Tag: PSC Category Featured

APCO Applauds FCC Action Securing the 4.9 GHz Band for Public Safety

The 4.9 GHz spectrum band is used by the public safety community for broadband communications. APCO has long played an active role in proceedings at the Federal Communications Commission about the future of this band, strongly advocating for the interests of public safety. We believe that public safety users should have primary, interference-free access to the band, and that public safety use should be optimized in a manner that promotes innovation, helps modernize public safety communications and enables 5G services., the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a long-anticipated Report and Order concerning licensing and use of the 4.9 GHz band.

Young Professional Spotlight: Trae Maeder, Lee County Port Authority (Fla.)

The APCO Young Professionals Committee is proud to announce Trae Maeder as this quarter’s Young Professional Spotlight. Hailing from Florida, Trae has worked in several different roles of 9-1-1 dispatching and contributed his knowledge to multiple committees and organizations over his nine years of service.

Cyber Serious

Global public safety communication systems have increasingly become cyberattack targets and the threat is growing. These cyberattacks can adversely affect citizens who may be cut off from immediate emergency assistance or first responders who may be left without the proper information, communications and support they need to do their jobs and stay safe.

Teammates-in-Action: Britt Whitmire

This date of a notable action by Whitmire given of 2/23/2024 only comes to mind because it is the most recent date that Britt Whitmire worked overtime. That within itself may not sound special or unique.

Teammates-in-Action: Dispatcher Robin Donahue, Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency

On March 14, 2024, Dispatcher Robin Donahue fielded a phone call from a female who was reporting the male she was with was having a mental health crisis.

Public Safety Officials Urge Congress to Enact Legislation to Fund Next Generation 9-1-1 at Capitol Hill Event

On September 17, the Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition, consisting of APCO and the nation’s leading national public safety associations, held a summit on Capitol Hill demonstrating the urgency for Congress to fully fund the transition of today’s aging and vulnerable 9-1-1 networks to a modern, secure, interoperable and innovative Next Generation 9-1-1 system throughout all areas of the United States.

Teammates-in-Action: Stephanie Stone, Tim Walters and Wade Davis, Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office

A 9-1-1 call was received in the early afternoon hours of October 20, 2023, which led to a series of events. A distraught female was reporting a male intruder with a gun in her residence.

Teammates-in-Action: Derrik Gregg, Scottsdale Communications

On Friday, September 1, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona, at approximately 0238 hours, Communications Supervisor Derrik Gregg received a 9-1-1 call that disconnected shortly after he answered.

APCO and NENA Ask Harris, Trump Campaigns to Support NG9-1-1 Funding and Nationwide Implementation

Today, APCO International and NENA: The 9-1-1 Association sent joint letters to the presidential campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, and former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, inviting a campaign pledge to support full federal funding for the nationwide implementation of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1).

Teammates-in-Action: Lyz Wood, Pampa Police Department

On February 27, 2024, Telecommunications Operator Lyz Wood of the Pampa Police Department in Pampa Texas, was dealing with several wildfires that were threatening the city of Pampa and the county.

Teammates-in-Action: Telecommunicators Hake and Cummings, Williamson County Department of Emergency Services

On November 7, 2023, Williamson County Department of Emergency Services in Tennessee received a call for a fire in a wood line. That fire began to grow quickly from being small to peaking at 150 acres.

APCO 2024: Second General Business Meeting

APCO members elected the association’s new 1st Vice President and 2nd Vice President Tuesday as results were announced during the Second General Business Session in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

APCO 2024: Opening General Session

Hundreds gathered in the Orange County Convention Center Valencia Ballroom for the Opening General Session of the Annual Conference & Expo, APCO 2024 in Orlando, Florida, on Monday.

APCO 2024: First General Business Session

The first day of the 90th Annual Conference & Expo, APCO 2024 in Orlando, Florida, concluded with the General Business Session on Sunday as members declared their candidacies for the APCO 1st Vice President position, new life members were named and the association’s government relations progress was outlined.

APCO Makes Compelling Case to Reclassify 9-1-1 Professionals at the Federal Level

Today, APCO submitted comments to the Office of Management and Budget urging the agency to reclassify Public Safety Telecommunicators (PSTs) from the current Office and Administrative Support Occupations category to the Protective Service Occupations category in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).

Silent Key: Mark Spross

Mark Spross, RPL, CPE and APCO International’s second vice president, passed away last weekend.

APCO Headquarters Expansion Concludes With Dedication Ceremony

Today APCO completed its nearly 21-month-long renovation and expansion of the APCO International Headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida.

APCO Applauds FCC Action to Support Next Generation 9-1-1

Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted an Order that establishes new rules to facilitate the deployment of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1).

APCO and NENA Express Disappointment in Committee Passage of Modified 9-1-1 SAVES Act

On July 10, the House Education and Workforce Committee passed an amended version of the 9-1-1 SAVES Act (H.R. 6319) which changes the legislation from directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reclassify public safety telecommunicators to only consider changing the classification.

Small Doses, Big Returns?

Microlearning is a revolutionary approach to training that is transforming how public safety personnel receive education and prepare for their mission-critical roles.

APCO Opposes Requests to Change Network Outage Reporting Requirements

On June 24, APCO filed a formal opposition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding a petition from the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) asking the FCC to alter service providers’ obligations to notify ECCs of network outages.

Young Professional Spotlight: Hailey Brunner, Cass County Sheriff’s Office (MO)

Hailey Brunner grew up around a sheriff’s office where her father has had a long-standing career. She started her career as a first responder in 2016 as a junior firefighter. It was then that Hailey first admired the calm voices on the other end of the radio, regardless of the situation.