https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookies Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • Microwave/RF
    • T&D World
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookies Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

NENA


Commentary

Fontes makes mark as NENA CEO

Fontes makes mark as NENA CEO

Has it really been a year since NENA revamped its governance model and hired CEO Brian Fontes, who made the jump from being the policy guru for corporate giant AT&T to leading the non-profit 911 organization?
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 19th May 2009

Has it really been a year since the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) revamped its governance model and hired CEO Brian Fontes, who made the jump from being the policy guru for corporate giant AT&T to leading the non-profit 911 organization? No one is more surprised than Fontes himself.

"It's gone much more quickly than I ever thought a year would go," Fontes said during an interview with Urgent Communications. "That must mean that job is exciting, the issues are exciting and time passes quickly. I think, whenever you're enjoying things in life, time does pass quickly."

Fontes described the working on the public-safety side of the 911 issue as "exhilarating" and expressed amazement at the amount of work NENA members do for the organization, even when they likely are being stretched by pressures at their day jobs during a down economy.

Certainly the economic downturn has created challenges for NENA, but Fontes believes the organization is "is better off than it ever has been" financially, thanks largely to a review of all expenses and a search for additional revenue sources, including online advertising and webinars. In addition, NENA conducted outreach with groups like commercial telecom vendors and alarm/security companies to participate in the organization's 911 efforts in an unprecedented manner.

Some of the fruits of these efforts will be on display during the opening session of the second day of NENA's annual conference next month in Fort Worth. Presenters from AT&T, Ericsson, a commercial entrepreneur and some traditional 911 vendors will talk about upcoming services and development in their industries, Fontes said.

"I know the people who will sit in the audience are extraordinarily hard-working people who don't often have the time to sit back and take a look at what the future is going to be like," he said. "So, we're going to have a series of presenters who are going to talk about the future in different aspects — not just 911, but everything they're going to talk about will have 911 implications."

NENA also will provide an electronic floor guide, something Fontes hopes will extend the value of the conference to exhibitors, attendees and public at large.

"Instead of a one-time document that's printed and is basically worthless after the conference is over, you can make it electronic and make it available 24/7/365," he said. "And, if it's really good electronics, then vendors can continually update the information that is in that guide, so it exists beyond the time period of … our conference."

This year's conference will have traditional educational tracks and sessions. For future years, NENA is considering methods to expand its virtual presence with webinars featuring conference participants on the organization's new web site that was launched last December, Fontes said.

One piece of good news for NENA is Fontes said exhibit-space and sponsorship indicators for the annual conference are higher than in previous years, which is a notable accomplishment in a poor economy. If such trends continue, expect other public-safety organizations to consider pursuing a CEO-based governance model for themselves.

What do you think? Tell us in the comment box below.

Related Stories

  • Fontes hiring sets new path for NENA
Tags: Commentary Newsletters NENA Policy Policy & Law Commentary Commentary

Most Recent


  • Fontes makes mark as NENA CEO
    Newscan: Japanese carrier outage lasts multiple days
    Web Roundup Items from other news organizations KDDI network ‘almost restored’ as Japan assesses outage’s full impact Up to 39.15 million KDDI mobile lines affected during nationwide disruption Vendor outage affects state unemployment, job-seeking sites Supreme Court deals blow to net-neutrality fans How many satellites are too many? TSA implements ‘surge team’ to allow pipeline […]
  • Criminals use deepfake videos to interview for remote work
    Security experts are on the alert for the next evolution of social engineering in business settings: deepfake employment interviews. The latest trend offers a glimpse into the future arsenal of criminals who use convincing, faked personae against business users to steal data and commit fraud. The concern comes following a new advisory this week from the […]
  • Tesla recalls 59,000 vehicles over emergency-call software glitch
    A software glitch has prompted Germany’s automotive regulator to call for the recall of more than 59,000 Teslas. The country’s Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) agency published a notice on its website notifying Model Y and Model 3 owners of a bug with the Emergency Call (eCall) safety system on the vehicles. Tesla describes eCall as a “call system that automatically contacts […]
  • Report: Reforming emergency dispatch won't be easy, but it's necessary
    Over the last several years, reforming law enforcement has been a primary topic of discussion in communities across the nation. Discourse has mostly centered around the challenges agencies face in addressing the complex needs of those in mental health crisis, and the disparity of experience among community members depending on their race. But in this […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • APCO, NENA, NASNA speakers cite ‘discussions’ to address NG911 funding issues
  • Klobuchar pledges support for NG911 funding, does not address specifics of proposal
  • California set to begin NG911 deployments in 911 centers statewide next month
  • House proposes $15 billion for NG911 funding in new infrastructure bill

Commentary


LTE and liability: Why the fire service must move forward with digital incident command

  • 2
6th May 2022

Partnership and collaboration must be the foundation for emergency communications

18th April 2022

FirstNet success means no hypothetical ‘shots’ need to be fired, Swenson says

22nd February 2022
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Newscan: Japanese carrier outage lasts multiple days dlvr.it/STS9JJ

6th July 2022
UrgentComm

Criminals use deepfake videos to interview for remote work dlvr.it/STRjZM

6th July 2022
UrgentComm

Tesla recalls 59,000 vehicles over emergency-call software glitch dlvr.it/STRcgT

6th July 2022
UrgentComm

Report: Reforming emergency dispatch won’t be easy, but it’s necessary dlvr.it/STRYNP

6th July 2022
UrgentComm

FCC clears SpaceX to connect Starlink to boats, planes, other moving vehicles dlvr.it/STRXGB

6th July 2022
UrgentComm

Judge orders Hytera to make large royalty payment this month to Motorola Solutions dlvr.it/STRRQc

6th July 2022
UrgentComm

Sesame Solar leverages mobile solar, hydrogen to power efforts beyond the grid dlvr.it/ST8m3K

1st July 2022
UrgentComm

Newscan: On front lines, communications breakdowns prove costly for Ukraine dlvr.it/ST7fnC

30th June 2022

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • Microwave/RF
  • T&D World
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X