As the severity and frequency of 9-1-1 outages increases, it’s more important than ever for emergency communications centers to receive timely and actionable information about the scope and impact of outages. This webinar will begin with a brief overview of the Federal Communications Commission’s outage notification requirements, followed by a panel discussion from 9-1-1 professionals on the growing impact of outages on 9-1-1 operations and strategies to mitigate their effects.

Speakers
Alison Venable, Government Relations Counsel, APCO International
Aimee Chase, Metro Administrator, Metro Communications, Sioux Falls, SD
Anne Camaro, Executive Director, Nashoba Valley Regional Dispatch District, Devens, MA

This session will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing emergency communications centers (ECCs) through automation and advanced data management. Learn how AI streamlines call logging tasks such as searching, transcription, redaction, quality assurance (QA), and compliance with standards like APCO, CJIS, PCI and HIPAA. Discover practical applications and hear testimonials from industry professionals who have experienced the benefits firsthand.

Sponsored by

By the end of this webinar, attendees will:

• Understand the challenges of traditional call logging and how AI addresses them.
• Gain insights into key AI features, including search, transcription, redaction, QA and reporting.
• Learn about real-world applications through dealer and ECC manager testimonials.
• Explore the future of AI in public safety and its impact on ECC operations.
• Engage with experts in a panel discussion to address practical questions and challenges.

Presenters:
Shay Parsells, Revcord
Charles Schwarz, Revcord
Steve Devine, CTO, APCO International

Agencies are stepping up to meet the growing demand for service, even as they navigate a rising volume of non-emergency requests and staff shortages. The shift of after-hours calls to Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) has presented an opportunity to optimize our processes, helping our dedicated operators manage the influx more effectively. While long hold times can be frustrating, they also highlight where innovative solutions could assist.

In this webinar, we will discuss:

• Redirecting administrative requests away from emergency lines to better serve your community
• Embracing automation tools to empower your agency by streamlining non-emergency reporting
• Providing timely updates, ensuring that every community member feels supported and valued

Sponsored by

Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities for connection and care. Join this webinar and discover how Versaterm can empower you to enhance community engagement in meaningful ways.

Speakers:
Rohan Galloway-Dawkins, Chief Product Officer, Versaterm; Brian Bourdon, Technology Systems Analyst, Bureau of Emergency Communications (Portland, OR); and Sgt. Mark Marino, Gilbert Police Department (AZ).

Recorded on November 12, 2024.

Free for everyone

Flooding in Iowa is nothing new. With every storm comes new challenges, especially when it comes to communications. The state of Iowa has continued to upgrade its emergency communication infrastructure by transitioning to a digital framework and leveraging public safety broadband. Join us as we learn how the town of Spencer came up with innovative solutions during a recent flood utilizing deployables to keep their ECC functioning and how their solution is influencing the way FirstNet is being used.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how Iowa public safety agencies are leveraging FirstNet to support continuity in response across the state.
• Learn about successful approaches for using deployables to support ECC operations.
• Learn about the ongoing testing being done to support innovative uses of FirstNet in the ECC ecosystem.

Speakers: Tom Lampe, the FirstNet Authority regional lead; Blake DeRouchey, State of Iowa 9-1-1 Program Manager; Luke Erpelding, Regional Communications Manager, Iowa Department of Public Safety, DPS Interoperability Communications Bureau; Patrick Kazeze, Director of Network and Engineering, Iowa Communications Network (ICN); and Renee Gordon, Director; City of Alexandria (Va.) Department of Emergency & Customer Communications and Vice Chair, FirstNet Authority Board

To receive your one CDE credit, enter this webinar into Training Central under My Classes Taken > Add Continuing Education.

Free for members | $59 for non-members

Every year, as many as 50 million calls generated by commercial and residential alarm systems reach emergency communications centers (ECC), which slows emergency response and places tremendous stress on telecommunicators. This is a very big problem for the 9-1-1 community. Fortunately, a highly effective solution already exists for overcoming it — the ASAP Service, which is based on the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol jointly developed by APCO and The Monitoring Association (TMA).

Webinar participants will discover the following:

• How APCO and TMA collaborated in a public-private partnership that led to ASAP, a standards-based protocol developed by industry, for industry.
• How ASAP Service enables alarm- and sensor-generated calls to be delivered directly into an ECC’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, enabling telecommunicators to focus on emergency calls that require their expertise and experience.
• How ASAP Service leverages a unique, standards-based validation-and-scoring methodology to triage alarm- and sensor-generated calls so that telecommunicators can better prioritize emergency response.
• How the CAD and alarm industries have rallied around ASAP Service.
• How the public-private partnership, recently joined by Mission Critical Partners, will evolve ASAP Service, and what the capabilities of the next iteration might look like.
• How Mission Critical Partners, as managed services provider, will ensure a smooth implementation of ASAP Service in ECCs nationwide.

