APCO members sent a strong signal last week by sending thousands of emails telling federal officials they disagree with the current classification of 9-1-1 professionals as Office and Administrative Support Occupations. We are now asking APCO members and supporters to submit formal comments explaining how you protect the safety and lives of the general public and emergency responders. Go to APCO’s Take Action page, where you’ll find a template for submitting comments, guidance on what information to provide and sample comments that may serve as a useful model. The deadline for submitting comments is September 20.

Also, if you’re attending APCO’s conference in Orlando, there will be a session on Sunday, August 14, at 9:30 a.m. in the Cutting Edge Issues & Hot Topics track where you can learn more about the SOC revision and discuss ideas for the type of information to include in your comments.

We’re excited to announce that that the APCO online store is open and orders have started coming in. Ordering is easy! Go to www.apcostore.org and either create an account (not necessary to place an order) or just start browsing the site. Click on the item you wish to order, select the color you want and be sure to take a look at the sizing chart. Add your item to the cart and checkout to complete your order.

Join us in Seattle, WA, November 1-2, to learn about the latest technologies and policy issues with updates on FirstNet, NG9-1-1, cybersecurity and location accuracy. View the program.

APCO is hosting an app workshop on Monday, October 31, from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Participation in the workshop is by invitation only. If you have an interest in attending, please email gro@apcointl.org.

Since 1998, Jason Matthews has served in law enforcement in the Central Florida region. Mr. Matthews has had multiple assignments ranging from patrol operations, underwater dive rescue/recovery, technical investigative support, youth services and telecommunications assignments. He currently supervises telecommunications maintenance and 9-1-1 center training and education for a large full service law enforcement agency.

Government Technology FirstNet is slated to receive $7 billion in federal grants with funds derived from radio frequency spectrum auctions. But if first responders are going to take advantage of new broadband infrastructure and multimedia capabilities, they are going to need partner agencies in PSAPs with corresponding networks and capabilities.

Cleveland.com The conversion of Solon's 9-1-1 service over to Chagrin Valley Dispatch could not have gone much more seamlessly than it did on Monday, August 1.

KWWL Black Hawk County has had the text-to-9-1-1 service since 2009. The service has only been available for one carrier, iWireless, a local carrier affiliated with T-Mobile. Within the next six months, the Black Hawk County 911 call center will expand the service to all cell phone carriers.

Government Technology As a developer of products and services, Schrier will assist with ensuring the agency communicates with and offers the services desired by the nation's first responder agencies.

WKTV New York State Senator James Seward and Assemblyman Bill Magee announced a pair of grants totaling $1 million to fund a major upgrade to Otsego County's telecommunications system, including 9-1-1 services.