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Tips From A Dispatcher: Things To Remember When You Call 9-1-1 (IL)
What happens when you call 9-1-1? There's a process that takes place that many folks might not be aware of. That's why, back in 2008, Congress declared the month of April "9-1-1 Education Month." According to the site, know911.org, the designation was created to help...
Public Safety Advocate: FCC Receiver NOI; Will Broadband Replace LMR? (Yet Again)
Welcome to the last Advocate for the month of April 2022. This month’s FirstNet (Built with AT&T) statistics as of the 22nd show two significant milestones have been reached: There are now 3.3M FirstNet connections and 20.5K+ agency subscribers. The first topic...
Video 911 Calls Coming Soon To Volusia County (FL)
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office is preparing to deploy new technology that will make video 911 calls possible for the first time in Volusia County. The new platform, Carbyne, will also allow VSO dispatchers to share a caller’s video with responding units in real time,...
Supervisors roundup: Public Works director retires; county adds dispatchers (CA)
Kern County supervisors unanimously named Samuel Lux interim county Public Works director during a meeting on Tuesday. Lux will replace outgoing director Craig Pope, who is retiring after more than 40 years of service with the county. Lux started as an engineer with...
Chicopee City Council approves WESTCOMM renovations, OPEB benefit account (MA)
CHICOPEE – Changes to the city’s regional dispatch center and an infusion of cash to the city’s other post-employment benefits (OPEB) were approved during the City Council’s April 19 meeting. Mayor John Vieau presented an update to the city’s Western Massachusetts...
Eugene Man Arrested For Calling 9-1-1 Over 100 Times (OR)
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – A man who called 911 more than 100 times was arrested in Eugene for misusing the emergency number. KEZI-TV reports Avery Boniface began calling the Eugene Police Department non-emergency number at about 3 a.m. Monday and called the number...
Answering the call of duty: Dispatchers’ roles celebrated (MA)
MONTAGUE — While police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel are the faces of public safety, what about the voices behind the phone directing first responders to the scene? “It’s an unrecognized public safety position,” said Montague Dispatch Manager Marsha...
Orange County 911 dispatcher talks couple through baby delivery (NY)
A 911 dispatcher from Orange County is being hailed a hero for helping talk a couple through their baby’s delivery over the phone. Orange County officials say Gerard Lewis answered an emergency call from a couple driving on their way to the hospital, but the baby just...
Communication centers in Broward County short staffed, 911 calls not being picked up (FL)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A South Florida county is going through a 911 nightmare, and it has the sheriff and other leaders facing some tough questions. “He was a happy baby. Always eating, smiling at everybody, every chance he get,” said Keishawn Johnson Sr. On...
Denver program aims to streamline 911 communications, improve response times (CO)
Denver's Department of Public Safety launched a program at the beginning of April intended to improve emergency call response times by streamlining communications between alarm companies and Denver 911, the department announced Tuesday. The new program, called...
FirstNet CEO heads to the private sector
First Responders Network Authority CEO Edward Parkinson is leaving his role in two weeks, for a position in the private sector. The FirstNet Authority said that its deputy CEO, Lisa Casias, will step into the position of acting CEO as of May 10. FirstNet will conduct...
Broward County Suffering Critical 911 Dispatcher Shortage (FL)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYUBcad0_Js A nationwide shortage of emergency 911 operators includes at least one South Florida county. Broward County is looking to fill close to 90 empty dispatcher positions...
New agreement includes regular upgrades to Monroe’s public safety radio system (CT)
MONROE, CT — A $1.65 million upgrade to the town’s public safety radio communications system last year was paid for through a bonding authorization in 2020. Now, First Selectman Ken Kellogg says a new service agreement will ensure “like new” status every two years...
Helotes 911 call center at risk of closing due to operating cost increase (TX)
HELOTES, Texas — The 911 call center in Helotes is facing an emergency of its own. The 911 Dispatch Center is at risk of closing if they don’t get necessary equipment upgrades due by July. City leadership is trying to find a solution before the summer. In old town...
Broward mayor honors two 911 dispatchers for their service (FL)
(WSVN) – On Tuesday afternoon, Broward County Mayor Michael Udine honored two 911 dispatchers for his or her service. “It’s a rewarding job, I’ve been doing it for 35 years, and I don’t remorse a day I joined,” mentioned Cheri Fodera. Fodera was on obligation Feb. 2,...
Resuscitation science and technology leaders introduce new, groundbreaking T-CPR training and education
DALLAS, April 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new suite of telecommunicator CPR (T-CPR) training and education programs designed for the first first responders in a sudden cardiac arrest emergency is now available from RQI Partners, the partnership between the American...
Dispatcher Christina Lee recognized for response to plane crash (TN)
Christina Lee has been named “Telecommunicator of the Year 2021” for the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office for her actions when a plane crashed into Percy Priest Lake, killing seven people. According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, Lee calmly radioed...
Editorial: City councilor isn’t the one who has to answer for 911 calls (NM)
The question isn’t whether City Councilor Louie Sanchez calls 911 too much. It’s whether police are responding in time to prevent serious crimes and save lives. But you wouldn’t know that based on the recent dismissive tone of the Albuquerque Police Department....
Calhoun County Dispatch Authority awards 2022 Employee of the Year (MI)
MARSHALL, Mich. — The Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority (CCCDA) has named its employee of the year. For 2022, the award has been given to Kate Cole. Cole began her career as an emergency telecommunicator in 2016. Her interest in the field began during a...
FL County’s 9-1-1 Operations in Crisis
It was supposed to be a day full of hope for what the New Year would bring, but it began with a cry for help so guttural it carried throughout the Deerfield Beach house. Keishawn Johnson Jr., not even 3 months old, was turning blue. His mother, full of...
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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