APCO readies for 71st conference

Advances in communications technology are changing the way public-safety entities conduct business, and the latest innovations and debates regarding this ever-evolving trend will be highlighted at the 71st annual Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International Conference & Exposition Aug. 21 to Aug. 25 in Denver.

Bookending the event will be keynotes from two featured speakers, former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and FCC Commissioner Michael Copps. Ridge, who served as governor of Pennsylvania before becoming the first Homeland Security leader, will speak during the opening general session on Mon., Aug. 22. Copps will speak during the closing dinner on Thurs., Aug. 25.

“Commissioner Copps has been a strong advocate in the commission for the public’s safety as we have dealt with several controversial issues like the 800 MHz interference and VoIP E911 issues,” APCO President Greg Ballentine said in a statement. “We look forward to hosting him in Denver and the knowledge and experience he will bring to our conference program.”

In between, the conference will feature three 90-minute “Super Session” events on industry hot topics.

Tuesday afternoon, APCO Project RETAINS Chairman Steve Souder and Mary Taylor of the Denver Research Institute will present the final results of the Project RETAINS national staffing and retention study, touted by APCO officials as the most extensive work ever done in this field.

Wednesday, lessons learned from last year’s series of Florida hurricanes will be discussed. Barry Luke, deputy chief of fire communications for Orange County (Fla.) Fire Rescue, will lead the discussion, which also will review the Florida APCO mutual-aid plan, which helped move more than 200 dispatchers to needed locations in the weeks following the hurricanes.

Thursday morning’s Super Session will focus on the 800 MHz rebanding effort that officially kicked off on June 27. In addition to getting an overview of the FCC’s rebanding order, session attendees can expect to be informed about the procedures involved and to receive tips designed to ensure that the complex task is completed in a timely manner with Nextel Communications paying all expenses.

In addition to these featured items, the APCO conference will include staples familiar to attendees — 15 hours of professional-development sessions, organizational committee and general business meetings and more than 14 hours for 295 exhibitors to display their wares in the exhibit hall during a three-day period (see exhibitor list). Tours of public-safety answering points will be conducted on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Prior to the opening of the conference, APCO will host its eighth annual golf tournament on Sun., Aug. 21.

For more information about the conference, visit www.apcointl.org.

APCO 2005 Preview

Dates: Sun., Aug. 21 to Thurs., Aug. 25

Location: Colorado Convention Center, Denver

Keynotes: Tom Ridge, former secretary of Homeland Security and former governor of Pennsylvania, Mon., Aug. 22, 8:30 a.m. (opening session); Michael Copps, FCC commissioner, Thurs., Aug. 25, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (closing gala dinner).

Welcome reception: Sun., Aug. 21, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. (Colorado Convention Center, Ballrooms 1-4)

Exhibit hours: Mon., Aug. 22, 2:00 to 5:30 p.m.; Tues. Aug. 23, 10:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.; Wed., Aug. 24, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Professional development hours: Mon., Aug. 22, 10:00 to 11:45 a.m., 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.; Tues., Aug. 23, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m., 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.; Wed., Aug. 24, 8:00 to 9:30 a.m., 9:45 to 11:15 a.m., 3:00 to 4:45 p.m.; Thurs. Aug. 25, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., 2:45 to 4:15 p.m.

Conference hours: Mon., Aug. 22, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tues., Aug. 23, 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.; Wed., Aug. 24, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Thurs., Aug. 25, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

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