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2008-2010 APCO Press Releases

2010-08-30 - APCO SEEKS COMMENTS ON PROPOSED CHANGES TO DRAFT TRAINING STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released for comments proposed changes to the draft of a candidate American National Standard (ANS) that identifies the minimum training requirements for public safety telecommunicators.

2010-08-06 - PUBLIC SAFETY AGAIN RECOGNIZES ROCKEFELLER'S LEADERSHIP August 6, 2010, Washington, DC – The Public Safety Alliance (PSA) today applauded Senator Jay Rockefeller, IV, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (D – WV), for introducing S. 3756, The Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act, which directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allocate the D Block to public safety and identifies funding to build and maintain a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network.

2010-08-04 - IRIDIUM MAKES THIRD DONATION TO APCO INTERNATIONAL SILENT KEY SCHOLARSHIP FUND August 4, 2010, Houston, Texas – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced that Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) has made a donation to support the organization’s Silent Key Scholarship Fund for the third year in a row.

2010-08-03 - ANSI APPROVES SERVICE CAPABILITY CRITERIA RATING SCALE August 3, 2010, Houston, Texas – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) released the second version of an American National Standard (ANS) to assist public safety answering point (PSAP) managers and their governing authorities to identify their current level of service capability.

2010-08-02 - APCO TO HOST WORLD CONGRESS IN DUBAI IN 2011 August 2, 2010, Houston, Texas – The APCO Global Alliance today announced the APCO World Congress, taking place in Dubai, June 6-8, 2011. The APCO Global Alliance is a coalition of APCO organizations around the world, including the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, APCO Australasia, APCO Canada and British APCO (BAPCO). An agreement was signed yesterday at the APCO International 76th Annual Conference and Exposition in Houston, Texas solidifying the plans for the event.

2010-08-01 - ANSI APPROVES MISSING CHILD EMERGENCY RESPONSE STANDARD August 1, 2010, Houston, Texas – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced the approval of the second version of an American National Standard (ANS) to guide public safety telecommunicators in the processing of calls reporting missing, abducted, and/or sexually exploited children. APCO ANS 1.101.2-2010: Standard for Public Safety Telecommunicators when Responding to Calls of Missing, Abducted, and Sexually Exploited Children was approved by The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on July 28.

2010-07-29 - APCO COMMENDS HARMAN’S LEGISLATION TO ADVANCE PUBLIC SAFETY July 29, 2010, Alexandria, Va. – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today applauded Congresswoman Jane Harman (D – Venice), chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment and a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, for her introduction of legislation to enhance public safety mobile communications devices. The Next Generation Public Safety Device Act of 2010 will create an incentive for companies to enter the public safety market by authorizing a $70 million grant competition to develop and build prototype mission critical voice- and data-capable handsets and vehicle-portable devices for the 700-MHz spectrum.

2010-07-21 - PUBLIC SAFETY ALLIANCE APPLAUDS ROCKEFELLER July 21, 2010, Washington, DC - The Public Safety Alliance today applauded Senator Jay Rockefeller, IV, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (D - WV), for announcing his intention to introduce legislation directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allocate the D Block to public safety and identifying funding to build and maintain a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network.

2010-07-21 - APCO APPLAUDS SENATOR ROCKEFELLER FOR HIS SUPPORT OF D BLOCK FOR PUBLIC SAFETY July 21, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International applauds Senator Jay Rockefeller, IV, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (D - WV), for announcing his intention to introduce legislation in the coming days, which directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allocate the D Block to public safety with funding to build and maintain a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network.

2010-07-21 - APCO APPLAUDS LIEBERMAN AND MCCAIN July 21, 2010, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today praised Senators Joe Lieberman (I - Conn.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and John McCain (R - Ariz.), former chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, for their bold introduction of bi-partisan legislation, as a companion to H.R. 5081, which directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allocate the D Block to public safety. Senators Lieberman and McCain's legislation also authorizes the funding to build and maintain a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network.

2010-07-15 - PUBLIC SAFETY TAKES TO THE HILL Public safety vehicles will be present on Capitol Hill while PSA representatives meet with Congress to gain their support for H.R. 5081 – The Broadband for First Responders Act of 2010 – and seek support for introduction of a companion bill in the Senate. The results of their meetings will be discussed at a press conference.

2010-07-14 - CLARKSVILLE MONTGOMERY COUNTY E911 CENTER IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD July 14, 2010, Clarksville, Tenn. - Clarksville Montgomery County E911 Center recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Clarksville Montgomery County E911 Center provides law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) dispatch services for Clarksville city and county with an annual call volume over 200,000.

2010-07-13 - APCO AND PTI PRESENT FREE NG9-1-1 WEB SEMINAR NG9-1-1 has the potential to transform the public safety landscape and requires Geographic Information System (GIS) as a core database, increasing the need for data accuracy and reliability. This free web seminar, Next Generation 9-1-1 and GIS - Pitfalls, Challenges and Opportunities, will focus on the cost sharing and partnership opportunities for NG9-1-1 and GIS with entities beyond 9-1-1 using the same GIS data.

2010-07-08 - NIAGARA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD July 8, 2010, Lockport, NY – Niagara County Sheriff’s Office recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Niagara County Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) dispatch services for Niagara County and the surrounding area with an annual call volume over 300,000.

2010-07-07 - PUBLIC SAFETY EFFECTIVELY COUNTERS FCC D-BLOCK CLAIMS July 7, 2010, Washington, D.C. -- The Public Safety Alliance (PSA) today released a statement in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) whitepaper The Public Safety Nationwide Interoperable Broadband Network: A New Model for Capacity, Performance and Cost. The PSA statement House of Cards: FCC’s Capacity White Paper Built on Assumptions and Conjecture counters the FCC’s attempts to justify auctioning the D-Block and criticizes, among other things, both the timing of its release and the fact that it was developed without input from public safety practitioners.

2010-07-06 - APOLLO 13 COMMANDER HEADS APCO’S 76TH CONFERENCE IN HOUSTON July 6, 2010, Houston Texas - he Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today the keynote and supersession speakers for its 76th Annual Conference and Exposition taking place next month in Houston.

