The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International has announced the establishment of a project to help public safety answering points (PSAPs) and others prepare for broadband services.  “The PSAP of the future will be unlike anything we have ever experienced with new technologies sending information into and out of our PSAPs,” said APCO President Brent Lee. “APCO is launching a major effort to assist PSAPs around the country to address the opportunities and challenges presented by broadband-based technologies.”

Steven Proctor, executive director of the Utah Communications Authority, will lead the initiative. “Mr. Proctor will be supported by APCO members and staff through the efforts of a number of project work groups to sort through the internal impacts of broadband on PSAPs, including governance, cybersecurity, operations, technical, staffing, and training,” APCO said in a news release. “Project 43 will also be a forum to investigate solutions that maximize economies of scale, using consensus-based standards, best practices, and open system architectures.”

 “APCO is involved in a number of collaborative efforts with FirstNet, the Federal Communications Commission, Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security and Transportation, the public safety community, telecommunications industry and other stakeholders, but we are also uniquely positioned to care about what goes on in the PSAP and to shape policy and practice at this most essential element of emergency response,” said Mr. Proctor. – Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily