents of Pinal County. This allows people in need of emergency services to reach first responders via text when voice calling is not an option, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. The primary use of...
Put Aside Caller’s Anger
Eric Harne
Dealing with irritated, angry people is periodically part of the emergency dispatcher’s job description. This can be particularly troublesome when dealing with life-or-death situations and the person on the other end of the phone is belligerent and angry. Since it’s an issue that won’t go away, it becomes a matter of defusing the anger and resolving the caller’s problem without resorting to anger and creating a more significant problem.
DHS funds risk assessment modeling tool development
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program has awarded $1.96 million to a pair of businesses to aid emergency communication network risk management assessments. Orem, Utah-based Achilles Heel Technologies and...
Motorola Solutions’ CommandCentral Citizen Input Is Available to the US Public Safety Market
Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) today announced that it has made a new service available to the public safety market -- CommandCentral Citizen Input -- which is designed to help 9-1-1 call takers to better engage with citizens in their time of need. Citizen Input is a...
Building meaningful public safety partnerships—one engagement at a time
By David Buchanan, Executive Director of Public Safety Advocacy, FirstNet Authority
Last year saw the release of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Roadmap, the launch of network investment planning, and significant buildout of the network. It also saw a renewed commitment from our FirstNet Authority team of expert public safety advisors to engage with public safety and improve, expand, and bring innovation to FirstNet.
Through targeted engagements, our team has been working to better understand public safety’s technical and operational broadband needs and how FirstNet is impacting public safety operations today. Since January, our team has taken part in more than 900 in-person and virtual engagements, meeting with nearly 21,000 public safety stakeholders from across the country. Whether engaging in person or virtually, we have received recommendations and ideas to positively influence the FirstNet network’s path forward. READ MORE
FCC vote to expand use of 4.9 GHz, despite public safety’s protests
The Federal Communications Commission has voted along party lines to expand the use of the 4.9 GHz band, over objections from public safety users. The 4.9 GHz spectrum, which consists of 50 megahertz (4.940-4.990 GHz), was designated for exclusive use by public safety...
9-1-1 Texting is now an option in Allegany County (MD)
Research shows that nearly 6 billion text messages are sent every day in the United States, more than 2.2. trillion per year. SMS or text messaging has become a way of primary communication for many people to communicate. With this change, emergency communications...
9-1-1 Drone Dispatch in Manatee County, Florida Could Save Heart Attack Victims (FL)
Manatee County, Florida may become the first local government entity in the country to use its emergency 9-1-1 system to dispatch the delivery of emergency medical supplies by drone for people suffering from heart attacks or other serious medical...
County Executive Ryan McMahon Honors Emergency Communications Employees (NY)
Syracuse, N.Y. – County Executive J. Ryan McMahon, II and the Department of Emergency Communications Commissioner Julie K. Corn recognized 911 Center Employees for outstanding performance during the past year during a ceremony held Wednesday morning at the 911 Center....
Levy increase for public safety communication on Vinton County ballot (WV)
VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) - This election, public safety funding is among the issues on the ballot in Vinton County. Vinton County voters will be asked this November for a one-cent-per-hundred dollar valuation levy increase to help pay for upgrades for public safety...
Georgia Department of Public Safety Announces New Leadership Team (GA)
The Georgia Department of Public Safety has a new Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner. The Board of Public Safety voted on Wednesday to approve Lieutenant Colonel Chris Wright to serve as the next Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and Colonel of the...
Falls Protocol Lift Assist Calls: Predictors of Repeat 911 Calls
Download Original Paper
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) regularly respond to lift assist calls. Previous studies have shown lift assist calls present a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. This group of callers is also likely to make repeated calls to 911 for EMS assistance. The ability to foresee which of these patients may need to call 911 again within 24 hours could help decrease the risk posed to patients in these situations.
Objectives: To 1) describe calls originating as lift assist calls with repeat calls within 24 hours, 2) explore the relationships for predictive ability of repeat 911 calls for the following: EMS scene time, patient initial and final vital signs, patient age, and gender.
Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study using de-identified data from three emergency dispatch and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies, collected from January 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018. R statistical software (R, version 3.5.2) was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics describe lift assist and repeat calls. Fisher’s exact and Wilcox rank sum test explored the relationship of possible predictor variables of repeat vs. non-repeat calls.
Results: Of all calls for “fall” (n = 15,666), a total of 6,701 were identified as lift assists. A total of 256 (3.82%) of the lift assist calls were identified as repeats. Gender was similarly represented in repeat calls (63.8% female) and non-repeat calls (61.0% female). Overall patient-caller’s median age was 77 (Q1, Q3: 64, 85). Repeat callers were slightly older than non-repeat callers (77 years and 73 years, respectively; p
Council OKs 911 center (AR)
The Benton City Council passed an ordinance approving an interlocal agreement with Saline County to form the Saline County Emergency Communications Center during its meeting Monday night. Also known as the 911 Center, the Saline County Quorum Court unanimously passed...
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.
REGISTER
Subscribe to Comm Center News
Get the latest News, Articles, and Insights from AllThingsECC.com weekly in our newsletter.
PARTNERS
Stay Up to Date With The Latest News & Updates
Share Your Story
Join our community to share your experience and connect and collaborate with colleagues.
Join Our Newsletter
Get the latest News, Articles, and Insights from AllThingsECC.com weekly in our newsletter.
Follow Us
Stay connected with the latestEmergency Communications News, Articles & Information.