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DISA to Update Military Emergency Communications System
The Defense Information Systems Agency has crafted a strategy to help the Department of Defense implement an emergency response system for military personnel to communicate with 9-1-1 call centers via text message and video or voice calls. DISA said Monday it will...
The first in the first responders (VA)
National Public Safety Communications Week was recently celebrated at the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Pictured in the communications center as Telecommunication Officer Linda Vaughan (seated) takes a call are from l-r, Telecommunications Manager Jason Newman,...
Local 911 Dispatcher Recognized for Assisting Birth Over the Phone (NM)
Emergency 911 dispatcher Robbie Trujillo was recognized for his exemplary service of assisting a childbirth over the phone during the meeting the E911 board April 12. “It’s really exciting. 911 dispatchers don’t get a lot recognition, we work 60 hour weeks,” Trujillo...
9-1-1 services in across Montana impacted by nation wide service outage
BOZEMAN, Mont. - Several dispatch centers in Montana are reporting they are experiencing issues receiving 9-1-1 calls from some carriers. A release from the City of Billings says the outage is impacting cell phones and landlines differently across the nation. If you...
If Verizon Outage in Wyoming Prevents You From Calling 911, You Can Text It
A Verizon outage has left many residents of Casper and beyond without the means to make phone calls. But what about those who are having an emergency? Natrona County Emergency Management has put out a social media post, stating that if people are experiencing an...
Public Safety Advocate: FirstNet (Built with AT&T) Announces More Communications Tools
At IWCE 2022, FirstNet announced a new, significant upgrade to FirstNet (Built with AT&T) that prompted me to write about communications tools for first responders. One of these tools is actually an upgrade to the network that many of us have been expecting for a...
Police, Republicans, Even a Democrat Pile On Biden FCC Pick
President Joe Biden’s nominee for the Federal Communications Commission is drawing opposition from an unusual array of foes, including a police group, a North Dakota Democrat and former Republican aides working to stymie the president’s agenda. Gigi Sohn, who would...
Volunteer firefighters get update on new CAD system (WV)
County volunteer firefighters received an update on the new CAD system from Lewis/Gilmer E-911 Center Director Jim Gum and Assistant Director Keith Talbert at the LC Firefighters Association meeting on April 18 at Pricetown VFD. Plans to purchase a new CAD system were...
Middlesex County forges forward with regional strategy as Edison Township is added to its emergency radio system (NJ)
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – In keeping with an ongoing strategy to offer regional solutions, Middlesex County and the Township of Edison are pleased to announce the addition of Edison to its emergency radio system. Participating in this County-wide service will save...
Dorchester County passes public safety strategic plan (SC)
DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Dorchester County Council on Monday passed a strategic plan to improve safety in the community. Over the next three years, seven county departments will work together to advance safety programs and improve outcomes in key areas....
Recognizing Grand Canyon Regional Communication Center for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (AZ)
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — In honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators week, Grand Canyon Regional Communication Center was recognized by Grand Canyon National Park last week. GCRCC is the primary 9-1-1 public safety answering point and dispatch operation for...
Fort police dispatcher Ebert retires after 35 years of service (WI)
On Sue Ebert’s last day of duty, Feb. 2, 2022, the Fort Atkinson Police Department held a celebratory sendoff for her. “They did a special tribute to me on the radio,” Ebert recalled. “They had squad cars and firetrucks lined up for me.” She said that some people...
Arkansas 911 Board gives Miller County 60 days to form plan with city (AR)
TEXARKANA, Ark. -- A decision by the Arkansas 911 Board to streamline Public Safety Answering Points, or 911 centers, could leave Miller County and Texarkana, Arkansas, with a joint emergency dispatch center. State board members agreed Tuesday to give both the county...
Prepared Raises $9.8M To Bring Livestreaming To 911 Dispatch
Emergency dispatch technology provider Prepared has raised $9.8 million in a seed funding round — fresh capital that amounts to a new bet on the growth of real-time and livestreamed 911 call data, and providing free tools to get there.
