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What to do if there is a 911 outage (MI)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — People in nearly half the counties in Michigan were unable to make 9-1-1 calls early Friday morning. An outage hit dispatch centers in Barry, Ionia, Kalamazoo, and tens of other counties. The network provider for 9-1-1, Peninsula Fiber Network, was...
Sebastian County moves forward seeking dispatchers (AR)
At a 911 board meeting held Jan. 28, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) gave a presentation to potentially assist the board in meeting criteria for Act 660, which is new legislation to establish the public safety act of...
The 911 Dispatcher [VIDEO]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rdsEGwdelk&feature=youtu.be
Escambia County Now Taking Public Safety Director Applications (FL)
The Escambia Public Safety director job has been posted, with applications accepted until February 27. The public safety director reports directly to the county administrator on public safety activities and is responsible for managing daily operations and planning...
New cell tower promises improved service, emergency response times on Bayfield Peninsula (WI)
RED CLIFF, WI -- A new cell tower on the Red Cliff Reservation promises better cell service for public use and faster emergency response times. AT&T and FirstNet officially launched cellular and wireless broadband service to the Bayfield Peninsula and Apostle...
Gurnee 911 Communications Center launches automated medical information system that ‘brings emergency dispatching to the 21st Century’ (IL)
Gurnee’s 911 Communications Center has begun using a new automated medical-priority dispatch system that helps dispatchers more quickly give out information during emergency medical calls and automatically forwards it to emergency medical personnel as well. The...
York County 911 center hires new director, aims to enhance relations with first responders (PA)
YORK COUNTY, PA — The York County Commissioners announced on Friday that they have hired a candidate to lead the county's 911 director. Matthew Hobson will become York County's 911 director and will begin leading the center on Feb. 10. According to a release from York...
Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market: 3 Bold Projections for 2020 | Radwin, Redline
A new market study is released on Global Wireless Broadband in Public Safety Market with data Tables for historical and forecast years represented with Chats & Graphs spread through 92 Pages with easy to understand detailed analysis. The study highlights detailed...
Harris County: Greg Jurrens explains how FirstNet can address LMR backhaul challenges [VIDEO]
Greg Jurrens, senior manager of radio services and public–safety technology for Harris County (Texas) Universal Services, describes how the county has used prioritized FirstNet broadband to provide backhaul links to deployable LMR units in challenging rural...
Dispatcher, a Parma Heights resident, lauded for efforts in saving life of Richmond Heights grandmother (OH)
RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Lisa Forgach, a dispatcher with the Heights Hillcrest Communications Center in Cleveland Heights, was awarded with a plaque Tuesday evening (Jan. 28) at the Richmond Heights City Council meeting for her efforts on the job on Oct. 17, 2019. On...
Two Page Dispatchers Graduate from Regional Dispatch Academy (AZ)
AGE, AZ (January 31, 2020):On January 24, 2020 Page Public Safety Dispatchers Jackie Lyons and Melanie White graduated from the Western ArizonaLaw Enforcement Training Academy (WALETA) Dispatch Academy in Lake Havasu City, AZ...
New proposed design for Monona County Public Safety Center, including Communications (MO)
[...] The new Monona County Public Safety Center would house the emergency operations, a training center, communications center, sheriff administrative offices, and Onawa Police Department. The current communications center is located in the basement of the law...
AT&T to finish 80% of FirstNet buildout in coming months, exec says
AT&T expects to complete 80% of the contracted buildout of the FirstNet nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) “in the coming months,” an AT&T executive said yesterday. AT&T Chief Operating Officer (COO) John Stankey made the statement during...
Nominations Sought for the NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission
Nominations Sought for the NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission
2 hours ago (0 Comments)Posted by: Chris NussmanNENA invites members of the 9-1-1 community to submit nominees to represent stakeholder interest categories on the NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission (Commission). This body will provide independent oversight of the PSAP Credentialing Agency (PCA) and the Forest Guide, two functional elements required to be operated centrally for NG9-1-1 to work according to prevailing standards. These requirements come from specifications developed under NENA’s standards Development Group (NDG) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
Members of the 9-1-1 community are invited to nominate an individual to serve on this Commission. Please send all nominations to NENA’s Technical Director, Brandon Abley by February 24th, 2020.
In submitting a nominee, please provide the following documentation (or equivalent):
The nominee’s resume or CV;
A short statement describing the nominee’s qualifications, such as related technical expertiseand/or subject domain in 9-1-1;
A short statement clarifying the rationale that the nominee represents the identified stakeholder group; and
Evidence that the nominee represents the identified stakeholder group, if applicable, such as an affirmative vote of a board of directors nominating the nominee to sit on the Commission.
Click here to read the full call for nominations and here to read the Commission’s bylaws.
County, city leaders argue over dispatch center (NM)
Chaves County commissioners and Mayor Dennis Kintigh are battling over the region’s emergency communications dispatch center. At the same time, both sides also are saying that there should be more cooperation among the two government bodies. Kintigh wants the...
Jennifer Schermerhorn among 9-1-1 operator grads (OR)
Seaside dispatcher Jennifer Schermerhorn is among graduates of the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training 117th Basic Telecommunications Class. The three-week course includes emergency call handling techniques, stress management, civil liability,...
Editorial: 9-1-1 disruption should prompt swift search for answers (MI)
Sometimes you learn things you never wanted to know. Like, what happens when the entire state’s 911 system goes down? We found out on Friday morning when dispatchers statewide realized their phones weren’t ringing — and it wasn’t merely a quiet night. READ...
York County 911 center hires new director, aims to enhance relations with first responders (PA)
YORK COUNTY, PA — The York County Commissioners announced on Friday that they have hired a candidate to lead the county's 911 director. Matthew Hobson will become York County's 911 director and will begin leading the center on Feb. 10. READ MORE
Washington National Guard showcases network and communications equipment utilized during and after a disaster (WA)
Following a disaster, the ability to communicate is critical. Emergency responders have to know the needs of a community to provide efficient, effective help. "In the wake of a large-scale disaster, communication systems are usually a mess," said Tech Sgt. Ian...
FIRE-EMS & TELEMEDICINE – WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES (NJ)
[...] As shown by a 2018 study in Houston, Texas, when firefighters were dispatched with EMS, firefighters were the first to arrive on-scene by almost 2 minutes in 46.7% of calls. Those two minutes can drastically improve outcome. So why not have a system that allows...
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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