2010-06-29 - SUPPORT GROWS DRAMATICALLY FOR 20-MHZ NATIONWIDE INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND NETWORK June 29, 2010, Washington, D.C. - The Public Safety Alliance (PSA) today applauded the Administration for identifying alternative spectrum that could be auctioned to commercial carriers to provide sufficient federal funding to quickly construct, maintain, and operate a 20 MHz nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network, eliminating the need to auction the D Block.

2010-06-17 - PUBLIC SAFETY ALLIANCE DISCUSSES HEARING Press Teleconference to address the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Hearing on the Public Safety Broadband Network and H.R. 4829 and the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) recently released whitepaper to support their National Broadband Plan recommendations

2010-06-17 - ANSI APPROVES CHANNEL NAMING STANDARD June 17, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) today announced the approval of the American National Standard (ANS) to ensure national consistency of interoperability on related radio channels. APCO/NPSTC ANS 1.104.1-2010: Standard Channel Nomenclature for the Public Safety Interoperability Channel was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on June 9 and provides a standardized naming format for each Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated Interoperability Channel in Public Safety Radio Services.

2010-06-16 - APCO SEEKS COMMENTS ON UPDATED DRAFT MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS June 16, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released for comments the second draft of a candidate American National Standard (ANS) that identifies the minimum training requirements for public safety telecommunicators.

2010-06-15 - APCO SEEKS COMMENTS ON UPDATE TO SERVICE CAPABILITY STANDARD June 15, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the agencies that have training programs recognized as having achieved certified compliance in meeting or exceeding the APCO Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators (2006). The certification presentations will be made at the Distinguished Achievers Breakfast at the APCO International 76th Annual Conference and Exposition in Houston, Texas on August 3.

2010-06-14 - PUBLIC SAFETY ALLIANCE GAINS SUPPORT June 14, 2010, Washington DC - The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) recently expressed their support for allocation of the D Block to public safety, joining the many state, national and international organizations representing first responders, state and local governments and other professionals and supporting the Public Safety Alliance's position, including the International Association of Emergency Managers, the National Criminal Justice Association, the Police Executive Research Forum, the National Volunteer Fire Council, CALNENA and the American Public Works Association.

2010-06-08 - APCO SEEKS COMMENTS ON UPDATE TO SERVICE CAPABILITY STANDARD June 8, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released for comments today a candidate American National Standard (ANS) to assist public safety answering point (PSAP) managers and their governing authorities in identifying their current level of service capability.

2010-06-07 - FIRST RESPONDERS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOR NATIONWIDE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK The Public Safety Alliance, a partnership among the nation's leading public safety associations, today announced a national advertising and grassroots campaign, calling on Congress to modify the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) proposed auction of the D Block included in its national broadband plan. The group is comprised of major national organizations representing police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies - all concerned by the lack of a nationwide interoperable communications network they desperately need to keep America safe and respond to crime, fire, emergencies, acts of terrorism and natural disasters.

2010-06-03 - APCO SEEKS COMMENTS ON UPDATE TO MISSING CHILD RESPONSE STANDARD June 3, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released for comments today a candidate American National Standard (ANS) to guide public safety telecommunicators in the processing of calls reporting missing, abducted, and/or sexually exploited children.

2010-06-01 - APCO ANNOUNCES HORIZON AWARD WINNERS May 24, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the 2010 Public-Safety Communications Award winners. The awards will be presented at the Opening General Session of the APCO International 76th Annual Conference and Exposition in Houston, Texas on August 2.

2010-05-17 - APCO APPLAUDS THE RELEASE OF IECGP FUNDS, RENEWS CALL FOR FULL FUNDING TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND May 17, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - While highlighting Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's release of $48 million in federal grants to state and local government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today urged Congress to fully fund the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) at $400 million for FY2011.

2010-05-13 - APCO APPLAUDS FCC ACTION ON PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND WAIVERS May 13, 2010, Alexandria Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today congratulated those organizations who submitted and received waivers to allow them to begin to build-out and test the first phases toward realization of a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network. Twenty-one requests were conditionally approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), including New York City, the State of New York, the State of New Jersey, the City of Boston and Washington, DC.

2010-05-11 - APCO HONORS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS POLICY LEADERS ON MAY 18 May 11, 2010, Alexandria, Va - The Sixth Annual Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards Dinner is APCO International's premier event celebrating the leaders who serve the public safety communications community every day.

2010-05-05 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2010 LEADERSHIP IN POLICY AWARD WINNERS TO BE HONORED MAY 18 May 5, 2010, Alexandria, Va - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International will hold its Sixth Annual Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards Dinner on May 18 at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C. and present its annual awards for excellence in public safety communications policy.

2010-04-29 - APCO INSTITUTE BRINGS TRAINING FOR TELECOMMUNICATORS INVOLVED IN ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENTS ONLINE April 29, 2010, Daytona Beach, FL - APCO Institute today announced the release of its Active Shooter Incidents for Public Safety Communications online course. This online course will focus on the issues that make responding to an active shooter incident more difficult than other calls.

2010-04-28 - APCO AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR ERIC AND CLARIFIES POSITION ON RECENT SPECTRUM ACTIONS April 28, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today reiterated its support for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC), which was officially established on Friday.

2010-04-21 - APCO APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO ALLOCATE THE D BLOCK TO PUBLIC SAFETY The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today applauded Reps. Peter King (3rd Dist., NY), Anh Cao (2nd Dist., LA), Yvette Clarke (11th Dist., NY), Candice Miller (10th Dist., MI) and Mike Rogers (3rd Dist., AL) for their introduction of bipartisan legislation to allocate the D Block spectrum to public safety for the development of a national interoperable public safety broadband network.

2010-04-15 - STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS JOIN PUBLIC SAFETY IN CALL FOR ALLOCATION OF D BLOCK TO PUBLIC SAFETY The most prominent national organizations representing state and local governments sent letters to the House and Senate Commerce Committees calling for allocation of the D Block spectrum to public safety for the development of a national interoperable public safety broadband network.

