Current Issue Highlights

Cover Story - June/July 2008

A Holistic Approach to Interoperability

Jeff Wittek

Interoperable radio is one important aspect to a bigger picture that includes a range of new technologies. We need complete interoperability where unique systems and sub-systems can rapidly and effectively communicate.

Health of the 9-1-1 Emergency Network in the United States

Summarized by Jeff Robertson

The 9-1-1 Industry Alliance (9IA), with offices in Washington, DC, was established in December 2005 by a group of prominent leaders within the public safety industry (see 9-1-1 Industry Alliance Member List sidebar). The vision of the organization's founders is that 9IA will play an important role as the voice of industry companies on major public policy issues, and that the expertise of industry leaders can assist public policymakers and government emergency communications professionals in making complex choices regarding advanced 9-1-1 alternatives in the years ahead.

Planning Best Practices

Steven Loomis and Nathan McClure

Sound planning practices can maximize efficiency in the design process for new emergency communication and operation centers. When beginning the planning and design process, it is oftentimes not known which standards may apply to the project and what the impact of those standards will be as the project moves forward. In addition, the determination must be made if deviations from the standard are acceptable. Space standards are another factor as the planning process for new facilities begins. Many jurisdictions do not have guidelines for sizes of spaces and factors to establish the overall building size. Finally, the process employed by the architect should facilitate an interactive and consensus building approach so that all these standards can be "vetted out" in the early planning stages.

Radio Interoperability Planning (Part 2 in a series of 4)

Gil Armendariz

In order to intercommunicate during an incident, federal, state and local public safety agencies must plan, prepare, practice and perform.

Remember the Basics

John Cummings, ENP

Have you called your center recently? Ask yourself if we have removed all of the roadblocks, and made the investment that public safety really needs.

Catching a Prank Caller

David Cohick, ENP

Tioga County, located in the hills of Northern Pennsylvania, is a rural county with a population of 43,000 and one PSAP that answers 9-1-1 calls for Tioga and Potter Counties, covering about 2,550 square miles. Tioga County is actively progressing to become Phase II compliant, however recent harassing calls to their Phase 0 PSAP were impossible to find, or were they?

Taking the Communication Center to the Next Level: Is Your Voice Recording Solution Up to the Task?

Katerina Vetrovec

When selecting the right voice recording solution, examine each considered recorder against the next for underlying technology, reliability, flexibility, storage capacity, speed and security, and the availability of integrated technologies to extend the value of recordings.

The Cost of Inaccurate 9-1-1 and GIS Data

Jerry Merlick and Anthony Haddad

Wasted resources due to erroneous data.

Zetron's Series 3200 Proves Its Worth in 49-Position PSAP DeKalb County

Tina Blade

DeKalb County Communications Center upgrades its telephone system to Zetron's Series 3200 and helps to provide an efficient and rapid response, making a life saving difference.