APCO
Even Reindeer Need GPS
December 20, 2010To get Santa to the right chimney on time, Rudolph’s red nose has been supplemented by a whole bunch of navigation and communications electronics over the years. His electronics far surpass even today’s police, fire and EMS vehicles. (And, sadly, Rudolph’s red nose is caused by the non-ionizing radiation from all of the sleigh’s transmitters.)
Read full articleLeading Public Safety Associations Announce Open Nominations for 9-1-1 Honor Awards
December 15, 2010Washington, D.C .– The E9-1-1 Institute, NENA, APCO International, NASNA and 9-1-1 Industry Alliance announced the opening of nominations for the 2011 9-1-1 Honor Awards, which bestows the awards each year to honor heroes and leaders in 9-1-1. The 2011 awards ceremony will take place at the 9-1-1 Honors Gala on Tuesday, March 29, 2011.
Read full articleAPCO AFC to Cease Coordination of New Part 90 Wideband Applications
December 9, 2010The FCC’s Part 90 interim narrowbanding deadline is Jan. 1, 2011, after which the FCC will no longer accept applications…
Read full articleNational 9-1-1 Education Month
December 1, 2010Rather than reinvent the wheel, the National 9-1-1 Education Month Coalition (NENA, APCO, the E9-1-1 Institute, NAED, and others) would like to tap the creativity that already exists. Let us know what has already been done in your area with regard to 9-1-1 educational messaging, themes, slogans and/or logos. There are three questions that will take just a few minutes of your time to answer and help us to better promote 9-1-1 awareness. …
Read full articleAPCO Announces First CALEA Public Safety Communications Accreditation Manager Training Course
December 1, 2010Dec. 1, 2010, Alexandria, Va.: On Jan. 26, 2011, the APCO Institute will conduct the first CALEA Public Safety Communications…
Read full articleWhat’s Your Mission?
November 30, 2010Have you checked out the discussion forums on PSConnect.org yet? If not, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to connect with your peers. One thread you may want to check out is on mission statements. A member of the Antarctic Fire Department has been tasked with revising the department’s mission statement, and several people have shared their mission statements in response.
Read full articlePhiladelphia to Honor 9-1-1 Operators in a Ceremony
November 17, 2010On Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., four civilian 9-1-1 Police Communications Dispatchers will be recognized for their outstanding performance, professionalism and commitment during an event sposored by the Philadelphia Police Radio Advisory Board.
Read full article2010 Hot Products
November 3, 2010Gear, gadgets and great ideas could be found in abundance at the 76th Annual APCO Conference & Exposition in Houston in August. This year, a select few APCO experts patrolled the exhibit hall for PSC. Incognito, they hunted for the most innovative solutions available to the public safety communications market. Our reviewers have asked all the tough questions, played with the technology and drawn conclusions, identifying the best of the best released in 2010. Here’s what our reviewers have to say about 20 solutions that could soon be coming to an agency near you.
Read full articlePublic Safety Alliance D Block Activity Update
November 3, 2010The Public Safety Alliance is continuing to make great strides in advancing national policy to allocate an additional 10 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band (D Block) as well as funding to public safety to establish a nationwide broadband network.
Read full articleDispatching: A Profession or a Job?
October 27, 2010To work in public safety communications, an individual must be trained and educated in a unique set of skills that goes beyond just knowing how to answer the phone. In this commentary, Joanne E. Angell discusses the differences between a “job” and a “profession,” advocating for the recognition of public safety telecommunicators as professionals and discussing the misperception of emergency communications as “easy” by other public safety disciplines.
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