2010-04-14 - WOMEN GATHER TO DISCUSS LEADERSHIP IN MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications, will host women from PSAPs, law enforcement, fire and rescue, consolidated dispatch centers and other agencies to discuss tips for climbing the career ladder and work/life balance in the male-dominated public safety industry.

2010-04-08 - PUBLIC SAFETY CONSENSUS GROUP AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS OUTLINE EFFORT TO BUILD NATIONAL WIRELESS BROADBAND NETWORK April 8, 2010, Washington, DC - The Public Safety Consensus Group met last week with representatives of several of the major national associations representing state and local government to discuss the effort to build a national interoperable broadband public safety network. Many of these organizations have expressed their support for allocation of the D Block spectrum to public safety.

2010-04-08 - APCO RELEASES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION 9-1-1 GUIDECARD April 8, 2010, Daytona Beach, Fla. - In response to the recent safety issues concerning unintended vehicle acceleration, the APCO Institute recently released an Unintended Acceleration Guidecard to assist calltakers and dispatchers in responding to 9-1-1 calls related to unintended vehicle acceleration.

2010-04-06 - LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY TO RECOGNIZE PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS

2010-03-19 - APCO URGES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND NETWORK March 19, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public Safety-Communications Officials (APCO) International expressed its support for the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) estimate of $12 billion to $16 billion for a public safety wireless broadband network. APCO International now calls on Congress to establish the necessary appropriations and programs to fund the build out, operation, and maintenance of a public safety wireless broadband network over the next 10 years.

2010-03-11 - WOMEN'S CONFERENCE DISCUSSES LEADERSHIP IN MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY March 16, 2010, Orlando, Fla. - Shortly after celebrating Women's History Month, women in the public safety communications industry will gather for a leadership conference. The Women in Public Safety Communications Leadership Conference, hosted by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International in Orlando, Fla. on April 21 and 22, includes tips for climbing the career ladder and women's work/life balance in the male-dominated public safety industry.

2010-03-11 - APCO CALLS ON FCC TO REQUIRE COORDINATED SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS March 11, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International expressed its support for the use of satellite services for public safety communications. Specifically, they called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate requiring that equipment designed to operate on the 700 MHz public safety broadband network be capable of communicating directly and seamlessly with communications satellites.

2010-03-08 - 2010 APCO CONFERENCE SAVES ATTENDEES TIME AND MONEY March 8, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today the reconfigured schedule for its 2010 Annual Conference and Exposition, which allows attendees to achieve its full value on a three-night stay rather than the four or five nights required with the old schedule. The shorter hotel stay results in an average savings of $500 and reduced time away from family and the office, while providing the same education and value-added benefits attendees are used to.

2010-02-25 - HAS AMERICA LEARNED NOTHING FROM HURRICANE KATRINA, 9/11, COLUMBINE AND THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING? February 25, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, along with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC), Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (MFCA), National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) and National Sheriffs' Association (NSA), today expressed their profound disappointment with the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) announcement recommending re-auction of the D Block spectrum. This action would take a critical national asset away from public safety and give it to the commercial market, effectively precluding public safety's ability to obtain 20 MHz of contiguous spectrum in the 700 MHz band for continuing technological development to secure the nation and its citizens' safety with enhanced capabilities for day-to-day operations and during critical events.

2010-02-08 - APCO OFFERS NEW CRISIS NEGOTIATION TRAINING February 23, 2010, Daytona Beach, Fla. - The APCO Institute announced today the release of its new course Crisis Negotiations for Telecommunicators. This course, offered in a classroom setting and online, will build on the knowledge, skills and abilities inherent in basic telecommunicator training programs to educate the public safety communications professional on the most effective way to receive and process calls involving crisis situations and to ensure they fulfill their role as a vital component of the overall public safety response.

2010-02-03 - APCO EMD PROGRAM HELPS 9-1-1 CALLTAKERS SAVE LIVES February 3, 2010, Daytona Beach, Fla. - Following a recent story on The Today Show that highlighted the importance of training for 9-1-1 calltakers, the APCO Institute reminds public safety agencies of its life-saving Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program.

2010-02-01 - APCO RECOMMENDS COMMUNICATIONS RESTORATION PLAN FOR HAITI February 1, 2010, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International has participated in discussions with U.S. officials coordinating with Haitian government officials to discuss plans to restore public safety communications services in Haiti following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12.

2010-01-28 - PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS REITERATE CALL FOR CONGRESS TO REALLOCATE D BLOCK TO PUBLIC SAFETY January 28, 2010, Orlando, Fla. - In the wake of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) first public disclosure of proposed portions of the National Broadband Plan due to Congress in March, major national public safety associations firmly reasserted their strong, united support for Congress to introduce and pass legislation reallocating the D Block spectrum to public safety now. Rear Admiral (Ret.) James Arden Barnett, Jr., Chief of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, presented on the FCC's National Broadband Plan as part of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International's 2010 Winter Technology Summit.

2010-01-21 - FAYETTE COUNTY EMA/911 IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD January 21, 2010, Uniontown, Penn. - Fayette County EMA/911 recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Fayette County EMA/911 is a county-wide 911 public safety answering point serving the County of Fayette, Penn., a mostly rural and urban area approximately 50 miles south of Pittsburgh, Penn. and 20 miles north of Morgantown, WV with a population of approximately 147,000 and an annual call volume over 100,000.

2010-01-19 - APCO EVENT EXPLORES EMERGING EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY January 19, 2010, Orlando, Fla. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International will host its Winter Technology Summit January 25-27 in Orlando, Fla. to discuss the latest trends and emerging technologies in emergency communications.

2010-01-11 - SANTA MONICA FIRE DISPATCH COMMUNICATIONS CENTER IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD January 11, 2010, Santa Monica, Calif. - Santa Monica Fire Dispatch Communications Center recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Santa Monica Fire Dispatch Communications Center provides fire suppression and rescue, medical aid and advanced life support for all Santa Monica residents with an annual call volume of 11,500.

