PSC eNews Weekly
Friday, July 21, 2023
APCO News

The new ECC Staffing Taskforce was created to study and make recommendations on effective recruiting, hiring, training and retention of public safety telecommunicators in both current ECCs and in the Next Generation 9-1-1 environment. We are accepting applications for volunteers now through July 27. Participation in the task force is open to members in any membership category.

Learn more and volunteer

 

On July 12, APCO and other organizations representing users of the 6 GHz band met with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s office to discuss actions the FCC should take to ensure public safety agencies and other users of the 6 GHz band are protected from interference from unlicensed devices. Among other things, the organizations asked the FCC to develop procedures to reimburse costs spent mitigating harmful interference to their systems from unlicensed devices and reiterated concerns that FCC action is needed to protect public safety communications in the 6 GHz band.

 

On July 21, APCO filed comments with the FCC regarding improvements to Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The WEA system is used by authorized public safety agencies to send emergency messages to mobile devices in specified geographic areas. The FCC sought comment on proposals to improve the WEA system by requiring wireless service providers to support multimedia content in WEA messages, collecting information on WEA performance and increasing transparency regarding what mobile devices are WEA-capable and whether such devices are meeting the performance requirements. APCO urged the FCC to adopt requirements to make WEA a more useful public safety tool and instill confidence in the WEA system.

 

APCO's highly regarded Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) Program is a renowned industry offering that fosters the expertise of emergency communications professionals in public safety managerial and supervisory skills. Throughout the program, participants will delve into various topics such as organizational management, change management, fostering connections and consensus, and optimizing team performance. Successful graduates of the program attain a prestigious professional designation and are recognized by inclusion in APCO's esteemed Registry of RPLs. Spaces are open for programs beginning in September and October.
Learn more and apply

 

The following agencies have received APCO Agency Training Program Certification, a Project 33® Initiative:

Public safety agencies use the APCO International Agency Training Program Certification as a formal mechanism to ensure their training programs meet APCO American National Standards (ANS). Initial and continuing training for public safety telecommunicators is important as they provide essential services to the public in an expanding and rapidly changing environment.

 
Industry News
NBC 15 News
In Fresno, California, Officer Dave Garza and his wife, telecommunicator Judy Garza, logged each other off for the last time.
 
The Gazette
In one call, El Paso County (Colorado) public safety telecommunicator Kirstyn Marmet encouraged a 15-year-old caller to calm his family as his brother lay unconscious.
 
WKRN.com
Heather Young, who was named Williamson County, Tennessee, public safety telecommunicator of the year, remembered the rewards and terrors of nearly 22 years on the job.
 
From the Inside Pages

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2023 issue of PSC magazine.

Nashville, Tennessee, welcomes attendees to the APCO Annual Conference & Expo August 6-9. Known as “Music City,” Nashville is the capital and the largest city in Tennessee. It is in Davidson County, which has approximately 700,000 residents, while the metropolitan Nashville statistical area (composed of several counties) is home to over 2 million.
Read more

 
Training Schedule Update
 
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