Sponsored by

Speakers

Karen Carlson, VP and General Manager of Automated System Alarm Protocol Program, Mission Critical Partners

Daniel Oppenheim, Chief Executive Officer, Affiliated Monitoring LLC

Stephen P Martini, RPL, CPE, Director, Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications

This is a time of incredible change in the public safety community. From staffing shortages to new technology, consolidation and funding, the challenges are many, but so are the opportunities. This is the time to think in new ways about emerging technological capabilities and how we leverage them to create safer communities and more effective organizations with better results.

Join this webinar to learn how to turn current challenges into future opportunities.

Sponsored by

We’ll discuss:

• How AI and automated processing of events can help alleviate staffing challenges
• How new tools and processes like CAD-to-CAD data exchange and alternative response programs can aid resource management
• How better geographic information from maps and drones can improve incident outcomes
• How modern CAD and RMS solutions can work with AI, video and collaboration tools to help law enforcement agencies gain information and start solving crimes faster 
• How the cloud enables agencies to be more resilient and secure during extreme weather, cyber security threats and more

Speaker: Christopher Carver, Director, Market Development

Recorded on September 24, 2024.

Free for all | Worth 1 CDE

Navigating the complexities of Part 90 FCC licensing can be challenging, but it’s essential for ensuring compliance and optimal operation of land mobile radio services. This comprehensive webinar is designed to guide you through Part 90 licensing, from understanding the basic requirements to mastering the application process and managing your license effectively.

Key Topics:

• Introduction to Part 90 FCC Licensing: Overview of the Part 90 regulations, including who needs a license and the types of services covered.
• Application Process: Step-by-step guide on how to prepare and submit your FCC license application.
• Frequency Coordination: Understanding the role of frequency coordinators and how to work with them to secure the necessary approvals.
• License Maintenance: Tips and best practices for keeping your license up to date and ensuring continued compliance.
• Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them: Insights into common mistakes made during the licensing process and how to avoid them.
• Q&A Session: An opportunity to ask questions and get expert advice on specific licensing concerns.

Takeaways: By the end of this webinar, you will have a thorough understanding of the Part 90 FCC licensing process and be equipped with the knowledge and tools to manage your licensing requirements confidently.

Presenter:
Amanda Bredstrup,  Spectrum Analyst, APCO International

To receive your one CDE credit, enter this webinar into Training Central under My Classes Taken > Add Continuing Education.

Recorded 2024 | Free for everyone

Public safety spectrum for communications is divided and assigned across the spectral landscape. Some bands can be coordinated and assigned exclusively to agencies and their users and other bands are historically coordinated on a “shared” basis by all users. The CAPRAD database was created in 2002 specifically to serve as a coordination database and tool for RPCs for the implementation of 700 MHz public safety spectrum. Each RPC developed a plan for their respective region to best meet their user’s needs. This webinar will focus on how CAPRAD provides the support RPC’s need as well as allowing for sharing of applications and their status between and across disparate RPC’s. The webinar will also highlight how one state utilizes CAPRAD to coordinate the use of their 700 MHz State Geographic License at each of the other states that they border, states of which also use the same geographic use spectrum.

Additionally, RPC’s have been able to utilize CAPRAD for helping them coordinate National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) 800 MHz spectrum throughout their region as well. The CAPRAD database allows for real time editing for all RPC based 700 and 800 MHz channel allocations as applicants apply for channels in each respective region. APCO International, through a grant from the US Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, continues to support the maintenance and funding for the CAPRAD database as part of its ongoing CAPRAD and RPC support.

Sponsored by

This webinar will discuss and explore features of the CAPRAD database; Regional Planning Committee responsibilities and capabilities; RPC adjacent region/state approval process; RPC managed spectrum approval process; and more.

Presenters
Scott Bigham, Chair, Region 24 700, and 800 MHz Regional Planning Committees
Stephen Devine, Chief Technology Officer, APCO International

To receive your one CDE credit, enter this webinar into Training Central under My Classes Taken > Add Continuing Education.

Recorded on July 17, 2024.

On June 12, 2024 the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced the beginning of a multi-year process to revise the Standard Occupational Classification. Through this process, OMB will consider whether to change the classification of public safety telecommunicators from the administrative/clerical category to the category for Protective Service Occupations. APCO will hold a webinar July 17, 2024 to explain APCO’s strategy for providing input to OMB, how this effort relates to the 9-1-1 SAVES Act and what you can do to help ensure that OMB finally corrects this outdated classification.

