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Calling All First Responders
Opportunity to let your voices be heard
FirstNet Authority is conducting workshops across the U.S. to get feedback on where you need wireless broadband coverage. For more information, please call or email your state / territory advisor. Their contact information can be located here:
Top Comm Center Headlines
News & Articles
AT&T and FirstNet Introduce New Tool to Keep Students, Teachers Safer at School
With FirstNet, schools can immediately notify 911 with critical information.
The Future of First Responder Communications: How Public Safety-LTE is Transforming …
The future of first responder communications is undergoing a significant transformation, thanks to the advent of Public Safety-LTE (Long Term Evolution). This technology is revolutionizing emergency services worldwide, providing a more efficient and reliable...
County and its largest union reach tentative agreement three-year contract (CA)
Santa Clara County government’s largest union, Service Employees International Union Local 521, representing more than 12,000 workers, announced July 28 it had reached a tentative agreement on a labor contract providing an effective 13% in wage increases over three...
One year after its debut, 988 emergency number drawing many more calls—and more challenges
The new national number for mental health emergencies—988—has been contacted five million times across the country since it was introduced a year ago July 9, according to national data.
Missouri Gov. Parson signs bill providing ‘first-responder’ resources to 911 dispatchers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Among legislation signed earlier this month by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is a bill that 911 dispatchers and telecommunication workers hope will improve their working conditions.
Former YSU dispatcher sentenced for misuse of police database
A former dispatcher for Youngstown State University police was sentenced Thursday to one year of probation after pleading guilty to using a state criminal database to look up the background of women he planned to meet. READ FULL ARTICLE
Daily Do Good: Missouri 911 Dispatcher Helps Parents Deliver Set Of Twins
On Wednesday morning, a father-to-be called 911 as his wife started going into premature labor at their Camden County, Missouri, home. Amy Hufferd, a communications officer with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office and a mother of twins herself, was the one to receive...
Athens-Clarke policeman honored for emergency 911 efforts (GA)
Athens-Clarke Deputy Police Chief Keith Kelly recently received the 2023 Leadership in Advocacy Award for his work in emergency 911 operations.
City of Hayward says computer network restored 2 weeks after cyberattack discovered (CA)
HAYWARD – Officials in the city of Hayward announced that the city's internal computer network has been restored following a ransomware attack that took systems down earlier this month. The city's computer aided dispatch system used in police, firefighter and...
Whitcom dispatch service: Lesson learned after lapse in communication service over Fourth of July weekend (WA)
Whitcom officials paid a visit to Asotin County on Monday to talk about a lapse in dispatch service over the Fourth of July weekend. Bill Tensfeld, Whitman County’s emergency management director, and Wendy Berrett, executive director of Whitcom Regional Dispatch...
CHP in Bay Area responds to having longest 911 answering times in California
Out of the 450 911 call centers across California, CHP Golden Gate Division had the longest averaging answering time in the state in 2023, according to California Office of Emergency Services’ data analyzed by the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit. Located in Vallejo,...
Program sending more money to Virginia’s emergency communication centers (VA)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - A new state grant program will help people working in public safety. The Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle Emergency Communications Center plans to use this grant program to invest more into its dispatchers.
Cellphone helped rescuers find man who was 400 feet down cliff (CA)
The victim’s phone sent his location to Apple, which then called the closest law enforcement agency - in this case, Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s station - with his satellite coordinates. “The location that we got from the iPhone activation was spot on,” Goldsworthy...
“Remarkable people:” two county employees serving from the shadows face emergencies (MS)
Tracey Porter and Lisa Buchanan, according to their supervisor, are exceptional employees who have been working for years to coordinate the best responses to emergency situations for citizens around Vicksburg and beyond. In the lower level of the Vicksburg Courthouse,...
FCC passes new rules to enhance reliability, access to 988 Lifeline service
“Like with 911, it is vital that any problems with 988 are shared fast with the right people, so we understand what went wrong, and we can make it right.” FCC commissioners today unanimously approved new rules that are designed to ensure that the 988 Suicide &...
Governor Hochul Announces $20 Million Available to Enhance Local Public Safety and (NY)
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the availability of $20 million to improve the State's emergency communications systems through the State Interoperable Communications Grant Targeted program, which reimburses eligible counties across the state for various...
‘I don’t know what else to do.’ 911 dispatch center in constant state of hiring due to turnover (KY)
Since 2010, the Owensboro-Daviess County 911 dispatch center has only been fully staffed and fully trained during one 4-month period, Director Paul Nave said Thursday. He said every time one person leaves, it takes about a year to get a fully trained replacement in...
Henderson Police says 911 texts are a valuable tool for the department (NV)
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - Last month, Henderson police arrested a kidnapping suspect after a chase that started near Boulder City. The victim texted 911, stating she had just been kidnapped and feared for her life.
A call for help: 911 dispatchers live through same traumas as police, firefighters (CO)
911 dispatchers are classified federally as “office and administrative support.” “I’m not sure of the last time somebody’s secretary listened to someone burn to death or shoot themselves or discover their kid’s body in their bedroom,” said Kati Fox. READ FULL...
911 calls in Ohio to cost a bit more due to new emergency dispatch system
Emergency dispatching is changing, and charging. Currently, those who call 911 still have to provide information in exactly where they are to get help. But in about two years they will know “what floor you’re on.”
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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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