Posts From Public Safety Communications
Where’s That Radio?
January 27, 2011After years of delays by elected officials struggling with what they perceive as an “unfunded mandate” and a reluctance to spend money in this tough economy, you finally received approval to replace all your radios to comply with the FCC’s narrowbanding mandate. You purchase the new radios, program them with the new interoperability channels and modify your FCC license to reflect narrowband emissions. But when you complete the distribution and installation, you discover that you’re short 23 front-line radios. And you’re out of budget funds. This is one example that illustrates why inventorying your radio equipment is so important.
Read full articleAPCO International Announces Formation Of Broadband Committee
January 26, 2011Daytona Beach, Fla. — APCO International announced the formation of its new Broadband Committee, which will primarily review public safety broadband applications in use today and make recommendations to meet the changing need for mobile data and the future need for mission-critical voice capabilities.
Read full articleAPCO International President Bill Carrow Applauds FCC’s Adoption of LTE
January 25, 2011APCO International applauds the FCC for its formal adoption today of LTE as the technology standard for public safety broadband communications, which is consistent with APCO’s early recommendation in support of LTE,” said President Carrow.
Read full articleAPCO Praises Sen. Rockefeller on Wireless Broadband
January 25, 2011Alexandria, Va. –APCO International today joins with our nation’s police officers, sheriffs and other law enforcement officials, fire fighters, EMS officials, local and state government officials, and so many other Americans in urging all members of the U.S. Senate and the entire U.S. Congress to support public safety, and the public’s safety, by co-sponsoring this critical legislation, S. 28, The Public Safety and Wireless Innovation Act of 2011, as a significant step toward finally realizing a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network.
Read full articleForeign Correspondence
January 24, 2011As the U.S. and Canada have designated 9-1-1 as their unique emergency number, other countries have their individual, historically grown structures of emergency numbers. A few years ago, an APCO International evaluation revealed that there are more than 170 different numbers worldwide to reach first responders. We thought it would be interesting to identify differences in countries, cultures and emergency numbers. For my first article, I have chosen to report about my home country, Austria, and provide an introduction to the European-wide “112” emergency number.
Read full articleHuman Error Results in No Response to Alarm
January 20, 2011Denver – When Denver 9-1-1 received an alarm notification for the home of Lisa Sommers, police were not dispatched because the public safety telecommunicator transposed the alarm’s permit numbers. Such incidents could be prevented by implementing automatic notification and adoption of the Alarm Interface Exchange Standard.
Read full article730 Days & Counting
January 20, 2011All FCC Part 90 licensees operating in VHF spectrum 150–174 MHz and UHF spectrum based on location 421–512 MHz must reduce their emission to 12.5 kHz or less or use technology that provides an equivalency to 12.5 kHz in a 25 kHz emission on or before Jan. 1, 2013. The FCC’s ultimate goal is for 6.25 kHz or equivalent emission in the future. As of today, the FCC has not set a date for when this must take place.
Read full article10 Things Your Agency Must Know About Social Media
January 20, 2011Social media can be one of the sharpest tools on your virtual duty belt — if you know how to use it properly. That caveat is the focus of the Social Media the Internet and Law Enforcement (SMILE) Conference, which runs through Jan. 12 in Santa Monica, Calif. Approximately 100 law enforcement professionals from five countries are learning technical and practical social media skills to improve their departments, and better commicate and engage with citizens.
Read full articleSubmit a Nomination to the 2011 APCO Award Program
January 19, 2011APCO International presents awards to public safety communications personnel who have demonstrated the highest levels of personal and professional conduct and performance in the line of duty. 2011 nominations can be made now and will be accepted until April 1, 2011.
Read full articleAPCO Applauds Pima County Sheriff’s Communications
January 18, 2011Daytona Beach, Fla. — The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International applauds actions taken by the Pima County, Arizona Sheriff’s Communications team in handling of the emergency calls surrounding the incident in Tucson on January 8, 2011where Representative Gabrielle Giffords and others were attacked by a gunman.
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