Alexandria, VA – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is proud to announce the final approval of two standards on June 26: NENA/APCO Minimum Training and Operational Standards for TTY/TDD Communications in PSAPs, NENA/APCO-STA-051.2-2026, and NENA/APCO Standard for Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) Deployment, NENA/APCO-STA-050.3-2026.
The Minimum Training and Operational Standards for TTY/TDD Communications in PSAPs standard merges three standards into one and establishes the minimum training and operational expectations for telecommunicators who answer TTY/TDD calls. This standard aims to promote consistency and enhanced service responsiveness for callers who depend on the communications executed by emergency communications centers (ECCs). It also acknowledges the significance of agency-specific policies, procedures and equipment.
TERT plays a crucial role in coordinating and deploying trained emergency telecommunicators to effectively respond to critical incidents and ensure efficient communication during emergency situations such as natural disasters. The NENA/APCO TERT standard has been established to assist ECCs with the information required for developing, training, equipping and deploying a standardized TERT team.
“Both of these standards were developed through APCO’s rigorous standards development process, drawing directly on the expertise of high-performing incumbents who know these roles best,” said Mike O’Connor, president of APCO International. “Together they provide agencies with forward-looking, field-informed resources for building and sustaining adequate systems, and a workforce committed to the highest standards of service to the communities they protect.”
Visit the APCO website to view the complete standards. For more information about APCO standards email us at [email protected]
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APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy, and outreach.