Sponsored by

Presented by APCO Government Relations

To receive your one CDE credit, enter this webinar into Training Central under My Classes Taken > Add Continuing Education.

Recorded on July 9, 2024.

This webinar will focus on swatting hoaxes and how they impact emergency communications center (ECC) operations. Discussion topics will include how public safety telecommunicators can identify swatting calls and how departmental policies can help ECCs deal with suspected swatting incidents. Webinar participants will be from the FBI, the ECC community and APCO International.

Sponsored by

Presenters:
Brian Leblanc, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Heather McGaffin, DC Office of Unified Communications
Crystal Lawrence, APCO, Director CC9S

Recorded June 25, 2024

The demands on dispatchers today have changed significantly from a decade ago. We can safely bet the same will be true in five years as shifting community needs, new generations of dispatchers, and increasing cybersecurity threats all help rewrite the job description. Dispatch software needs to evolve to meet those challenges.

Join us as we bring together a panel of former dispatchers turned CAD software experts who have firsthand experience navigating the complexities of dispatch operations. Drawing from their experience, they’ll discuss the future of CAD systems and how to find an evergreen vendor that’s built for the future.

Sponsored by

Key takeaways include:

• Best practices around releasing new features to promote improvement without inhibiting critical operations
• Why robust customer success and support teams are a necessity for CAD vendors
• How to take a proactive approach in software with shifting government regulations

Speakers

Kristin Fetterling, Regional Practice Lead, Mark43
Amy Moulton, Principal Solutions Engineer, Mark43

Recorded May 30m 2024

P25 Link Layer Authentication (LLA) is being heard more and more frequently within the public safety communications community, but there is confusion around what it is, what it does and how it can be implemented in land mobile radio (LMR) systems. With increasing examples of criminals accessing LMR networks to monitor communications and disrupt law enforcement activities, LMR system security is critically important for both system owners and the public safety users they support. P25 LLA is an additional option to restrict system access

Join this session to learn what P25 LLA is – and is not – and how it can limit access to P25 trunked radio systems and provide an extra layer of system security and protection for critical communications networks. Panelists will share their expertise on how to protect P25 LMR networks, describe how P25 LLA can offer additional system security by verifying subscriber units before granting system access, provide real world incident use case of it working and examples of why P25 LLA is needed, and offer best practices as well as lessons learned for successful P25 LLA implementation.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how P25 Link Layer Authentication (LLA) can provide additional system security.
• Types of P25 LLA.
• Potential benefits and impacts of adopting P25 LLA
• Lessons learned and best practices for implementing P25 LLA, particularly across multiple networks and disparate manufacturer systems.

Presenters:

• Hermina “Nina” Koshinski, Chief of Radio Operations Engineering & Support for the Pennsylvania State Police
• Scott Wright, Senior Telecommunications Engineer 2 with the Connecticut Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection
• Don Root, Project 25 Manager, APCO International

Recorded on June 11, 2024.

At V-COMM Telecommunications Engineering, we advocate for a proactive stance in strengthening public safety (PS) communication networks. The most efficient and successful projects all begin with a complete understanding of the environment and the desired outcomes. The current industry push is for ERCES deployments to support in-building communications for public safety agencies, but this can lead to adverse effects on the radio network if they are not properly deployed. In our discussion, we unveil a collection of best practices for testing, designing and deploying ERCES to enhance in-building coverage, but not degrade the LMR network. Our presentation highlights the critical need for public safety stakeholders to take definitive actions to safeguard their communication systems and their communities.

Sponsored by

Key Takeaways:

• Recognizing the importance of obtaining final approval from the frequency license holders, alongside necessary coordination with Authority Having Jurisdictions (AHJs), to eliminate uncertainty from your network’s operations.
• What information should be provided to system designers to ensure an effective design.
• Going beyond the fire code by integrating additional essential elements for a comprehensive, fortified ERCES.
• Defining equipment requirements to ensure seamless integration with the LMR network.
• Why being involved in all stages of development from design through deployment is important.
• What is required from building owners and integrators post-deployment.
• Reviewing V-COMM’s ERCES Deployment Checklist tailored for Public Safety stakeholders to guide system integrators on all necessary data to support an interference-free system.

Speakers:
David Stern, Vice President, V-COMM
Michael Webster, Director of Enterprise Network Engineering, V-COMM
Justin Day, Director of Enterprise Network Engineering, V-COMM