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Flood damage has Middlebury Police Department dispatching out of mobile unit (VT)
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. (WCAX) - Flood cleanup and recovery continues in Middlebury following last week’s deluge, and it has local officials working in close quarters.
Dispatchable location for wireless 911 calls expected to get a closer look in future, FCC official says
Wireless carriers continue to improve their ability to provide 911 centers with more location—including vertical Z-axis information—but the FCC continues to hope that carriers will be able to provide a dispatchable location with emergency calls, an FCC official said...
‘Perfect public safety storm’ at Knox 911 call center; ‘closure’ yet be defined (ME)
ROCKLAND — Put public safety chiefs in a room together with a critical problem to solve, such as the demise of the county emergency dispatch center, and they won’t leave until a viable action plan is in place.
911 Dispatch System Readies for Upgrades (MN)
The state legislature set aside a special fund in the last session to help the transition, including in Benton County. Sheriff Troy Heck says the facility is going from analog to digital. “So, instead of having 911 call flow over telephone lines, we’re now going to be...
Seattle settles lawsuit by 911 manager who cited dispatch concerns (WA)
The city of Seattle has agreed to pay $162,500 to settle a lawsuit by a former 911 call center manager who said he was wrongly punished for speaking up about problems at work, including a dispatch practice that allegedly contributed to a fatal heart attack. READ FULL...
Milwaukee strikes new deal for 911 dispatch software ahead of Republican National Convention (WI)
About four months after the city of Milwaukee watched the installation of its new 911 dispatch software fall apart, the city believes it has a solution in time for the 2024 Republican National Convention coming to town. The resolution is crucial for a city that's...
Cary 911 using video livestreams to see emergencies before crews arrive (NC)
CARY N.C. – Emergency telecommunicators in Cary can now use livestreams to see fires, break-ins, and more while a caller is on the phone, with permission.
Claremont emergency communications system to get $1M upgrade (NH)
CLAREMONT, N.H. (WCAX) - Nearly $1 million in federal funding will help upgrade the emergency communications system in Claremont, New Hampshire, and surrounding towns.
Montgomery County 911 budget denied due to dispatch staffing issues | Community Impact (TX)
The Montgomery County Emergency Communications District, which handles 911 and dispatching services for the county, had its fiscal year 2023-24 budget denied on Aug. 8 by county commissioners over a staffing and pay dispute with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
APCO speakers say RTT being used operationally, could be key platform for 911 in the future
NASHVILLE—After years of work, Real-time text (RTT) solutions are being used in 911 centers today, and the technology’s flexibility could portend a future in which RTT is used to support emergency calling beyond the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, APCO panelist...
CISA Recognizes Mark Buchholz During Bi-Annual SAFECOM Meeting (WA)
SAFECOM and the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) would like to congratulate Mark Buchholz on his award. During the Spring SAFECOM Bi-Annual Meeting on May 10, 2023, in Pasadena, California, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure...
Memo asks St. Louis police officers to limit some duties due to dispatch shortage (MO)
ST. LOUIS – An internal memo distributed to St. Louis police officers—and obtained by the FOX Files—reveals there were not enough dispatchers in the city this past Saturday evening. A portion of the memo reads, “Please keep in mind that we have one dispatcher handling...
West Long Beach is first to get mental health workers who respond to certain 911 calls (CA)
As part of a pilot program that rethinks some responsibilities traditionally handled by police, a community crisis response team run out of the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services has started responding to some 911 calls related to behavioral health and...
APCO and PulsePoint Provide Free Integration, Displaying AED Locations
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Public safety telecommunicators utilizing APCO’s IntelliComm software can now quickly direct 9-1-1 callers during time-critical cardiac emergencies to the closest automated external defibrillator (AED). The life-saving advancement comes from the...
Understaffed and overwhelmed, Louisville’s 911 system admits to putting calls on hold (KY)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — When people in Louisville are desperate for help, they call 911. But there are times when those calls for help are put on hold. Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
RapidDeploy announces Lightning mobile app, statewide deal in Kansas
RapidDeploy yesterday announced Lightning, the company’s mobile application that is designed to support providing first responders in the field with 911 call information and supplementary data—including video feeds—automatically, beginning with a multiyear, statewide...
911 center calls for help: dispatch center first in the country to use traveling …
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AT&T and FirstNet Introduce New Tool to Keep Students, Teachers Safer at School
Safety Shield provides a "wearable panic button" for schoolteachers and administrators that instantly alerts 9-1-1 while simultaneously sounding a campuswide silent alarm to school personnel. READ FULL ARTICLE
Support dog now available for Calhoun County 911 dispatchers (MI)
CALHOUN COUNTY, MI (WNWN/WTVB) – Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority is providing support for dispatchers in the form of Hope, a dog from the organization Canines For Change. Hope is a one-year-old Goldendoodle who is nearly complete in her certification...
Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center Receives Nearly $17 Million in … (MA)
For immediate release HOLBROOK — Director Steve Hooke is pleased to announce that the Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center was awarded nearly $17 million in grants for Fiscal Year 2024 from the Massachusetts State 911 Department. The grant programs award...
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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