2010-01-07 - MEDIA ADVISORY: NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP CALLS ON CONGRESS AND THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO REALLOCATE BROADBAND SPECTRUM FOR PUBLIC SAFETY In an unparalleled event, the leadership of America's emergency first responders has come together to call on Congress to immediately reallocate the 700 MHz "D" Block spectrum to public safety. At this press conference, our nation's top police chiefs, sheriffs, and fire chiefs will highlight the urgent need for an interoperable public safety wireless broadband network. They will also report out on their meetings with key members of Congress and the Obama Administration that will have taken place earlier in the day.

2009-11-16 - PUBLIC SAFETY ASSOCIATIONS HOLD THIRD MEETING TO FORM CONSENSUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONWIDE BROADBAND NETWORK November 16, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC) co-hosted a meeting on Friday of nine major public safety organizations to further address matters related to the development of a nationwide interoperable broadband network. The meeting included representatives from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Major County Sheriffs' Association (MCS), Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (MFCA), National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) in follow up to two meetings convened in April and May of this year.

2009-11-02 - APCO INSTITUTE PRESENTS NEW TRAINING ON PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS STAFFING AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION November 2, 2009, Daytona Beach, Fla. - APCO Institute today announced the release of its new course, Public Safety Communications Staffing and Employee Retention. This course is designed to provide guidance and information to public safety communications center employees at every level.

2009-10-26 - HAMILTON COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD October 26, 2009, Chattanooga, Tenn. - Hamilton County Emergency Communications District recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Hamilton County Emergency Communications District provides 9-1-1 service for all Hamilton County residents, excluding the municipalities of Soddy Daisy and Lookout Mountain, providing dispatch services for emergency medical services (EMS), fire/rescue and law enforcement with an annual call volume near 900,000.

2009-10-22 - APCO TO HOST THIRD MEETING TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONWIDE INTEROPERABLE BROADBAND NETWORK October 22, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today that it will convene, in conjunction with the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC), a meeting of eight key public safety organizations to further address matters related to the development of a nationwide interoperable broadband network. In addition to the convening organizations, the meeting will include the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the Major County Sheriffs' Association (MCS), the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (MFCA) and the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) and the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) and serve as a follow up to meetings convened by MCC and APCO International this spring.

2009-10-19 - APCO AND NPSTC SEEK COMMENTS ON DRAFT CHANNEL NAMING STANDARD October 19, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) released for comments a candidate American National Standard (ANS) to ensure national consistency of interoperability on related radio channels. The proposed Standard Channel Nomenclature for Public Safety Interoperability Channels provides a standardized naming format for each Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated Interoperability Channel in Public Safety Radio Services.

2009-10-16 - APCO CELEBRATES SENATE PASSAGE OF BILL TO EXTEND VITAL PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING October 16, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today applauded the Senate's passage of a bill that will extend the current spending deadline for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant program to 2012. The PSIC program was originally established by Congress to provide one-time funding of $1 billion to state and local governments toward achieving interoperability among our first responders.

2009-10-14 - APCO ANNOUNCES INTENT TO DEVELOP STANDARDS FOR BUILD OUT OF 700 MHZ BROADBAND NETWORK October 14, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced its intent to develop standards for 700 MHz broadband networks. This effort builds on recent actions of APCO International, the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Broadband Network Requirement Task Force. In reviewing the PSST-endorsed report, APCO International will identify gaps and set standards in those areas where none currently exist and where standards are necessary to ensure roaming and interoperability among localities and regions that intend to build out 700 MHz broadband networks.

2009-10-13 - FCC APPOINTS APCO BOARD MEMBER TO CO-CHAIR COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE October 13, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today heralded the appointment of Immediate Past President Chris Fischer of Seattle, Wash. as co-chair of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) for a term of two years.

2009-10-13 - APCO APPLAUDS ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR D-BLOCK COMMENTS October 13, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today applauded Attorney General Eric Holder for his comments in support of direct allocation of the D-Block to public safety.

2009-10-07 - APCO-TRAINED COMMUNICATIONS CENTER OPENS IN MIDDLE EAST October 7, 2009, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia - APCO Institute celebrated the opening of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on September 23. The University includes Security Command and Control's 911 Communications Center, staffed with APCO Institute-trained personnel and using APCO Institute support software, an all-inclusive program launched in April and administered by APCO Institute Adjunct Instructor Mark Boudreaux, director of Terrebonne 911 District in Louisiana.

2009-09-23 - APCO APPLAUDS SENATORS ROCKEFELLER AND HUTCHISON FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP TO EXTEND VITAL PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING September 23, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today applauded Senators John D. Rockefeller IV (D - WV) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R - Tex.) for their introduction of bipartisan legislation to extend the current spending deadline for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant program. The PSIC program was originally established by Congress to provide one-time funding of $1 billion to state and local governments toward achieving interoperability among our first responders.

2009-09-22 - HURON TOWNSHIP POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD September 22, 2009, New Boston, Mich. - Huron Township Police and Fire Department recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Huron Township Police and Fire Department provides call taking and dispatching for police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) for the 36 square miles of Huron Township.

2009-09-14 - APCO SEEKS COMMENTS ON UPDATED DRAFT MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS September 14, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released for comments a candidate American National Standard (ANS) that identifies the minimum training requirements for public safety telecommunicators.

2009-09-09 - CORE COMPETENCIES FOR MANAGERS AND DIRECTORS APPROVED BY ANSI September 9, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today the approval by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) of a standard that outlines the core competencies that define the basic functions, duties, responsibilities, knowledge, abilities and expertise attributable to individuals who manage public safety communications operations.

2009-08-20 - APCO ANNOUNCES NEW TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION INITIATIVE August 20, 2009, Las Vegas, Nev. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced their intent to create a Training and Certification Tracking (TACT) System. This announcement came during their 75th Annual Conference and Exposition, which featured sessions on training and certification issues.

2009-08-19 - APCO LEADERSHIP HOSTS TOWN HALL ON 700-MHZ BROADBAND August 19, 2009, Las Vegas, Nev. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International hosted a Town Hall Meeting on the FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Notice Seeking Comment on Petitions for Waivers to Deploy 700-MHz Public Safety Broadband Networks during their 75th Annual Conference and Exposition. During the meeting, representatives of petitioners who filed waiver requests with the FCC to deploy the 700-MHz public safety broadband network discussed the issue.

