APCO International joined leaders from the nation’s most prominent public safety organizations to urge lawmakers on Capitol Hill to swiftly and permanently reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) before its legislative sunset in February 2027.
APCO Hails Senate Passage of the Enhancing First Response Act
This legislation directs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reclassify public safety telecommunicators as “protective service” occupations in the federal government’s catalog of occupations, the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), correcting their current miscategorization as “administrative/clerical” workers and recognizing the lifesaving nature of their work.
APCO International Receives Scholarship Grant From Motorola Solutions Foundation
The Motorola Solutions Foundation, the charitable arm of Motorola Solutions, has awarded a generous $50,000 grant to the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International to support the APCO Silent Key and Commercial Partner Scholarship Program.
FCC Releases Fact Sheet on 9-1-1 Requirements for Multi-Line Telephone Systems
The FCC has released a fact sheet to raise awareness of the 9-1-1 requirements for multi-line telephone systems (MLTS).
APCO 2025: Food for Thought Luncheon
On the final day of APCO 2025, the Food for Thought Luncheon in the Baltimore Convention Center hosted more than 1,000 public safety communications professionals. Attendees on Wednesday, July 30, recognized agencies that earned APCO accreditation; heard about Baltimore’s advances in public safety communications and about APCO 2026’s San Antonio destination; and were inspired by the founder of Because I Said I would, a mental health resiliency charity based on keeping promises.
APCO 2025 Heads to Baltimore
July 27-30 is going to be special in Charm City this year when APCO 2025 comes to Baltimore. It will be the third time in the 21st century that the APCO Conference & Expo has visited Baltimore, and it gives attendees easy access to the heart of the city.
Invest in Our Best
How do we maintain? How do we keep pushing forward? How do we make sure those who stay are uplifted or given opportunities to do something different? How do we make sure our centers are maintained and represented by the best and brightest?
Young Professional Spotlight: Iris Harris, Lincoln County E9-1-1 (Okla.)
Since May 2017, Iris has been answering the call — literally. What started as a job to support her through school quickly became a career she couldn’t walk away from.
Silent Key: T. G. Mieure
APCO Life Member and long-time Illinois police and communications officer T. G. Mieure of Waukegan passed away on June 17 at the age of 71.
Mieure was a pillar of Illinois APCO for decades and a respected voice in the international APCO community.
APCO Provides Recommendations to the FCC for Improving 9-1-1 Location Accuracy
On June 6, APCO submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with recommendations for how the agency can strengthen its wireless 9-1-1 location accuracy rules so that public safety telecommunicators receive the most actionable location information possible. APCO emphasized that “dispatchable location” – meaning the caller’s street address plus their office, apartment or room […]
