The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at approximately 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time.
Register Now for the Public Safety Innovation Summit Featuring 5×5, December 1-2
December 1-2, 2026 | Orlando, FL
APCO and the First Responder Network Authority, with technical contributions from National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Public Safety Communications Research Division, will bring together leaders from public safety, government, industry and academia to advance the future of responder communications technology.
Newly Updated! Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) 1, 8th Edition
APCO is pleased to announce the release of the Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) 1, 8th Edition and PST 1, 8th Edition Instructor courses, available beginning September 30, 2026. The 8th Edition replaces the PST 7th Edition curriculum and reflects the latest updates in public safety telecommunicator training.
To help current PST 7th Edition certificate holders transition to the new edition, APCO is offering the PST 8th Edition Update and PST 8th Edition Instructor Update courses. Current PST 7th Edition certificate holders have until September 26, 2028, to complete the applicable update course and maintain their certification.
PSC September/October 2026 Issue Is Online
PSC, APCO’s bi-monthly magazine, is a membership benefit and the authoritative source of information on public safety communications worldwide. This issue focuses on 9-1-1 25 years after 9/11, including:
- How AI could have aided in the response to the World Trade Center attacks
- How the 9/11 attacks transformed calls, concerns and fears in an ECC far from Ground Zero
GMU Comprehensive Survey of Emergency Communications Centers
Public safety communications professionals face unprecedented challenges — from staffing shortages and employee retention to evolving technology and increasing operational demands. To better understand these issues and develop meaningful solutions, APCO International has partnered with George Mason University to conduct a comprehensive survey of emergency communications centers (ECCs) across the United States.
Upcoming Webinars
- From Scores to Support: QA That Builds Stronger Teams
September 24 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- From Knowledge to Performance: Building a Stronger ECC
September 15 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Free for members; $59 for non-members | Worth 1 CDE
Being an APCO member has added immeasurable value to my professional and personal growth. As a member, you have access to top-notch resources, industry expertise and the opportunity to join a networking powerhouse.
Keeping You Up to Date
APCO is your source for public safety communications news that affects you, your job and your community.
When Public Safety Communications Met a National Tragedy
This September, our country will recognize a solemn and unfortunate anniversary – 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Many in our profession weren’t born yet or are too young to remember that day and those that followed. For others, such as myself, there are aspects of it we will never forget.
APCO-Led Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition Asks FCC to Make Interoperability Mandatory
On September 8, 2026, the Public Safety Next Generation 9 1 1 Coalition submitted a filing to the Federal Communications Commission encouraging it to adopt and enforce interoperability requirements for the deployment of Next Generation 9 1 1 (NG911).
Teammates-in-Action: Lisa Strahla, KanComm Emergency Communications Center (Illinois)
On March 10, 2026, our community faced one of the most significant natural disasters in its history. What began as a forecasted severe thunderstorm escalated rapidly into a catastrophic event, overwhelming our center with an unprecedented volume and complexity of emergency calls.
House Subcommittee Advances Bill to Study Impacts of AI on Security of Telecommunications Networks
On September 1, 2026, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce considered the AI for Secure Networks Act, H.R. 7294.
Teammates-in-Action: Carynn Gayton, Laraway Emergency Communications Center
Amid a declared disaster that generated over 1,800 calls for service in just two hours handled by six on-duty telecommunicators, joined by leadership staff, every assisting 9-1-1 center responded with exceptional professionalism. Yet one neighboring telecommunicator’s actions rose above.