2009-08-18 - APCO AND IJIS INSTITUTE PRESENT DATA INTEROPERABILITY PAPERS August 18, 2009, Las Vegas, Nev. -The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the IJIS Institute's Public Safety Data Interoperability (PSDI) Program are releasing the Guide to Information Sharing and Data Interoperability for Local Communication Centers and the Priority Data Exchanges for Local Communication during a session at APCO Internationals 75th Annual Conference and Exposition today.

2009-08-17 - APCO EVENTS HIGHLIGHT STAFFING AND RETENTION ISSUES August 17, 2009, Las Vegas, Nev. - Two events at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International's 75th Annual Conference and Exposition today will highlight one of the most important issues affecting public safety communications and present information to help public safety communications professionals address it.

2009-08-16 - APCO HOSTS COML TRAINING August 16, 2009, Las Vegas, Nev. - In response to the immediate need for trained All-Hazard Communications Unit Leaders (COMLs), the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International hosted the All-Hazards Communications Unit Leader (COML) Course in conjunction with its 75th Annual Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nev. The course is required for telecommunicators, police and fire personnel to be officially recognized and utilized under the National Incident Management System (NIMS) command structure.

2009-08-05 - APCO HOSTS 75TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXPO IN LAS VEGAS The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International celebrates a bright future and a past of distinguished service at its 75th Annual Conference and Exposition for the professionals who build, supply, operate, manage and maintain the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical services.

2009-08-05 - APCO ELEVATES 9-1-1 CALL TAKERS AND DISPATCHERS August 5, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today reiterated their support for the life-saving work of 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers.

2009-08-05 - APCO CONGRATULATES COMMISSIONERS CLYBURN AND BAKER August 5, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today congratulated Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, who was sworn in Monday, and Commissioner Meredith Baker, who was sworn in on Friday.

2009-06-30 - ARLINGTON COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD June 30, 2009, Arlington, Va. - Arlington County Emergency Communications Center recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Arlington County Emergency Communications Center provides 9-1-1 dispatching for Arlington County, Falls Church City, the Pentagon, Fort Myer Army Base and Arlington National Cemetery with a staff of 55 and an annual call volume of over 500,000.

2009-06-26 - APCO CONGRATULATES GENACHOWSKI AND MCDOWELL June 26, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - he Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today congratulated Julius Genachowski on his Senate confirmation for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Commissioner Robert McDowell on his Senate reconfirmation.

2009-06-25 - APCO RESPONDS TO NENA BROADBAND NETWORK POSITION June 25, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today responded to a proposal from the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) regarding public safety broadband communications. NENA's plan is to auction both the 700-MHz band D-block and adjacent 10 MHz of public-safety spectrum for commercial use.

2009-06-17 - ORLAND CENTRAL DISPATCH IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD June 17, 2009, Orland Park, Ill. - Orland Central Dispatch recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Orland Central Dispatch provides 9-1-1 call taking and dispatching for the Villages of Orland Park, Orland Hills and Romeoville and the City of Calumet with three full-time staff and an annual call volume of 23,000.

2009-06-15 - ANSI APPROVES APCO/NENA STANDARD FOR TERT DEPLOYMENT June 15, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) today announced the approval of the American National Standard (ANS) to assist public safety answering points (PSAPs) and governing 9-1-1 authorities with the information required for developing, training, equipping and deploying a Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) team. The Standard for TERT Deployment, APCO/NENA ANS 1.105.1-2009, was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on May 29.

2009-06-11 - CALHOUN COUNTY 9-1-1 DISTRICT IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD June 11, 2009, Anniston, Ala. - Calhoun County 9-1-1 District recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Calhoun County 9-1-1 District provides 9-1-1 call taking and dispatching for Calhoun County with 23 full-time staff and an annual call volume of 75,000.

2009-06-09 - APCO & NENA ENDORSE LTE AS TECHNOLOGY STANDARD FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONWIDE BROADBAND NETWORK June 9, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Board of Officers of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the Executive Committee of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) today announced both organizations' endorsement of Long Term Evolution (LTE) as the technological standard to be used in the development of a nationwide interoperable broadband network in the 700-MHz band assigned to public safety. APCO and NENA also urged their partner organizations meeting this week at the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council to join in endorsing LTE.

2009-06-08 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2009 P33 CERTIFICATIONS AND RECERTIFICATION June 8, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the agencies they have recognized as having achieved certified compliance in meeting or exceeding the APCO Project 33 - Revised Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators. The certification and recertification presentations will be made at the Distinguished Achievers Breakfast at the APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nev. on August 18.

2009-06-03 - CULPEPER PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD June 3, 2009, Culpeper, Va. - Culpeper Public Safety Communications Center recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Culpeper Public Safety Communications Center provides call taking and dispatching for all 9-1-1 calls for the city and county police department, sheriff's office and fire rescue dispatch with 19 full-time staff and an annual call volume of 81,000.

2009-06-01 - APCO ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL HORIZON AWARD WINNERS June 1, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the inaugural winners of its Horizon Award. The Horizon Award acknowledges the efforts of communications centers that have proactively assessed and met the technological and operational needs of their center, employees and service population and are presented to one large center and one small center. The awards will be presented at the APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nev. on August 18.

2009-05-29 - PUBLIC SAFETY ASSOCIATIONS MEET TO FORM CONSENSUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONWIDE BROADBAND NETWORK May 28, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International hosted a meeting today of eight major public safety organizations to further address matters related to the development of a nationwide interoperable broadband network. The meeting included representatives from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC), Major County Sheriffs' Association (MCS), Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (MFCA), National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), and the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) in follow up to a meeting convened by MCC on April 20.

2009-05-28 - APCO PROMOTES PREPAREDNESS AT START OF HURRICANE SEASON May 28, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today released recommendations for public safety communications personnel as they prepare for the 2009 hurricane season.

