We are excited to introduce our new Student Recruitment Toolkit, which will assist you in recruiting directly from local secondary and post-secondary schools! The toolkit features a variety of resources — from case studies of ECCs who have had success with student training and recruitment programs to resources for reaching out to students, schools and educators to social media and email copy and graphics.
Access the toolkit

On January 7 APCO, NASNA and NENA jointly filed an ex parte with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the agency to improve the rules for 9-1-1 outage notifications to emergency communications centers (ECCs). The groups collectively propose the creation of a secure, two-way outage dashboard to provide real-time, visual updates on 9-1-1 outages. As proposed, the outage dashboard would enable service providers to input information about outages in their networks and automatically notify ECCs. The outage dashboard would also enable ECCs to customize their notification preferences and quickly and efficiently obtain information about the outage. The filing requests the FCC require the service providers to implement, maintain and operate the outage dashboard at no cost to ECCs. APCO will continue to monitor and provide updates as the FCC reviews the proposal.  
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If you're looking for a getaway, Portland, Oregon, is it! Known for its vibrant arts scene, stunning parks and quirky culture, Portland offers something for everyone! APCO will be there March 2-3, hosting our 9-1-1 Wellness Summit, co-located with the APCO Western Regional Conference. Join us to tackle the pressing challenges that today’s telecommunicators face, and then extend your stay to take advantage of all the fun and beautiful nature that Portland has to offer!
Register

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently appointed APCO International Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Steve Devine as a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC). The CSMAC advises the assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on a broad range of policy issues related to spectrum management.
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Understanding the Impact of Network Outages on 9-1-1
January 16 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Worth 1 CDE | Free for members; $59 for non-members
Register

Raising the Bar: Enhancing ECC Call Handling Standards
January 28 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Worth 1 CDE | Free for members; $59 for non-members
Register

Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the Greater Los Angeles wildfires. If you need support, APCO’s Sunshine Fund distributes critical financial support to members who are experiencing hardships. More information about how to apply for a Sunshine Fund grant can be found here.

We are always accepting donations to the Sunshine Fund to aid those impacted by life-altering events and disasters such as this one. Help us provide financial support to those public safety communications professionals experiencing hardships.
Donate

APCO Illuminations is a dynamic, subscription-based program offering public safety professionals continuing dispatch education (CDE) with monthly online training on timely, critical topics. Registration is open now to access new topics starting on February 1. The general track will focus on an introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) and its growing role in emergency communications. The EMD track addresses pediatric emergency calls, including signs and symptoms, call handling procedures and post-dispatch instructions. Participants can earn 12 CDEs with an annual subscription of $125 for APCO members and $145 for non-members.
Explore all topics and register here

There’s still time to register for a course that starts in January:

• 1/15 - 2/4 (Online): Disaster Operations and the Communications Center, 2nd Edition #74040
• 1/15 - 2/4 (Online): Crisis Negotiations, 2nd Edition #72512
• 1/21 - 1/22 (Virtual Classroom): Disaster Operations and the Communications Center, 2nd Edition #74729

Coming Up in the APCO Virtual Classroom:

• 2/4 - 2/7: Fire Service Communications, 3rd Edition, Virtual Classroom #72443
• 2/17 - 2/19: Communications Center Manager, 1st Edition, Virtual Classroom #72409
• 2/18: Cybersecurity Fundamentals for the ECC, 2nd Edition, Virtual Classroom #74425

In-Person Courses Starting Soon:

• Knoxville, TN (2/24 - 2/26): Communications Training Officer, 6th Edition #74867
• Cullman, AL (2/25 - 2/28): Law Enforcement Communications, 1st Edition #74851
• Daytona Beach, FL (3/31 - 4/4): Agency Instructor

Choose from CTO, EMD, PST, Fire Service or Law Enforcement Communications Instructor courses.

View the 2025 Training Schedule

APCO, in partnership with IWA Technical Services, Inc., is offering two new courses this spring: 

General Communications Technician Level 1
April 28 - 30 | 24 CDEs

This three-day course covers all of the areas that today’s radio communications technician/engineer in the land mobile radio (LMR) public safety or business/commercial communications field will encounter. It is designed for beginners, as well as senior-level technicians and engineers.

Line Antenna Sweep
May 1 - 2 | 16 CDEs

This is a comprehensive two-day, hands-on course that will give you all of the necessary knowledge to test and evaluate radio frequency (RF) signals that originate at the output of a radio transmitter and eventually are propagated to a receiver.

GCT-1 and LAS training can enhance your career by providing you with credible industry experience, core competencies in LMR, specialized antenna skills, career advancement and a hands-on learning approach. These certifications validate your skills and signal to employers your commitment to quality and continuing education in this fast-evolving field.
Learn more