Prepared was founded in 2019 in New Haven, Conn., by three Yale University students and focuses on getting livestreamed and other real-time, “advanced data” from mobile 911 callers to dispatchers.
The tool fits into the larger trend of — and ongoing investor interest in — deploying technology that better serves the emergency response needs of mobile callers, and which allows more data to make its way to first responders in quick fashion.
Prepared offers its basic technology for free to emergency dispatchers, Michael Chime, co-founder and CEO, told Government Technology in an email interview.
As he explained it, when a mobile 911 user calls a dispatch center that has deployed Prepared Live, the dispatcher can pull the phone number from the computer-aided dispatch system — or by simply asking the caller — and then enter that number into the Prepared software tool.
The 911 caller then receives a text link that allows the caller to livestream their surroundings to the dispatch center. That gives the dispatcher eyes-on-the-scene capability.
The free-software model is what will make Prepared stand out from many competitors, Chime said. Revenue will come from upselling other tools that agencies can add to the basic platform.
“We’ve seen free models for 911 gain some traction in dispatch over the last decade, as companies like RapidSOS now cover the vast majority of centers,” Chime said. “We think that business models that start with free software are commonplace in almost every other industry and we believe that, if brought to the government space, this model can go a long way in removing friction to innovation in the space.”
Since launch, some 2 million people are covered by the 35 emergency dispatch agencies that have signed up for Prepared, Chime said, and the company has grown to nearly 20 employees. Word-of-mouth will help bring more growth as more agencies search for ways to keep up with mobile communications and the need for real-time data, he said.
Prepared has raised $12 million in total.
The most recent funding round was led by new investors First Round Capital, Gradient Ventures (Google’s AI-focused venture fund), 8VC and industry angels. Returning investor M13 and new investor Risk and Return also took part.
According to Chime, the new capital will go toward hiring in sales, customer service, product and engineering, along with the development of new features for the software platform and industry partnerships.
“Historically, audio is the only layer of data accessible by 95 percent of emergency dispatch systems, and Prepared is disrupting this legacy system to improve first responder situational awareness by capturing the organic data available in users’ smartphones,” said Ray Kelly, adviser at Risk and Return and former commissioner of the New York Police Department, in a statement.
Quorum Court recognizes Public Safety Telecommunicators’Week (AR)
The Lawrence County Quorum Court met on April 11 and reviewed a proclamation from Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson that proclaimed April 10-16 as Public Safety Telecommunicators’ Week. The proclamation stated, “In an emergency, most Arkansans depend on calling the...
TCSO encouraging citizens to create Emergency Health Profile (OK)
TULSA, Okla — The Tulsa County Sheriff’s office has a new program that they believe will save lives. They are encouraging Oklahomans to create an emergency health profile through the platform “Rapid SOS.” Rapid SOS launched the initiative in an effort to get first...
Becker bill to remove police radio encryption picks up support (CA)
A bill authored by Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, that would require law enforcement agencies throughout California to find alternatives to encrypting their radio communications cleared its first hurdle Tuesday when the Senate Public Safety Committee voted to advance...
Fairfield police experiencing technical difficulties with communications systems (CT)
FAIRFIELD — The town is experiencing technical difficulties with its emergency radio and telephone communications systems, the police department said Tuesday afternoon. The Fairfield Police Department urged residents who are having an emergency in the town to call...
University Police join forces with other local agencies in 911 Call Center (AL)
Faster response times and expanded service is the goal of a shift in emergency communications on campus and in Pike County. Students, faculty and staff were notified on April 13 that non-emergency calls to the Troy University Police Department would be answered by the...
City of Hampton proposes largest raises for sworn public safety officers, 911 operators (VA)
Hampton plans to address staffing shortages for first responders, in part, by offering them the largest pay raises in the city. City Manager Mary Bunting’s recommended budget includes 7% raises for sworn public safety officers and 911 operators because they’re the...
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.
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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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