Commentary FirstNet’s public-safety-first approach to 5G and evolving the first-responder network 23rd December 2021 You would be hard-pressed to read the news today and not find a headline about 5G. It has been an exciting year for the telecommunications industry as a whole, with initial 5G services becoming more available on smartphones and tablets — including some of the devices our first responders use during emergencies and everyday operations. […]
Commentary Complacency is not an option 2nd November 2021 A rising tide of public-safety broadband networks (PSBN) around the globe creates opportunities for agencies delivering police, fire, and emergency medical services. But along with the chance to rethink traditional voice communications and add new broadband-enabled tools, agencies must assess and plan for the risk of network failure. Networks designed for public-safety operations incorporate layered […]
Commentary For public-safety communications, our past guides the future 28th October 2021 Reflecting on past innovation can inspire industry to deliver more for first responders. As the country honors first responders today, those of us in the public-safety community bear a special responsibility to recognize the valor of those who keep the public safe, protected, and healthy. We must show them our gratitude by making their jobs […]
Commentary New technologies drive code advancements for in-building public-safety communications 30th July 2021 In-building coverage is a significant challenge for first-responder emergency communications, according to an International Fire Chiefs Association report based on a Safer Buildings Coalition survey conducted in 2018. According to the report, 98% of emergency responders said that they were having problems with their communication because of dead spots in a building, while 56% said […]
Commentary Unfinished Business: Why NFPA and IBC fire codes need to kill the fire phone 17th June 2021 In the human body, the appendix seems to serve no functional purpose. Why did the organ appear? How can it come out of people’s bodies with no harm? Much as a person’s appendix is a mystery organ with no value, the North American fire codes contain a similar useless bygone artifact. The omnipresent-but-never-used wired two-way […]
Commentary Unlocking the power of ESInets: Different NG911 provisioning approaches exist; level of control is key differentiator 7th April 2021 Next-generation 911 (NG911) systems represent a quantum leap forward for the public-safety community and the citizens that it serves. Internet Protocol (IP)-based and broadband-enabled, such systems are capable of considerably more than legacy 911 systems, which is why many emergency communications centers (ECCs) from coast to coast are clamoring to implement them. The broadband capabilities […]
Partner content Ransomware? Let’s call it what it really is: extortionware 21st February 2021 Just as the targets of these attacks have shifted from individuals to corporations, so too has the narrow focus given way to applying force and pressure to pay. No one needs reminding that ransomware has reached incredible proportions; one widely reported statistic from Purplesec suggests that $20 billion was paid out in 2020. That’s almost double its […]
Commentary Redefining communications for today’s mobile workforces 18th February 2021 Communicating with personnel was already a challenge for companies with workers in the field, deskless staff who travel, as well as widespread workforces in siloed divisions and office locations. Now that COVID-19 has all but eradicated traditional in-person relationships and many in-office team members are now working remotely, keeping everyone synced is an even more […]
Partner content Hi-tech sewer can help safeguard public health, environment and economies 18th February 2021 In the wake of the coronavirus, economic recovery is top of mind for all city leaders, the majority of whom believe that investing in infrastructure and technology can spur a rebound. Yet current analyses indicate that we only have funding available to cover approximately 57 percent of infrastructure system improvements through 2029, leaving an investment gap of $2.6 […]
Commentary Communications solutions must evolve quickly to meet needs of a changing world 31st October 2020 The world has changed significantly in recent months, and there is no doubt we are living in unprecedented times. The ways in which we communicate have evolved rapidly, particularly for the first responders who have stepped up to fight the pandemic, wildfires, and more. There has been not just a flurry of new users, but […]
LTE and liability: Why the fire service must move forward with digital incident command 2 6th May 2022
Newscan: D.C. appeals court upholds FCC decision to share 5.9 GHz V2V spectrum with Wi-Fi dlvr.it/SWZQpx 13th August 2022
Partnership launches no-cost wastewater monitoring service for local governments dlvr.it/SWV5PK 12th August 2022
Verizon Frontline demos connectivity and emergency response to chemical spill drill dlvr.it/SWV4cg 12th August 2022
Coalition expresses urgent need to NG911 funding, wants more than proposed $10 billion dlvr.it/SWL5VW 9th August 2022