2009-05-26 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2009 PUBLIC-SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS AWARD WINNERS May 26, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the 2009 Public-Safety Communications Award winners. The awards will be presented at the Opening General Session of the APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nev. on August 17.

2009-05-21 - IRIDIUM LAUNCHES THIRD ANNUAL "TEST YOUR SATELLITE PHONE" WEEK TO ENCOURAGE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PREPAREDNESS May 21, 2009, Bethesda, Md. - Iridium Satellite LLC announces the kickoff of its third annual "Test Your Satellite Phone" initiative. In partnership with The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, Iridium encourages emergency workers and first responders to prepare now to ensure that one of their most critical lifelines in a disaster - their satellite phone - works properly.

2009-05-13 - APCO TO HOST SECOND MEETING OF PUBLIC SAFETY ASSOCIATIONS IN FOLLOW UP TO MAJOR CITIES CHIEFS FORUM May 13, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today that it will host a meeting of eight major public safety organizations to further address matters related to the development of a nationwide interoperable broadband network. The meeting will include the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC), Major County Sheriffs' Association (MCS), Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (MFCA), National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), and the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) and serve as a follow up to a meeting convened by MCC on April 20.

2009-05-11 - APCO SEEKS COMMENTS ON PROPOSED CORE COMPETENCIES FOR MANAGERS AND DIRECTORS May 11, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released for comments a candidate American National Standard (ANS) that outlines the core competencies that define the basic functions, duties, responsibilities, knowledge, abilities and expertise attributable to individuals who manage public safety communications operations.

2009-05-04 - APCO SUPPORTS EXTENSION OF PSIC GRANT PROGRAM May 4, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today released a position statement expressing its support for Representative Anh "Joseph" Cao's (R - La.) bill, H.R. 1819, to amend the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 to extend the interoperable emergency communications grant program (IECGP) through fiscal year 2012. The IECGP provides a critical continuation to the initial Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) funding program, which holds the promise of providing $1 billion to state and local government to begin to substantially address the lack of operable or interoperable communications among our nation's first responders and public safety agencies.

2009-04-28 - BOONE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY/E9-1-1 IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD April 28, 2009, Danville, WV - Boone County Emergency Management Agency/ E9-1-1 recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Boone County Emergency Management Agency/ E9-1-1 provides call taking and dispatching for all 9-1-1 calls for city, county and state police, fire departments and ambulance services with a staff of 19 and an annual call volume of over 20,000.

2009-04-22 - APCO-AFC TO PROVIDE FREQUENCY COORDINATION FOR PTI April 22, 2009, Daytona Beach, Fla. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today the partnership between its frequency coordination subsidiary, APCO-AFC, and the Public Technology Institute (PTI).

2009-04-20 - APCO LAUNCHES STUDY TO ASSESS HUMAN RESOURCES IN PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS April 20, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced their intent to study the current status of training standards and certification requirements, retirement options and other key human resource issues related to public safety communications professionals. The study will be conducted by APCO International's newly appointed Professional Communications Human Resource Taskforce (PRO-CHRT), symbolically approved during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

2009-04-14 - 9-1-1 MISUSE AND WIRELESS LOCATION ACCURACY ADDRESSED IN NEW PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN April 14, 2009,Alexandria, Va. - April 14, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today released two public service announcements as a part of their campaign to educate the public about the proper use of 9-1-1. These public service announcements, released for broadcast during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, use humor to address two very serious issues plaguing the 9-1-1 system - the misuse of 9-1-1 for non-emergencies and the challenges associated with calling 9-1-1 from mobile phones.

2009-04-06 - NEW EVENT FOCUSES ON WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS April 6, 2009, Orlando, Fla. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International will sponsor the first Women in Public Safety Communications Leadership Symposium in Orlando, Fla. May 7-8.

2009-04-01 - APCO SEEKS COMMENTS ON DRAFT STANDARD FOR TERT DEPLOYMENT April 1, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) released for comments a candidate American National Standard (ANS) to assist Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) and governing 9-1-1 authorities with the information required for developing, training, equipping and deploying a standardized Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) team. The Standard for TERT Deployment, APCO/NENA ANS 1.105.1-200x, includes information to provide guidance and helpful information regarding the development, maintenance and deployment of a TERT team.

2009-03-30 - APCO BRINGS PUBLIC SAFETY TO THE MIDDLE EAST March 30, 2009, Daytona Beach, Fla. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today that its training arm is reaching to Saudi Arabia in an effort to help secure a local university. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has accepted the APCO Institute's proposal to provide an all-inclusive training program for communications personnel in their new communications center.

2009-03-19 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2009 LEADERSHIP IN POLICY AWARD WINNERS TO BE HONORED APRIL 7 March 19, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International will hold its Fifth Annual Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards Dinner on April 7 at the Fairmont in Washington, D.C. and present its annual awards for excellence in public safety communications policy.

2009-02-23 - TELECOMMUNICATOR TURN-OVER RATE REACHES 19 PERCENT February 23, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today released a follow-up report to its Project RETAINS (Responsive Efforts to Assure Integral Needs in Staffing), which finds the national telecommunicator turn-over rate at 19 percent, an increase of three percent since the initial study conducted in 2005 and higher than the better-known turn-over rates of nurses and teachers. The report also includes highly sought-after guidelines to estimate the appropriate staffing levels for dispatchers.

2009-02-18 - BROWN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE UPGRADES EMD PROGRAM February 18, 2009, Hiawatha, Kan. - Brown County (Kan.) Sheriff's Office has become the latest communications center to upgrade their APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Guidecards to the Multi-purpose Emergency Dispatch System (MEDS) software.

2009-02-09 - APCO HOSTS 2009 WINTER SUMMIT IN ORLANDO With a focus on technology and information technology, APCO International's 2009 Winter Summit's presentations and networking opportunities arm you with up-to-date information on industry trends to help you make educated strategy and purchasing decisions throughout the year. The Winter Summit will provide solutions to executives who work for agencies on a local, state, and federal level. Along with the technology focus you'll hear the latest news on regulatory, policy, rebanding, narrowbanding, and Next Gen 9-1-1 issues affecting public safety communications.

