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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...
UCP can bring back 9-1-1 EMS dispatch to Foothills (Canada)
When in an emergency, it’s nice to get help close to home. Foothills County is hoping the UCP will allow its residents — and those in Okotoks, Black Diamond-Turner Valley — to talk to someone close at home when in an emergency and possibly trying to save a loved...
Georgia’s public safety chief resigns after cheating scandal (GA)
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's public safety chief says he's stepping down just weeks after an entire graduating class of the State Patrol's Trooper School was fired or resigned after being accused of cheating on an online exam. Department of Public Safety Commissioner Col....
New FirstNet Cell Sites Launch Across New Hampshire to Support Public Safety (NH)
Yesterday, Gov. Chris Sununu and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) joined AT&T to celebrate a major boost in wireless communications for New Hampshire first responders – the addition of new, purpose-built cell sites and 100+ other network...
Portsmouth Police, Fire Departments Transform First Responder Communications with FirstNet (OH)
Portsmouth’s Police and Fire departments are connecting their first responders to FirstNet – a new communications platform just for public safety. With the tech advancement, the departments can equip officers and firefighters with new capabilities and reliable access...
Norman facing $3.5M shortfall (OK)
Norman city departments may have to forego replacement of police vehicles and other vehicles as officials grapple with a continuing $3.5 million budget shortfall. By June 30, the Capital Improvement Project Fund will hemorrhage $600,000, which helps pay for the city’s...
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We welcome your insights on the experiences and operational challenges you encounter as a public safety professional. By participating in this FirstNet Authority survey, you’ll help shape future enhancements to ensure they meet the mission‑critical, real‑world needs of the public safety community. The survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
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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.
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Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
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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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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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