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Fishbones for the TN NG911 Address Server (TN)
If you’ve played in the address space any length of time you’ve heard of fishbones – and that is simply drawing a line from the address point to it’s “spot on the street”. Granted if you’ve ever done an addressing project from scratch (I had the joy to do that a few...
‘It needs to happen’; Indiana bill would classify 911 dispatchers as first responders
VIGO Co., Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) - According to Vigo county 911 director Vickie Oster, when there's an emergency her dispatchers are on the front lines. "We provide pre-arrival instructions for medical issues. We stay on the phone with people while somebody is breaking in...
Dallas Police Department’s online reporting system now available in Spanish (TX)
DALLAS — The Dallas Police Department has made its online reporting system available in Spanish. In a news release sent Wednesday, the department said it launched the new feature after high demand from the public. The Dallas Online Reporting System, also...
City of Longview urges residents to sign up for Smart911 alert system (TX)
LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) - The City of Longview is urging residents to sign up for its new emergency alert system. Smart911 launched Feb. 15 and replaces the old CodeRED system. Residents who were signed up with the old system must opt in with the Smart911 system. City...
Move-in date for new Wexford County Central Dispatch facility quickly approaching (MI)
CADILLAC — With less than a month before the target date of March 15, Wexford County 911/Central Dispatch Director Duane Alworden said that it is still the goal for when dispatchers can move to and start working in the new Fawcett Communications Center. In front of a...
Towering far above the city: New Communications Tower Scotland Communications Center (NC)
The new tower is located at the Scotland County Emergency Operations Center on West Boulevard. The county partnered with Verizon Wireless and NC Highway Patrol on funding to construct the new tower complex and put it into use. Verizon Wireless is funding the new tower...
Walden proposes bill prioritizing federal funds for nation’s 9-1-1 system
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), ranking member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, this week unveiled legislation to ensure America’s first responders have the resources to respond to 9-1-1 calls and to clarify acceptable 9-1-1 obligations or expenditures....
Reading Police Communications Center to undergo renovations and move to the Berks County Courthouse (PA)
The Reading Police Communications Center in City Hall, the office on the first floor where residents go to file a complaint or speak with an officer, will close next month as it undergoes renovations. “It’s undergoing a major renovation of the entire physical space...
South Sound 911 Board of Directors announce Executive Director finalists (WA)
South Sound 911’s Board of Directors executive recruitment committee announced today that five candidates are advancing as finalists for the position of executive director. The five candidates advancing in the selection process are: Mark Buchholz, Director, Willamette...
Why is 911 the emergency call number? (WA)
WASHINGTON — It has been drilled into our heads since childhood: "Dial 911 for emergencies!" But why is that the number for emergencies in the United States? You have to go back to the early stages of telephone use. The 20th century started out with telegraphs...
Consolidating fire department calls, changes to dispatch to be main focus of special Peoria council meeting (IL)
Tuesday night Missouri based consulting firm Fitch & Associates is presenting their findings from a five year survey. [...] In terms of dispatch, Fitch is recommending they upgrade from a “paper card system” to electronic software that could cost almost $...
ASO mourns CCC commander (FL)
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. (WCJB)-- Employees of the Alachua County Sheriff's Office are saddened by the loss of one of their leading employees who died over the weekend. Combined Communications Center commander Brandi Cartee started as a telecommunicator and worked her way...
Finding – and keeping – good dispatchers is still a challenge for localities (VA)
One of the trending topics in the public safety world is the movement to reclassify individuals who answer the 911 calls and then dispatch the appropriate public safety assets from that of clerical workers to first responders. I agree that it is a long overdue...
Public Safety Hiring Update (AZ)
In an email to the college community on Jan. 28, Mike Hill, director of public safety updated the campus community about several positions that Public Safety is looking to fill. These include the senior positions of Associate Director for Operations and Associate...
United States: Kari’s Law Compliance Obligations Begin February 16, 2020
Kari's Law, signed into law on February 16, 2018, requires organizations that use multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) to provide callers with the ability to dial 911 directly from any telephone in the system. MLTS are often used in hotels, office buildings, corporate...
Completion of public safety building is near (ME)
The end is in sight! Excitement is growing in our police, fire and dispatch community as the completion of the new Public Safety Building is nearly within reach. If you have driven by the site lately, you have probably noticed the exterior landscape and hardscape...
UNDER THE HEADSET: A Day in the Life
This is the first installment in a series of fictional dramatizations about the trials and tribulations of a public safety telecommunicator. The story is fictional, but the circumstances are real for many employed in public safety communications.
Manatee County (Fla.) selects RapidDeploy to provide cloud-based 911 tactical mapping, data analytics (FL)
Manatee County, Fla., soon plans to install RapidDeploy’s cloud-based NG911 Bundle, which is expected to provide tactical-mapping and data-analytics capabilities to the county’s 911 emergency communications center. Funded with almost $100,000 from a state grant...
UPDATE: 9-1-1 Call System up and running in Christian County (MO)
CHRISTIAN COUNTY, Mo.– Christian County officials tell Ozarks First reporters that 9-1-1 operations are working once again. The County originally warned of a system-wide outage on the afternoon of February 16th, 2020. The County says it’s still running tests on the...
Mississippi 911 Agency Adopts Cellphone Location Software (MS)
The triangulation of a 911 call from a cellphone can provide too large a search area for first responders when time matters most. In Mississippi, officials have embraced a no-cost software solution to narrow a caller's location to roughly 3 feet and help contend with...
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.
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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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