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OWEN SOUND POLICE SERVICE UPGRADES ITS DISPATCHING TECHNOLOGY (Canada)
The Owen Sound Police Service completed 911 transfer tests this week, finishing a long and difficult process of Next Generation 911 compatibility. Earlier this year, the Service completed its first test call with Bell Canada. In recent months, the Service...
Augment Your ARES® Mission with FirstNet®
By Randy Richmond, W7HMT
In March 2018, the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network known as First Responder NetworkAuthority, in contract with AT&T, was launched as FirstNet®, the first nationwide 4G LTE communicationsplatform dedicated for public safety’s wireless broadband needs. The 2012 Spectrum Act, which fundedFirstNet, sallows the dedicated band on the 700 MHzspectrum to be shared with second responders(extended primary status), such as people in healthcare, utilities, transportation, and supporting volunteergroups, including the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®). Here’s how ARES members can applyfor a subscription to FirstNet and use this tool for public service applications. READ MORE
Lexington County 911 Communications Division presents awards and recognizes promotions during In-Service Training (SC)
Lexington, SC (Paul Kirby) - Lexington County’s 911 Communications Division held its quarterly In-Service Training this week and during that training, a number of awards and recognition for employee achievements were presented. Employees who have also been promoted...
Cape County moves closer to 911 texting capability (MO)
Cape Girardeau County has taken another step toward adding texting capability to its 911 emergency system. The County Commission on Thursday approved a resolution to accept a $9,140 grant from the Missouri 911 Service Board. That money will be added to $13,710 already...
The Prescription for Thwarting Cyberattacks
Hackers can wreak havoc on public safety communications networks. Fortunately, there is a lot that agencies can do to increase the difficulty of hacking their networks to lessen, and even prevent, the effects of cyberattacks. While it is next to impossible to prevent...
EOC should stay with sheriff’s office (FL)
The county commissioners are considering managing the 911 Emergency Operations Center operated and managed by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. No way should the commissioners be involved in the managing and operation of the Operations Center. The Emergency...
Commissioners aim to improve radio communication system (OH)
SIDNEY – The Shelby County commissioners will continue to review and study possible options to improve the county’s radio communication system after hearing presentations and receiving feedback from first responders. Shelby County emergency medical services chiefs,...
Barriers to Perform and Causes of Delay in the Delivery of Dispatcher-Assisted CPR: A Cross-Sectional Study
Background: Since 2008, dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DA-CPR) has been running in Tehran, Iran. However, there are numerous cases that the emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) did not provide DA-CPR or the bystander refused to perform CPR. The...
SAFETY: CONNECTED FIRST RESPONDERS
Many buildings use video and audio monitoring, transmitting data to monitoring centers, which contact first responders when alarms are triggered. But even in 2020, information about a scene where an alarm was triggered is still often relayed to first responders by...
Thousands of Washington, Oregon Verizon customers experienced service outage, 911 back up now
KENNEWICK, Wash. — Thousands of Verizon customers in central and eastern Washington and northeast Oregon were experiencing a service outage Wednesday night. According to a Verizon outage tracker, 5,458 customers reported a service outage shortly after 9:30 p.m. The...
PD: Woman Repeatedly Calls 9-1-1 For Non-Emergency, Verbally Abuses Warren County Dispatchers (NJ)
A Newark woman who repeatedly called 9-1-1 dispatchers and verbally abused them was charged with causing a false public alarm, authorities said. Tahisha M. Bakr, 45, placed numerous calls to dispatchers in Mansfield Township on July 12, after having been previously...
Grand Jury: Mendocino County’s Emergency Communications System in urgent need of repairs (CA)
With summer wildfire season in full swing and more preemptive power shutoffs looming this fall, a report by the Mendocino County Grand Jury urges county officials to ensure its Emergency Communications System will perform as needed. “The system is experiencing an...
VSO Communications Center earns national accreditation (FL)
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office Communications Center has successfully earned national accreditation — for the first time ever. This award, secured after months of review and site assessment by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), means...
Pierre City Commission Approves Dispatch Center Remodeling Project (SD)
(KCCR) — The Pierre City Commission has given approval to a request to update the dispatch equipment at the Central South Dakota Communications Center. Pierre Police Chief Jason Jones says the project has been in the works for a while. Jones says CARES Act funding the...
FCC Won’t Stay 6 GHz Wi-Fi Order
he FCC has denied petitions by public safety and utility organizations to stay its decision to open up the entire 6 GHz band for unlicensed WiFi use pending judicial review. In an order issued Thursday, from Ronald Repasi, acting chief of the Office of Engineering and...
ARRL Hires Paul Z. Gilbert, KE5ZW, as Director of Emergency Management
As another step in ARRL’s increased focus on strengthening its emergency communications capabilities and long-standing working relationships with federal and state agencies and private emergency response organizations, ARRL has hired Paul Z. Gilbert, KE5ZW, of Cedar...
Orders for a new 911 tower have been placed; BuEComm dispatchers could be out of their building for up to three months (IL)
PRINCETON — Despite Bureau County's 911 Tower being one of Monday's storm casualties, the 911 dispatch operations are up and running. Bureau County Sheriff's Office Commander Jim Shipp reported to the county board on Tuesday that despite the storm taking out the tower...
Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center Receives Grant For Technology Equipment For New Facility (MA)
HOLBROOK — Director Steve Hooke is pleased to share that the Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center was recently awarded a grant to purchase equipment and technology components for the HRECC’s soon-to-be-completed communications center. The grant,...
County approves purchase of emergency communications system (GA)
During the most recent meeting of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, the board approved the purchase of equipment, along with labor and installation services for an emergency radio communications system. County Manager Jerry Cooper explained during the work...
What public safety users are saying about mobile device use
As public safety users rely more and more often on mobile technology, what are the common issues they encounter with smartphones and tablets that are almost always designed for consumer use? At the recent virtual incarnation of the National Institute of Standards and...
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
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