One week remains to submit your application to speak at APCO 2022, taking place in Anaheim, California, August 7-10. Selected speakers will receive one complimentary full conference registration. Apply by December 17 to be considered for one of the following tracks:
- Communications center management
- Cutting edge developments
- Cybersecurity for public safety communications
- Emergency preparedness, response & situational awareness
- FirstNet: transforming the future of emergency communications
- Frontline telecommunicator
- Wellness in the ECC
- Leadership development
- NG9-1-1 and emerging technologies
- Radio & wireless communications technologies
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On December 7, APCO and others filed a Petition for Rulemaking and Request for Stay with the FCC concerning the rules governing the 6 GHz band. In 2020, the FCC opened the 6 GHz band, which is heavily used by public safety, to broad use by unlicensed devices such as Wi-Fi routers. In the leadup to that decision and in several efforts since (including a pending federal lawsuit), APCO expressed significant concern over the threat of interference to public safety communications. These new filings ask the FCC to suspend the entry of new unlicensed devices into the band and take a fresh look at how to share the spectrum while protecting public safety operations from interference. Learn more about APCO’s efforts to protect the 6 GHz band.
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This week, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to serve another five-year term at the FCC. Since being named acting chairwoman at the beginning of 2021, Ms. Rosenworcel has undertaken several efforts to promote public safety. For example, under her leadership, the Commission has taken steps to improve situational awareness for emergency communications centers during network outages, prevent robocalls to ECCs and protect dedicated public safety spectrum in the 4.9 GHz band. Read APCO's press release.
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The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is no longer viable as an option for fixing the federal classification of public safety telecommunicators by categorizing them as “Protective Service Occupations” rather than administrative/clerical. A version of the NDAA had passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month with a provision that would have corrected the classification, and a related amendment was offered to the initial Senate version of the NDAA. Unfortunately, this week the House and Senate took steps to move forward with a slimmed-down version of the NDAA that would not include the reclassification provision. The 9-1-1 SAVES Act remains as a viable option, and APCO encourages members and supporters to continue using its advocacy portal to seek support for the legislation from Congress.
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Bonners Ferry Herald
The Boundary County Sheriff’s Office dispatch supervisor said the job has made her a more compassionate person.
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WKTV 11 News
Employees are eligible for free work-related therapy. They are also learning how best to deal with mental-health related 9-1-1 calls, which are becoming more frequent.
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TV 6
Andrew Lusardi has been with the department for 22 years and was recognized by coworkers for taking on additional tasks and extra shifts to help the department.
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Yahoo! News
Aaron Miller is an emergency communications center supervisor nominated by coworkers to receive gifts for his family as his wife battles two rare blood cancers that require trips to Chicago for treatment.
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10 WBNS
Police and fire public safety telecommunicators will be combined in the same ECC and the new set up will allow for faster emergency response, officials say.
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Matthew J. Knight, 48, passed away November 29. Knight was a public safety communications industry professional who served as commercial advisor to Missouri APCO.
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Gary Peters, president and CEO of ProComm Alaska, LLC and an active APCO member, passed away November 16 at the age of 67 in Palmer, Arkansas. He was a resident of Talkeetna, Alaska. Peters was a giant in the field of telecommunications – well known and much loved by friends and colleagues.
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