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Fire Marshal McKay has Great Expectations for Vision 2023
It’s his first time here, and he has great expectations for what he’ll get out of the experience. These phrases sum up the perspective of First Marshal Jim McKay of the Monarch Fire Protection District (Chesterfield, Missouri), as he attends the Vision FirstNet Users Summit (Vision 2023) in Las Vegas. Hosted by the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association (PSBTA) at the South Point Spa and Casino from September 25 to 28, 2023, Vision 2023 is the top public safety industry event for all things FirstNet.
Parkinson: Vision 2023 at the “Bleeding Edge” of Public Safety Communications
Vision 2023 at the South Point Spa and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 25 to 28, 2023 is the premiere industry event for all things FirstNet, “If you’re talking about range extension, if you’re talking about 911, or the integration of broadband, it really does cover the A to Z of public safety comms in a way that I don’t think any other conference does,” Parksinson said. “To be able to see what’s available for public safety and then to see the vision of what’s to come — and that is what the conference is named after — is a terrific opportunity to hear some of the thought leaders, to see some of the leading technology, the thought leaders in the community and to see what’s coming.”
Richmond to launch pilot crisis response program, taking police off certain calls (CA)
Richmond City Council took a big step this month toward an alternative emergency response program that would give residents an option to calling the police. Expected to start in August as an 18-month pilot, the Community Crisis Response Program will serve as a...
911 dispatcher calls labor situation “dehumanizing” – (CA)
Mia Halsell, a six-year Redondo Beach emergency dispatcher stepped to the podium Sept. 5 at the city council meeting during public comment. She said that, of the 23 people she and a colleague have trained, three remain on the job. She said 911 dispatchers in the city...
Limestone Co. students training on new 911 dispatch system (AL)
LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WAFF) - Students at the Limestone County Career Technology Center have a new tool to help them get some invaluable hands-on experience.
Second former Preston 911 dispatcher alleges harassment, retaliation, unfair treatment (WA)
KINGWOOD – A former Preston County emergency dispatcher says she wasn’t treated fairly by supervisors, was subjected to inappropriate sexual conduct in the office and was a victim of retaliation.
Dispatcher — possibly Davis County’s longest-serving — retires after 40 years (UT)
"I didn't have any idea what I was getting into," Campbell said about starting work as a dispatcher. "And then I loved the job."
Railroads Leverage Emergency Dispatching Services to Dramatically Increase AskRail Access
Columbiana County, OH / Beaver County, PA – September 19, 2023 – In another major stride toward enhancing rail emergency response, AAR, working with member company Norfolk Southern, integrated AskRail® into the Columbiana County, OH and Beaver County, PA emergency...
Thieves steal Pierce County man’s car while he waits for 911 dispatcher to answer his call for help (WA)
A car theft victim in Pierce County is raising questions why 911 dispatchers did not immediately answer his emergency calls over the weekend. READ FULL ARTICLE
Spring-area dispatch center defying national odds amid national staffing crisis (TX)
Texas Emergency Communications Center ( Texas ECC ) this week celebrates its second anniversary of innovation, safety and service to nearly half a million residents in Harris County.
Nebraska Public Service Commission opens probes into Windstream, Lumen
Nebraska's Public Service Commission formally opened investigations into the state's two largest telecommunications providers Tuesday over their role in separate disruptions to 911 services in Southeast Nebraska in late August and early September. READ FULL ARTICLE
The highs and lows of 9-1-1 communicators – (WY)
CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - After terrorists flew planes into the twin towers of the World trade Center in 2001... firefighters, paramedics, and police officers rushed to the scene. But it’s the sometimes overlooked 9-1-1 communicators who were frantically...
Hope for St. Louis’ 911 system? Hiring is up after big pay raises (MO)
A rush of new hires is giving the city’s beleaguered 911 dispatch system something it’s been short on in recent years: hope. City officials say that since they gave dispatcher salaries a big boost in July, they’ve gotten more than 100 new applications, hired 26 and...
Oakland announces $2.5M investment to improve troubled 911 system (CA)
OAKLAND – Oakland city leaders announced Monday a $2.5 million investment to improve the city's 911 system, following criticism over slow response times and recent outages.
“We had to help them:” NYPD emergency dispatchers remembering answering the call on 9/11 (NY)
NEW YORK -- September 11, 2001 was a day many NYPD emergency phone dispatchers won't ever forget. As CBS New York's Jenna DeAngelis reports, they provided a link between victims of the attacks and first responders.
Brevard EOC vows to be ready for 2024 hurricane season with new facility (FL)
The new Brevard County Emergency Operations Center to be located at 1751 Huntington Lane in Rockledge will house a consolidated dispatch center for the Brevard County Fire Rescue and the Brevard County Sheriff’s office in addition to the Brevard County Emergency...
Missouri 911 dispatchers can now qualify as first responders. Here’s why that matters (MO)
A bill Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed into law in August gives dispatchers access to expanded benefits, including mental health care services and earlier retirement, by defining them as first responders and allowing jurisdictions to do the same.
Cullman community pays tribute following murder-suicide of Cullman County dispatcher (AL)
White served as the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office’s dispatch supervisor. She spent seven years with the department, having worked there since she was 16-years-old. READ FULL ARTICLE
IXP Donates Innovative Kits to the Lawrence Police Dept. Enhancing First Responders’ Abilities for Autistic Children
PRINCETON, NJ, UNITED STATES, September 5, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ -- IXP Corporation, a leading public safety company, is proud to announce its donation of a specialized kit designed to support first responders in assisting autistic children during distressing...
Cullman County Sheriff deputy killed dispatcher girlfriend in murder-suicide at Orange Beach (AL)
ORANGE BEACH — Two Cullman County Sheriff’s department employees are dead after a Sheriff Deputy killed a shift supervisor and then himself after an argument escalated to gun violence early Thursday morning, Sept. 7. READ FULL ARTICLE
UPCOMING WEBINARREGISTER>
FirstNet Independence: A governance case study
Thursday, February 19, 2026
1:30 PM PT | 2:30 PM MT | 3:30 PM CT | 4:30 PM ET
As we are near the time Congress must reauthorize FirstNet, there needs to be a discussion on the review of FirstNet Governance. Join former FirstNet Board Chairs Sue Swenson, Chief Richard Carrizzo, and former Vice-Chair Chief Jeff Johnson, as they discuss the value of an independent FirstNet Authority, program oversight, and the need to protect and advance the nation’s public safety network.
The creation of the FirstNet Authority marked a deliberate and historic policy decision by Congress to establish an independent, nationwide public-safety broadband authority insulated from traditional departmental control. Born out of the lessons of 9/11 and codified in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, FirstNet was designed to operate with a singular mission: to ensure reliable, interoperable communications for the nation’s first responders. The discussion will examine the governance structure, rationale for its statutory independence, and oversight model.
Reauthorization SurveyMORE>
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.
PETITIONSMORE>
Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
PSBTA UpdatesMORE>
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
Public Sector GrantsMORE>
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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