Industry
President Obama Details Plan to Win the Future through Expanded Wireless Access
February 10, 2011The 9/11 Commission noted that our homeland security is vulnerable, in part, due to the lack of interoperable wireless communication among first responders. The rollout of 4G high speed wireless services provides a unique opportunity to deploy such a system. President Obama’s budget calls for a $10.7 billion commitment to support the development and deployment of a nationwide wireless broadband network to afford public safety agencies with far greater levels of effectiveness and interoperability. An important element of this plan is the reallocation of the D Block for public safety and $500 million within the WIN Fund.
Read full articleiPhone AED App Could Help EMS
February 10, 2011The San Ramon (Calif.) Fire Department has created and put into civilian hands and iPhone app designed to alert CPR- and AED-trained bystanders within 500 feet of a cardiac arrest victim to the event so victims can receive immediate emergency assistance.
Read full articleConnecticut Man Asks Cops about Growing Pot, Ends Up Arrested
February 7, 2011Police say a Connecticut man called 911 to ask a dispatcher how much trouble he could get into by growing one marijuana plant, then was arrested.
Read full articleColorado Springs Police Set Up Anonymous Texting for Crime Tips
February 4, 2011Colorado Springs, Colo. — That’s the message from Colorado Springs police, who are asking the public to send text messages as part of a new crime-fighting tip service.
Read full articleFCC Action Paves Way for First-Ever Presidential Alert to be Aired Across U.S. on Nation’s Emergency Alert System
February 4, 2011The Federal Communications Commission took action to help pave the way for the first-ever presidential alert to be aired across the U.S. on the nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS). The national test will help determine the reliability of the EAS system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential danger nationwide and regionally.
Read full articleVerizon Customers Received Text Messages to Call 9-1-1
February 3, 2011In January, several PSAP managers posted on public forums that their agencies were receiving calls from citizens saying they had received a text message advising them to call 9-1-1.
Read full articleDelayed 9-1-1 Response a Valid Question
February 2, 2011Collier County, Fla. — Early one evening last October, John Hilton frantically performed CPR on his father as his wife, Shanelle, talked to a 9-1-1 dispatcher who assured her help was on the way. It was — only to the wrong house. What happened to the Hiltons is an example of a rare but elusive glitch in the county’s state-of-the art emergency dispatch system.
Read full articleGwinnett Cities Explore 9-1-1 Options
January 31, 2011Gwinnett County, Ga. — A growing number of Gwinnett County communities are looking to establish 9-1-1 call centers, absorbing a county role that city leaders say could improve police response times — and the bottom line. County officials don’t oppose the idea, but they question the need.
Read full articleInvestigation into Palo Alto Phantom Phone Calls Continues
January 31, 2011Palo Alto, Calif. — A spokeswoman for the manufacturer of a mobile device that sent hundreds of phantom calls to Palo Alto’s emergency communications center in a five-hour period earlier this month said Friday the company is working with local officials to track it down.
Read full articlePalo Alto Dispatch Center Receives 566 Phantom 9-1-1 calls in 5 Hours
January 31, 2011Palo Alto, Calif. — The unusual calls to the Palo Alto emergency communications center started two weeks ago Thursday. Around 8:30 p.m., a dispatcher picked up the line to find no one on the other end. Twenty seconds later, the center fielded another phantom 9-1-1 call. It was just the beginning.
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