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Allegany County honors local dispatchers (NY)
BELMONT — As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to lock down the nation, Allegany County on Monday honored some of those on the front lines of emergency response, proclaiming April 12-18 Public Safety Telecommunications Week. April is 911 Education Month and Monday’s...
BOB CONFER: Dispatchers are the forgotten first responders (NY)
Sadly, it too often takes a crisis — be it 9/11 or a local catastrophe — to cause Americans to really celebrate the value that first responders bring to society. We’ve seen that admiration in spades of late as impromptu parades, homemade yard signs, and press briefing...
9-1-1 service currently down in Wise County (VA)
Those with an emergency in Wise County are asked to call dispatch a 276-321-7567. The outage is due to disruption in Verizon service in the area.
Volunteer to Update the TERT Standard
Telecommunicator Emergency Response Teams (TERTs) provide communications-specific mutual aid between PSAPs to provide trained personnel during emergency situations. Volunteers are sought to update the Standard for TERT Deployment. This revision of the standard will assist PSAPs and governing 9-1-1 authorities with the information required for developing, training, equipping, and deploying a standardized TERT team.
Click here to volunteer.
LCECC: What’s their why? (KS)
Lyon County Emergency Communications Center dispatchers work hard day after day to coordinate responses with local law enforcement and first responders. Many people in the community may not realize who it is on the other side of the phone when they are calling during...
ORLEANS COUNTY/Sheriff’s Office recognizes 911 Dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators’ Week April 12-18, 2020 (NY)
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office recognizes 911 Dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators’ Week April 12-18, 2020. Public Safety Telecommunicators (911 Dispatchers) are a vital part in an emergency. Through assessment and coordination of each...
Temporary Video 911 Service In Effect For Casper Area (WY)
Dispatchers in Natrona County are using a live video response service for 911 calls in order to help with social distancing measures. The optional service that callers or dispatchers can request during the call will be in effect for the next 30 days. It does not...
Dispatch center contingency plan tabled again (ME)
FARMINGTON - Commissioners moved again to table a contingency plan proposed for the Franklin County Regional Communications Center at a meeting Thursday morning, as well as reversing a previous decision and opting in to federal paid leave associated with the COVID-19...
CC:IPS Publishes Global Recommendations for Emergency Services and PSAP on COVID-19 Outbreak
The Collaborative Coalition for Intl. Public Safety has compiled recommendations for Emergency Services Organisations, incl. Public Safety Answering Points to help organisations respond & prepare in the best way possible during the COVID-19 outbreak. COVID-19 is a...
County approves extra funding for Emergency Operations Center (KS)
Lyon County Commissioners approved an additional appropriation to the county’s Emergency Operations Center Thursday during its regularly-scheduled action session. Flint Hills Community Health Center Chief Financial Officer Stephanie Ringgold and Lyon County Controller...
Next-generation 911 service for Grey-Bruce in the works (Canada)
Life moves on amid the COVID-19 lockdown in Owen Sound, even while most people are focussed on the latest developments in this public health crisis. Owen Sound Police Service successfully completed its first end-to-end test call through the next-generation 911...
The essential workers you don’t see: Telecommunicators stand ready (KY)
HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - As some terms take off during the Coronavirus, the actions being taken around one is sticking out among the rest, essential. Essential is a term used to describe workers and employees that are still asked to work day in and day out as others are...
James City County’s budget proposal 6% larger than previous year, calls for no change in property tax rate (VA)
Tax rates will remain right where they are, but James City County’s budget will still grow by 6% if county administrator Scott Stevens’ budget is approved by the Board of Supervisors as is. [...] Public safety is the second largest slice of the general fund, with a...
APCO Files a Project Initiation and Seeks Work Group Members to Revise the Standard for Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) Deployment
APCO International has filed a Project Initiation with ANSI and has issued a call for participation for work group members to participate in the revision of the APCO Standard for Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) Deployment.
An ECC Director’s Thoughts on the Pandemic Response
By Jason Kern CPE, RPL, ENP, COML April 8, 2020 Being charged with running an Emergency Communications Center in 2020 has proven to be one of the most challenging things I’ve done in my public safety journey which dates back to 1991. I’m a planner and I...
ECCs Will Postpone, Alter, Celebrate NPSTW 2020
Next week, April 12-18, is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and emergency communications centers are divided about how or whether they are celebrating. Our research shows that many are postponing all or most of their celebration due to COVID-19. Even those continuing to recognize the week have had to defer some parts of their celebration, such as awards banquets, open houses and in-person recognition from the first responders they support. The reasons behind each decision are complicated, and there is no right or wrong, just adjusting to the current situation and doing what is best for each particular agency. For…
911 call centers have enough capacity so far, but upgrades are delayed (NY)
The nation’s emergency phone systems are proving resilient during the coronavirus pandemic, even in regions where call volume is surging, according to survey results of 911 call-center operators released Monday. But experts also warned that delays to...
Lunch Provided to 9-1-1 Center Staff (AL)
Huguley - Local civic clubs, businesses, ad restaurants are continuing to treat hospital workers, first responders, and 9-1-1 dispatchers with free lunches. On Tuesday, the Valley Lions Club bought lunch for the employees of the Chambers County communications center....
Charleston County urging residents to sign up for ‘Smart911’ (SC)
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — The Charleston County Consolidated 9-1-1 Center is urging people to sign up for a national safety profile registry called 'Smart911.' Individuals can create a Smart911 Safety Profile for their household...
Butler County 911 Center Creates Backup Dispatch Locations (PA)
Butler County Emergency Services is preparing for the possibility that someone working in the 911 Dispatch Center becomes ill with COVID-19. The alternate stations are located in the meeting room and two offices at the County’s Emergency Services’ Butler Township...
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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