2009-02-05 - APCO AFC SELECTED TO MANAGE CAPRAD February 5, 2009, Daytona Beach, Fla. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today that its Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) has been named as a subcontractor to manage the Computer Assisted Pre-Coordination Resource and Database (CAPRAD) system. As part of the contract, APCO AFC will provide technical, consultative, and personnel support to the 700/800 MHz Regional Planning Committees (RPCs) and the CAPRAD system.

2009-01-29 - APCO PRAISES FCC'S APPOINTMENT OF FURTH January 29, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today praised Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Acting Chairman Michael Copps for the appointment of David Furth as acting chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.

2009-01-26 - ANSI APPROVES ALARM MONITORING COMPANY TO PSAP DATA EXCHANGE STANDARD January 26, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today the approval of an American National Standard (ANS) to provide a standard data exchange for electronically transmitting information between an alarm monitoring company and a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

2009-01-23 - APCO REAPPOINTED TO NTIA SPECTRUM COMMITTEE January 23, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today that its representative to the Department of Commerce's (DOC) National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Commerce Spectrum Advisory Committee, Robert Gurss, has been reappointed to represent the organization for a second two-year term. APCO International, through Gurss, has had representation on this committee since its inception.

2009-01-21 - APCO INSTITUTE LAUNCHES EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH ONLINE January 21, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The APCO Institute announced today it would offer its first online Emergency Medical Dispatcher course.

2009-01-13 - LEARN HOW TO READY YOUR COMMUNICATIONS CENTER FOR VRS AND IP CALLS January 13, 2009 - As you are aware, it is imperative that call takers are familiar with the unique processes involved in ensuring that all emergency calls are handled as efficiently and effectively as possible. Calls using Video Relay Service (VRS) or Internet Protocol (IP) Relay Service present additional challenges for call takers, but with the December 31 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate upon us, we must take action to ensure our preparedness.

2009-01-12 - APCO AND PTI PRESENT TECH FOR EXECS January 12, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today its partnership with Public Technology Institute (PTI) to provide a specialized technical program designed for the unique educational needs of executive and strategic decision-making level public safety communications professionals. Tech for Execs will take place Tuesday, February 17 in Orlando, Fla. in conjunction with the 6th Annual APCO International Winter Summit.

2008-11-25 - SAGINAW CHIPPEWA TRIBAL POLICE IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD November 25, 2008, Mt. Pleasant, MI - Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police serves Mt. Pleasant and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Reservation.

2008-11-17 - ANSI APPROVED APCO AND NENA STANDARD PSAP-SERVICE CAPABILITY CRITERIA RATING SCALE November 17, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) announced today that the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) approved the APCO and NENA standard to assist Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) managers and their governing authorities to identify their current level of service capability.

2008-11-17 - BRADLEY COUNTY (TN) 911 IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD November 17, 2008, Cleveland, TN - Bradley County (TN) 911 recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Bradley County 911 is a consolidated dispatch center serving Cleveland City, Bradley County and the City of Charleston with an annual call volume of 17,000.

2008-11-10 - APCO SEEKS COMMENTS ON ALARM MONITORING COMPANY TO PSAP DATA EXCHANGE DRAFT STANDARD November 10, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released for comments a candidate American National Standard (ANS) to provide a standard data exchange for electronically transmitting information between an alarm monitoring company and a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

2008-11-07 - FCC RELEASED VACATED SPECTRUM SEARCH ENGINE - AFC ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS NOVEMBER 7 November 7, 2008 - The FCC today released the much anticipated public notice on Sprint/Nextel vacated spectrum. The FCC permitted Sprint/Nextel to release the spectrum it must vacate in stages as band reconfiguration progresses in each NPSPAC public safety region. Sprint/Nextel has relinquished its channel holdings in the 809-809.5/854.854.5 MHz band segment in all regions (20 channels in all). These channels will be made available for licensing exclusively to public safety entities for a three-year period, and exclusively to public safety and CII entities for an additional two years.

2008-10-23 - APCO RELEASES MISSING CHILD RESPONSE GUIDECARDS October 23, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released today guidecards to aid calltakers in handling calls pertaining to missing and exploited children through its APCO Institute. The Missing Children Guidecards are based on the APCO International American National Standard, released last year, and serve as a reference specifically for emergency calltakers to present the missing and/or sexually exploited child response process in a logical progression from the initial call through the first response.

2008-10-14 - APCO PARTICIPATES IN VETERAN CAREER TRAINING October 14, 2008, Lowell, Mass. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today participated in an orientation encouraging veterans to seek a career in public safety communications.

2008-09-30 - APCO AND NENA SEEK ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON DRAFT STANDARD PSAP-SERVICE CAPABILITY CRITERIA RATING SCALE September 30, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) released for comments Friday a proposed addition to a candidate American National Standard (ANS) to assist Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) managers and their governing authorities to identify their current level of service capability.

2008-09-22 - TEXAS TERT ACTIVATION FOR IKE A SUCCESS September 22, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), the founding partners of the National Joint TERT Initiative (NJTI), today reported the results of the Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) activation in Texas following Hurricane Ike.

2008-09-16 - APCO HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL BROADBAND PUBLIC SAFETY NETWORK IN HEARING TESTIMONY TODAY September 16, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International reaffirmed their support for a public safety broadband network that meets the needs of first responders during mission-critical incidents today in a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security.

2008-09-08 - NEW JERSEY APPROVED APCO INSTITUTE PST1 COURSE September 8, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today that the New Jersey Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services approved the APCO Institute's Public Safety Telecommunicator I (PST1) online course for training its telecommunications professionals. All training courses used by its employees must first be approved by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services. This body has previously approved the in-person version of PST1 and APCO Institute's Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program.

2008-09-02 - IRIDIUM MAKES DONATION TO APCO SILENT KEY SCHOLARSHIP September 2, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced that Iridium Satellite LLC has donated $17,000 to the association's Silent Key Scholarship Fund which provides current and future public safety communications professionals with training and educational opportunities in honor of deceased APCO International members. An Iridium representative presented a check to APCO President, Chris Fischer, at the 74th Annual Conference and Exhibition last month in Kansas City, Mo.

