The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) directive to begin transmitting Text with 9-1-1 calls as of March 18, 2014 has prompted action by several agencies. E-Comm (the 9-1-1 answer point serving Metro Vancouver and other parts of southwest British Columbia) launched Canada’s first Text with 9-1-1 (T9-1-1) service for members of the Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Speech Impaired (DHHSI) community, in conjunction with its emergency-service partners. Text with 9-1-1 service is now available to people who are hearing or speech impaired in Metro Vancouver and select surrounding area. Continue reading
Month: March 2014
Protecting Supply Chain of Supplies Needed in a Disaster
To help maintain a safe and secure supply chain, the Department of Homeland Security is hosting a series of Supply Chain Security workshops in five cities for supply chain and security professionals from industry and government. Cities will include Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Houston and New Orleans or Southern California. Continue reading
FEMA Releases FY 2014 Funding Opportunities Announcements (FOAs)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) issued a release on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate released FY 2014 Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) for the following preparedness grant programs. FOAs are available online at: http://www.fema.gov/grants and http://www.grants.gov. Continue reading
FCC Workshop on Public Safety IP Transition Scheduled for April 17 and 18
The FCC will hold a workshop on public safety imperatives for all IP (Internet protocol) networks on April 17 and 18, the agency’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB). Participants in the workshop, which is part of the FCC’s General docket 13-5 proceeding, will include representatives of public safety agencies and organizations, service providers, technology vendors, and other stakeholders. Continue reading
OEC Releases FY 2014 SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants
The SAFECOM Guidance has been posted at: http://www.safecomprogram.gov/grant/Default.aspx. In its eighth edition, the SAFECOM Guidance continues to evolve to meet the needs of the public safety community. The FY 2014 SAFECOM Guidance stresses the need for continued investment in planning and coordination of emergency communications projects, including investment in Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC), Statewide Interoperability Governing Body (SIGB), or Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) activities. Continue reading
NPSTC Hosts the National Interoperability Information Exchange (NIIX), a Free Service for You
NIIX is a FREE and SECURE website for public safety to store, share, and work and collaborate on their documents. This secure central warehouse is efficient and easy to use with online and telephone support readily available to answer any questions you may have. NIIX has been used to share state interoperability plans, agreements, policy, SOPs and other valuable documents. NIIX can securely connect you with other state interoperability planners to facilitate information sharing and cooperation. NIIX can be used to create private communities to assist public safety communications entities and users in sharing relevant documents, calendars, and information. See how NIIX can help you organize, share, and store your documents at www.niix.org
First Date for 700 MHz Substantial Service for States is Rapidly Approaching
In 2000, the FCC designated 2.4 megahertz of the 700 MHz narrowband spectrum for statewide geographic licensing. To that extent, the Governor of each state authorized an individual or state agency within the state, to apply and or manage this 700 MHz license.
Holders or managers of state licenses shall be required to comply with build-out deadlines, certifying that they are providing substantial service to a certain portion of the state’s population or territory within a certain period of time. “Substantial service” is defined as the construction and operation of a system that provides “service that is sound, favorable and substantially above a level of mediocre service which just might minimally warrant renewal.” Current substantial service deadlines are:
June 13, 2014 – The state must be providing or prepared to provide substantial service to 1/3 of the state’s population or territory
June 13, 2019 – The state must be providing or prepared to provide substantial service to 2/3 of the state’s population or territory.
DHS Supports Development of Wireless Patient Vital Signs Monitoring
“EMS providers base many lifesaving decisions upon patients’ vital signs. When the EMS community asked for a technology that would wirelessly connect sensors to a lighter, smaller monitor, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) was glad to take up the challenge. While there are many portable instruments for monitoring pulse and heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO2), electrocardiogram (EKG), blood pressure, temperature and respiration rate in the field, they are often cumbersome and must be connected with wires to various physiological sensors. The more medical information needed, the more sensors and wires are required.
These wires tether the paramedic to the patient, even when moving up and down stairways and through tight spaces, take up valuable space in ambulances and aircraft, and create potential confusion and entanglement problems.” Read the article at EMS World. http://www.emsworld.com/article/11287919/wireless-patient-vital-signs-monitoring
And watch the video at DHS’s First Responders website. FirstResponder.gov provides first responders with information on technology, resources, products, programs, standards, testing and evaluation, and best practices. FirstResponder.gov is offered by the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate. S&T’s mission is to strengthen America’s security and resiliency by providing knowledge products and innovative technology solutions for the Homeland Security Enterprise. http://www.firstresponder.gov/SitePages/ResponderNews/VideoGalleryDisplay.aspx?Video=23
FirstNet Board Approves Strategic Roadmap
On March 11, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board voted to proceed toward several important milestones along the authority’s preliminary strategic roadmap that will assist in developing a definitive business plan, along with comprehensive state-based outreach and consultation plans. http://firstnet.gov/news/firstnet-board-directors-meets-strategic-roadmap
The approved roadmap focuses on several milestones required for the development of a definitive business plan including: Continue reading
NPSTC Welcomes New FirstNet Website
NPSTC Welcomes the New FirstNet Website, firstnet.gov.
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irstNet was created to be a force-multiplier for first responders – to give public safety 21st century communication tools to help save lives, solve crimes and keep our communities and emergency responders safe. To do that, FirstNet will build a new Band Class 14 network designed to be reliable, functional, safe and secure, and provide optimal levels of operational capability at all times. For the first time, public safety communications will be based on commercial standards. This will bring the benefits of lower costs, consumer-driven economies of scale and rapid evolution of advanced communication capabilities.