On September 6, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau announced that the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC's) Universal Licensing System (ULS) will now accept applications for temporary fixed stations operating in the 6 GHz band. The update was necessary to ensure these systems can be protected from interference from new unlicensed devices. As a result of a 2020 rule change, the FCC is authorizing Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) systems to facilitate access to the 6 GHz band for “standard power” unlicensed devices. To determine the available frequencies for standard power devices to use, the AFC systems will rely on data collected from ULS regarding the location of fixed microwave links. The Bureau’s announcement states that ULS is now capable of accepting information on temporary fixed stations and instructs licensees to register these stations prior to transmission. Instructions for licensees to register their temporary fixed stations and provide relevant operational details are included in the Bureau’s announcement.
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On September 8, APCO filed reply comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the FCC’s proposed rules to facilitate the transition to NG9-1-1. APCO highlighted aspects of its initial comments and showed how other parties’ comments support APCO’s positions that the FCC should adopt a comprehensive approach to NG9-1-1, require service providers to achieve interoperability, and avoid placing responsibilities and costs on the 9-1-1 community that better rest with service providers. APCO also identified areas that warrant further examination by the FCC, such as the tradeoffs of delivering 9-1-1 traffic over traditional dedicated lines rather than a cloud-based Internet connection.
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September 19 | 1:00 p.m. ET
Free for members; $59 for non-members | 1 CDE
Sponsored by Hexagon
Register
Cloud adoption is on the rise in emergency communications centers across the U.S., but is it right for your agency? In this webinar, Leah Hornacek, Hexagon sales manager and former 9-1-1 deputy director, will share the benefits of moving to the cloud to help you determine if it’s the right approach for your agency.
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On September 7, APCO joined several organizations in opposing a request by Extreme Networks to waive certain protections for 6 GHz licensees. The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) rules permit “low power” unlicensed devices to operate in the 6 GHz band so long as they remain indoors because outdoors – without walls to block radio signals – these devices pose a significantly greater threat of interference to 6 GHz licensees such as public safety microwave operators. The FCC’s rules support the indoor-only restriction by, among other things, prohibiting the low-power unlicensed devices from being built with a weatherproof case. Extreme Networks requested a waiver of this rule to allow weatherized enclosures for low-power access points when placed in indoor-only sporting venues. APCO and others opposed the waiver request, explaining that Extreme Networks has reasonable alternatives that would not risk confusion and proliferation of devices that pose a greater threat to public safety and other incumbents.
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If you did not get the chance to attend a demo of APCO IntelliComm® during APCO 2023, personal virtual demonstrations are available to schedule online. The demo lets you see the features, benefits and advantages this guidecard technology brings to ECC operations. Powered by IBM Watson Analytics, IntelliComm boasts a cognitive, criteria-based guidecard system for fire, law enforcement and EMD, which can be configured to align with individual agency protocols.
Schedule a demo
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CBS Bay Area
Calling response times “unacceptable,” the city will use the money to improve recruitment and staffing as well as update computer systems.
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9 ABC Cincinnati
LanguageLine Solutions gives public safety telecommunicators around-the-clock access to interpreters of 240 languages.
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KCUR 89.3
The state’s telecommunicators have access to expanded mental health care and retirement benefits thanks to a law signed by the governor in July.
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Hays Post
Emergency Communications Shift Lead Austin Schmeidler and telecommunicator Rachel Barnes assisted in the delivery of babies a few hours apart on the same shift.
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The APCO Institute offers a range of emergency communications courses, providing individuals with convenient options for professional development. These options include virtual, online and in-person courses, where individuals can pursue certification and earn CDEs.
APCO Virtual Classroom
Online
In-Person Courses
Access New Topics for CDEs With APCO Illuminations
An annual subscription to APCO Illuminations provides up to 12 CDEs per year with new topics monthly/quarterly. A one-year subscription costs $121 for APCO members and $132 for non-members. Training track topics begin October 1:
Take the Radio Technician Certification Exam
There’s still time to register for the examination to achieve certification as a Radio Technician. Cost is $79 for APCO members and $99 for non-members.
Bring APCO Training to Your Agency
Contact us for more information on co-hosting an APCO course at your agency. We are here to help.
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