2008-08-26 - APCO AND NENA APPLAUD FCC FOR VOIP E9-1-1 ACTION August 26, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) today applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for their adoption of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking implementing provisions of the NET 911 Improvement Act (PL 110-283) today.

2008-08-25 - APCO WINS AWARD FOR MISSING CHILD POLICY AND STANDARD August 25, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced today it is being honored with the American Society of Association Executives' (ASAE) highest award. ASAE is presenting its Summit Award through its Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards program to APCO International for its nationally recognized standard to assist public safety telecommunicators in responding to calls reporting missing and exploited children. The award will be presented at the 9th Annual Summit Awards Dinner in Washington, DC on September 23.

2008-08-18 - APCO RELEASES ANSI APPROVED WIRELESS 9-1-1 DEPLOYMENT AND MANAGEMENT EFFECTIVE PRACTICES August 18, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released today an American National Standard (ANS) outlining effective practices for deploying and managing wireless 9-1-1.

2008-07-23 - APCO APPLAUDS ADMINISTRATION FOR SIGNING OF VOIP 9-1-1 BILL July 23, 2008, Washington, DC -The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today applauded the Administration for signing the compromise bill requiring Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers to provide 9-1-1 service, including enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) service, to their subscribers. The New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvements Act of 2008 (H.R. 3403) was passed by Congress in June and signed into law by the President today.

2008-07-15 - APCO STRESSES FUNDING AS KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE NECP July 15, 2008, Washington, DC - In testimony today before the House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International stressed the importance of full funding for interoperable emergency communications grant programs and the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) in order for the goals of the NECP to be successful.

2008-06-24 - APCO APPLAUDS CONGRESS FOR PASSAGE OF BIPARTISAN VOIP 9-1-1 BILL June 24, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today applauded Congress for passing a compromise bill that requires Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers to provide 9-1-1 service, including enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) service, to their subscribers.

2008-06-03 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2008 TRAINER PSAP AWARD WINNER June 3, 2008, Euless, Tex. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the 2008 Trainer of the Year Public Safety Award Program (PSAP) award to be presented to Debra Riley-Torrez, lead dispatcher and communications training coordinator of the Euless (Tex.) Police Department at the Opening General Session of the APCO International 74th Annual Conference and Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. on August 4.

2008-06-03 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2008 TELECOMMUNICATOR PSAP AWARD WINNER June 3, 2008, Stafford, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the 2008 Telecommunicator of the Year Public Safety Award Program (PSAP) award to be presented to Karen Roy, communications officer at the Stafford County (Va.) Sheriff's Office, at the Opening General Session of the APCO International 74th Annual Conference and Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. on August 4.

2008-06-03 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2008 RADIO FREQUENCY TECHNOLOGIST PSAP AWARD WINNER June 3, 2008, Mobile, Ala. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the 2008 Radio Frequency Technologist of the Year Public Safety Award Program (PSAP) award to be presented to Eric Linsley, director of public safety communications for the Mobile County (Ala.) Electronics Department, at the Opening General Session of the APCO International 74th Annual Conference and Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. on August 4.

2008-06-03 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2008 LINE SUPERVISOR PSAP AWARD WINNER June 3, 2008, Pullman, Wash. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the 2008 Line Supervisor of the Year Public Safety Award Program (PSAP) award to be presented to Susan Waltz, WHITCOM Regional 9-1-1 Center dispatch line supervisor, at the Opening General Session of the APCO International 74th Annual Conference and Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. on August 4.

2008-06-03 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2008 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIST PSAP AWARD WINNER June 3, 2008, New Orleans, La. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the 2008 Information Technologist of the Year Public Safety Award Program (PSAP) award to be presented to Karl Fasold, systems administrator of the Orleans Parish (La.) Communication District (OPCD), at the Opening General Session of the APCO International 74th Annual Conference and Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. on August 4.

2008-06-03 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2008 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER DIRECTOR PSAP AWARD WINNER June 3, 2008, Tacoma, WA - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the 2008 Communications Center Director of the Year Public Safety Award Program (PSAP) award to be presented to Thomas J. Orr, director of the Law Enforcement Support Agency (LESA) in Tacoma, Wash., at the Opening General Session of the APCO International 74th Annual Conference and Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. on August 4.

2008-06-03 - APCO ANNOUNCES 2008 PSAP AWARD WINNERS June 3, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the 2008 Public Safety Award Program (PSAP) award winners. The awards will be presented at the Opening General Session of the APCO International 74th Annual Conference and Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. on August 4.

2008-05-28 - APCO AND NENA SEEK COMMENTS ON DRAFT PSAP SERVICE CAPABILITY CRITERIA RATING SCALE May 27, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) released Friday a candidate American National Standard (ANS) to assist Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) managers and their governing authorities to identify their current level of service capability.

2008-05-27 - LOUISA COUNTY (VA.) SHERIFF'S OFFICE IMPLEMENTS APCO EMD May 27, 2008, Louisa, VA - Louisa County (VA) Sheriff's Office recently implemented the APCO Institute Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Program. Louisa County Sheriff's Office provides emergency dispatch for police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) for the city and county as well as providing some monitoring for the Virginia State Police and local school bus traffic with an annual call volume of 153,000 calls per year.

2008-04-30 - APCO CONGRATULATES NENA'S NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR April 30, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International congratulated the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) following their announcement today of the hiring of their new Executive Director, former AT&T Vice President Brian Fontes. APCO International works closely with NENA on 9-1-1 related issues, and has interacted with Mr. Fontes in his previous commercial sector role over the past several years.

2008-04-21 - APCO WINS ASAE'S 2008 ASSOCIATIONS ADVANCE AMERICA AWARD OF EXCELLENCE April 21, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International has won the Award of Excellence in the 2008 Associations Advance America (AAA) Awards program, a national competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and The Center for Association Leadership, Washington, DC.

2008-01-22 - NEW STANDARD ADDRESSES HANDLING REPORTS OF MISSING CHILDREN January 22, 2008, Washington, DC - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today released a standard for emergency calltakers to use in handling calls pertaining to missing and exploited children.