PSAP Commentary

Bill to reclassify 911 telecommunicators is long overdue

The 911 telecommunicator community received some news last week that undoubtedly buoyed their spirits. A bill was introduced into the U.S. House by Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.)—a former telecommunicator—and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)—a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent and federal prosecutor—that would give telecommunicators (i.e., call-takers and dispatchers) the recognition they richly […]

Commentary

Help wanted: Working together to harness the power of data for 911

Your input is requested on all aspects of the draft 911 Data & Information Sharing: A Strategic Plan. Go to https://www.911.gov/project_strategicplanningfor911data.html for more information and to download a copy of the draft available for public comment. Input will be accepted at [email protected] beginning January 18, 2019, and all comments are requested no later than February 1, […]

Commentary

Why every PSAP needs to be vigilant about cybersecurity

Public-safety answering points (PSAPs) are now well aware of the real-life stories behind the industry’s new concern: cybersecurity. As a quick reminder, here are a few examples that reiterate this significant threat: March 2018—A ransomware attack compromises Baltimore’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), causing a shutdown of the digital dispatch and recording systems. December 2017—A California man […]

Commentary

Trick or treat? Next few months could influence direction of critical-communications world

It’s Halloween, a time that celebrates the unusual and surprising. Even when you can anticipate that something is going to happen, it can be difficult to predict whether it will scare you to death or result in sweet rewards that can put a smile on your face. A similar sense of anxious expectation is surrounding […]

Commentary

Cautious optimism surrounds CTIA announcement regarding device-based hybrid location

By Dave Sehnert Last week was a great week for public safety—at least we think it was. Let me explain. CTIA, the trade association that represents wireless communications carriers, announced that the four largest nationwide wireless carriers in the United States—AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon—will integrate device-based hybrid (DBH) location solutions into their networks. DBH technology has evolved rapidly, and […]

Commentary

911 expected to take center stage at the FCC

FCC commissioners are expressing a desire to address myriad issues associated with 911 service and the technologies that consumers use, but there are significant questions whether the FCC has the legal authority to provide a comprehensive solution to the emergency-calling sector.

Commentary

The notion of dropping 911 service is unthinkable—or should be

Residents of Taney County, Mo., will take to the polls next Tuesday to vote on a sales-tax hike that could determine whether the county continues to provide 911 service long-term. Hopefully, they will opt to fund 911, because it is a critical function of government.

Long-distance rescue saves public servants

Last year, East Haven (Conn.) Fire Department dispatcher Ray Kline didn’t expect to be working a call alongside first responders in central Maine, more than 300 miles from his one-person dispatch center. But a 911 call from local resident Erick Stolzman changed Kline’s perspective about how dispatchers can have a huge impact even at an incident miles away.

Here’s public safety’s next lobbying battle

The political and technical realities of next-gen 911 may have prevented more significant funding being included in this legislation. But the fact remains that there is a new hill for public safety to take.

Congress should recognize that FCC cost study on NG-911 only a first step

What needs to be emphasized to Capitol Hill is that this cost estimate only looks at the network-connectivity aspect of NG-911. It does not try to estimate how much new equipment, software or personnel a PSAP would have to add to make the next-generation vision a reality — substantial costs that probably cannot be estimated right now, as there are too many variables and potential changes that would need to be considered.

Bill to reclassify 911 telecommunicators is long overdue

Commentary

Help wanted: Working together to harness the power of data for 911

Commentary

Why every PSAP needs to be vigilant about cybersecurity

Commentary

Trick or treat? Next few months could influence direction of critical-communications world

Commentary

Cautious optimism surrounds CTIA announcement regarding device-based hybrid location

Commentary

911 expected to take center stage at the FCC

Commentary

The notion of dropping 911 service is unthinkable—or should be

Long-distance rescue saves public servants

Here’s public safety’s next lobbying battle

Congress should recognize that FCC cost study on NG-911 only a first step

Commentary

September 3GPP Plenary: 6G officially begins, Release 19 on track

Latest 3GPP standards-development work includes new classes of HPUE, progress on mission-critical services

Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority?

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Check out key takeaways from Disaster Management Symposium webinars, register to view archives

Video: Opening of the Expo Hall on day three of IWCE 2023

Lynk CEO Charles Miller: The sky’s the limit

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