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Cleveland City Council proposes faster, more reliable 911 system (OH)
A resolution introduced at Monday night's city council meeting proposed the city use a faster, more reliable system called Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911), saying, in part, it will "provide faster and more reliable emergency assistance by using updated technology to...
Edmonson County Fiscal Court allocates $130K to dispatch center upgrades – (KY)
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Edmonson County Dispatch Center Director, Robin Rigdon, says the center can get anywhere from 35 to 70 calls a day. “Our consoles have reached the maximum capabilities of the radio channels that we can answer for,” Rigdon said.
State integrates 911 communications, data to improve emergency response – (CA)
The California emergency response system is getting a makeover to increase data sharing, automate notifications and integrate mapping.
AT&T readies for Hurricane Ian with ‘arsenal’ of equipment, personnel – (FL)
AT&T said it is standing ready with “an arsenal of disaster response equipment and personnel” as Hurricane Ian approaches. The telecommunications company said it is closely monitoring the storm, which is currently on track to make landfall on Florida’s west coast...
Rehoboth Beach 9-1-1 Communications Center Recertified – (DE)
The City of Rehoboth Beach’s 9-1-1 Communications Center has been recertified as an Accredited Center of Excellence for medical, and police as well as fire dispatch services. Accreditation is valid for a three-year period. Rehoboth’s communications center first...
Orange County names new 911 chief – (NY)
Greg Schmid GOSHEN – An Orange County emergency services employee who began in 2004 as a public safety dispatcher, has been named deputy 911 commissioner.
Orange County EOC prepares for Hurricane Ian – (FL)
It will get much busier at the Orange County EOC in the next 24 hours as Ian gets closer to the sunshine state. Orlando's emergency operations center will also be operating with full staffing beginning Wednesday. Both of the hubs for emergency communications will help...
MPD reports longer response times to 911 emergency calls (MN)
Minneapolis police say it’s taking too long to respond to dangerous and immediate emergencies. Last week, interim Minneapolis Police Chief Amelia Huffman told a City Council committee the average 911 response time for officers citywide is now eight and a half minutes,...
911 call priority system updated in effort to trim police response times – (LA)
Until a few days ago, New Orleans’ 911 emergency dispatch system didn’t make a distinction between a robbery in progress and one that took place weeks ago. But under a change that went into effect this weekend, the system will stop assigning old incidents the same...
3 Weld dispatchers, 1 supervisor receive Lifesaver Awards (CO)
The actions of four Weld County Public Safety employees resulted in four lives saved earlier this year. Weld County Public Safety Dispatchers Emily Schoneman, Cambrie Guerrero-Wacker and Matt Bilyeu, along with Communications Supervisor Ivett Avalos, all received...
Serve & Protect: Dispatcher Sarah Hines – (IN)
Sarah Hines is multi-lingual. English, of course. French. German. Japanese. And, emergency dispatch.
ICOM dispatchers are ‘the calm within the storm’ | (WA)
When a red light flickers on, help is on the way. All hours of the day and night at Island County Emergency Services Communications Center, a team of first responders dons headsets and waits before a veritable wall of computer monitors for a call of distress. These...
Seattle will launch a new unit of crisis responders under revamped 911 system – (WA)
This fall, the Seattle mayor’s office and city council have agreed to jointly create a new type of crisis response unit to be available when people call 911.
Michele A. Surdam Named New Director of County Department of Public Safety Communications (VA)
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors has appointed Michele A. Surdam, who has served Prince William County for more than 30 years, to be the new Director of the Prince William County Department of Public Safety Communications.
Loudoun Detective, Dispatcher Earn Statewide Awards (VA)
Two members of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office received statewide recognition during the the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association Annual Conference on Sept. 20 in Virginia Beach. The VSA 2022 Dispatcher of the Year award was presented to Loudoun’s Molly Rau. She is...
Public safety workers mourn sudden death of county emergency services director (NY)
ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y. — Public safety workers and public officials in the tri-county area were mourning the unexpected death Monday of Essex County Emergency Services Director Max Thwaits III. Thwaits, 40, of AuSable Forks, died of heart failure around 2 a.m. Monday at...
Lenexa Police using new technology to send texts after 911 calls – (KS)
The Lenexa Police Department uses new technology to keep people safe. It’s called SPIDR Tech and Lenexa is one of the first departments in the country to use it. The technology sends text messages to select callers after speaking to a 911 dispatcher.
Technology lets 911 callers share livestream with dispatch – (IN)
Prepared Live lets citizens use their cell phone camera to live stream an emergency directly to dispatch. BROWN COUNTY, Ind. — Brown County is one of four Indiana counties that have adopted new technology for 911 calls.
NG911 funding not part of Republican bill to support FCC auction authority, ‘rip and replace’ effort (D.C.)
A Republican senator this week introduced a bill calling for a mid-band spectrum auction with proceeds being used to fund the FCC’s “rip and replace” program, but—unlike legislation passed by the House—the current language would not provide any funding for...
Intrado sells safety business to Stonepeak for $2.4 billion
Intrado, a longtime key player in the 911 industry, has sold its safety business to the Stonepeak investment firm for $2.4 billion, but Intrado will retain its Digital Workflows unit, according to a press release issued yesterday. For more than four decades, Intrado...
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.
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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.
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