Communications Center & 9-1-1 Services

The issues and challenges surrounding our country's public safety communications system are wide ranging, technical and have seen years of research. The resulting presentations, comments, legislation and other documentation can be difficult to break down into manageable categories.

This page of the Comm Center & 9-1-1 Web site is designated to list as many of these resources and references as feasible. It is APCO’s goal to provide our members, and the public, with the information needed to understand the issues and affect change.

If you have any suggestions and/or updates regarding material to include in the Resource Library, please e-mail library@apco911.org.

Best Practices
- Telematics Service Providers Guideline revised
Brevity Code
Broadband
- 700 MHz "D" Block: Public Safety Application Needs Assessment
- Public Safety Alliance Press Conference
Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Budget

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APCO Project 33 Certification
Certification of Training Programs as meeting the APCO International Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators
CAD/RMS Technical Standards
Communication
- National Summary of Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIPs)
Call Handling
- NENA-APCO Third Party EMD Best Practices
- Public Safety Communications Article from December 2006 Issue
Call Centers
- North American Call Center Report
- Call Center Report MER - August 2006
CDC
- Coordinating Call Centers for Responding to Pandemic Influenza and Other Public Health Emergencies Workbook
Chemical Safety Board
Codes
- 10 Codes
- Brevity Codes
- Clear Speech
- N-11 Codes
Code of Ethics
APCO Committees
Comm Center Consolidation
- Virtual Consolidation
Comm Center Design
- FEMA 453 - Design Guidance for Shelters and Safe Rooms
- FEMA 361 - Design and Construction Guidance for Community Shelters
- Hardened First Responder Facilities - 9-1-1 Communications Case Study
- IACP Police Facility Planning Guidelines
- PSC Articles
  - Designing Next Generation Communications Center-Process and Product
  - Power for the People-We Need It
Communication Guides
- Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service
  What communications issues are you and your fire department facing? This guide covers topics of basic radio communications technology including spectrum, bandwidth, and interference. It provides information on analog, digital, direct and repeated, as well as trunked radio systems. The Guide further discusses portable radio selection and use, system design and implementation, and interoperability.
Consolidation
- CCDN Consolidation Survey Report
- Communications Center Consolidation Considerations
- CCDN PPT Presentation on Consolidation
Consumer Information
COPS- Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
CSRIC Working Group 1A: Report on Public Safety Consolidation
CSRIC Working Group 4A: 9-1-1 Best Practices
Cyber Security
- Distributable materials (US-CERT)
- General internet security (US-CERT)
- Monthly and quarterly reports (US-CERT)
- Recovering from an attack (US-CERT)
- Securing your computer (US-CERT)
Cyren

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Data Exchanges/Interoperability - APCO/IJIS Public Safety Data Interoperability (PSDI) Program
- Guide Info Sharing Data Interoperability Local Comm Centers
- Priority Data Exchanges Local Comm Centers
Department of Homeland Security
Desk Reference
- IACP Desk Reference
DHS Bottom-Up Review
Disaster Response Legislation
Dispatch Guidelines

Disabilities

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FBI Terrorist Screen Center Reference Documents
- Sample Dispatcher SOP for TSC Encounters
- Terrorism Reference Card
- Test Names NCIC
- Why LE Dispatchers are important to the TSC
FCC
- 911 Call Centers
- 9-1-1 Consumer Information
- 9-1-1 Services
- APCO Petitions to FCC
  - APCO petitions the FCC for accuracy ruling 10-6-04
- Accidental 9-1-1 Calls from Wireless Phones Pose Risk to Public Safety
- Basic 9-1-1
- CSRIC Working Group 1A: Report on Public safety consolidation
- CSRIC Working Group 4A: 9-1-1 Best Practices
- FCC Announces Revised Wireless Application
- FCC Emergency Contacts
- FCC Publications & Presentations
- First Responders Emergency Communications Planning
- Improving 9-1-1 Call Centers
- Joint APCO NENA Reply in E911 Refresh Proceeding
- Next Generation 911 Cost Study
- PSAP Registry
- Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Clearinghouse
- State 9-1-1 Deployment Plan
- VoIP and 911 Service
FEMA
- FEMA Federal Register 01-20-2011
- FEMA Draft NIMS Training Plan January 2011
- FEMA-Preparedness Task Force Resources
- Nationwide EAS Toolkit
- UASI Effectiveness Report Final
Consumer Facts
- Communicating During Emergencies
- Wireless 9-1-1 Services
Enhanced 9-1-1 – Wireless Services
FCC Announces Structure of New Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
Notices
PSC Articles
- FCC Creates New Bureau for Public Safety
- Is Your FCC License in Jeopardy
Spanish Links
TRS Rules and TDD/TTY
- TRS Rules
FEMA - NIMS Credentialing Guidelines
FEMA - National Council on Independent Living
Final Katrina Report
Fire Depts
We have profiles on over 20,000 Fire Departments in the United States. Browse below by Department type - data is categorized by State so that you can easily find the information that you're looking for. Whether you are searching for a Volunteer Fire Department to join near you, or are interested in viewing specific Fire Department homepages, it's all here including: Department Addresses, Number of Stations, Website Addresses and Federal Grant Awards.
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation
First Responders
- Nuclear Detonation: 10 Rules for First Responders
First Responder’s Guide To Satellite Communications
Formal agreement and SOP Template Suite
Forms
- Sample E9-1-1 Wireless Form
- Telecommunications Service Priority Request For Service
Frequencies
- Licensing of frequencies
Funding/Grants (Also see Grants)
- COPS Program Seeks Interoperability Projects
- DHS 2009 Preparedness Funding Announcement
- DHS 2009 Funding Preparedness Grants Fact Sheet
- DHS 2009 Preparedness Grant Program Overview
- DHS Grant & Financial Mgmt
- DHS Grants Web site
- First Responder Funding Upped
- Fiscal Year 2009 U.S. Emergency Operations Center Grant Program Guidance Announced
  A total of $12,357,500 is available for competitive grants to eligible state, local, or tribal governments' principal EOCs. State Administrative Agency(SAA) applies on behalf of eligible applicants. Applications are due to SAAs on Feb. 6, 2009. Applications due to DHS-FEMA from SAA Feb. 27, 2009.
- Grants.gov
- Homeland Defense Grant Listings
- NACo NEMA IAEM CR Letter
- NTIA and RUS Announce Availability of 4.8 Billion in ARRA Grants and Loans
- Securing Grant Funding
- State and Local Fiscal Outlook
- U.S. Dept of Justice
- U.S. Dept of Justice/COPS
- PSC Articles
  - New Planning Funding Option for Rebanding
- Vermont Funding Study - Jan 2012
PSAP Video Relay Service (VRS/IP) FAQ
Federal Highway Administration