[Published in the July/August issue of PSC magazine]
By Jeff Cohen
Every year, APCO’s Government Relations Office curates the Cutting Edge Developments track for APCO’s Annual Conference and Expo. This track provides attendees with opportunities to learn about the latest issues and technologies that impact public safety communications. After missing a chance to engage with the membership at conference last year due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, our office is especially eager for APCO 2021. We hope you will be able to join us in San Antonio August 15 through 18 to reunite with colleagues and hear from experts on a diverse set of topics.
Throughout the Cutting Edge Developments track, speakers will describe developments related to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1), location-based routing for wireless 9-1-1 calls, emergency alerting and a variety of other topics. In these sessions, subject matter experts will showcase how these developments in technology can advance emergency communications center (ECC) operations and overall emergency response.
For example, reflecting on recent events, this year’s track will feature sessions on how ECCs have used technology and implemented new policies to keep public safety telecommunicators safe and able to serve the public throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendees will learn about pioneering deployments of remote 9-1-1 call taking capabilities — truly “cutting edge” developments — and how ECCs can realize the benefits while managing the challenges of untethering the telecommunicator from the ECC. Another presentation will showcase how ECCs can implement telehealth services to assist 9-1-1 callers, which can be particularly helpful for mitigating the risks of patients suffering from COVID-19 related symptoms.
Panels moderated by APCO’s Government Relations Office will feature perspectives from 9-1-1 practitioners. Directors of 9-1-1 centers across the country will participate in a panel discussion on the needs of ECCs to achieve advanced, broadband-enabled, emergency communications solutions and the challenges of working with evolving technologies. A similar panel will feature a discussion with 9-1-1 professionals sharing their perspectives on current regulatory and legislative priorities for APCO.
Members of the Public Safety Next Generation 9-1-1 Coalition, an alliance of organizations (including APCO) representing 9-1-1, fire, emergency medical and law enforcement professionals will describe efforts to secure federal funding for the transition to NG9-1-1 nationwide. This panel is especially timely because we are at a pivotal moment in the transition to NG9- 1-1. For the first time ever, and thanks to the hard work of the Coalition and support from key members of Congress, legislation was introduced that would provide $15 billion in federal grant funding for NG9-1-1. This would be the largest 9-1-1 grant program in history. The Coalition will discuss the advocacy process behind this legislation, the key details of the proposal and possible next steps.
Finally, if you are interested in the work APCO’s Government Relations Office does, there are a couple of opportunities to learn more outside of the Cutting Edge Developments track. The annual regulatory update from APCO’s chief counsel will take place at the first general business session. Additionally, in the Exhibit Hall Presentation Theater, staff from our team will provide an update on APCO’s legislative advocacy priorities, including reclassifying public safety telecommunicators as “protective service occupations,” and securing federal funding for NG9-1-1. In addition to providing valuable information, these presentations are a great opportunity for our team to engage with APCO members and hear about how these policy issues and
our advocacy efforts impact them.
We hope to see you in San Antonio. For more information on the issues mentioned, visit APCO’s government relations page at apcointl.org/government-relations/, follow us on twitter at @GRO_APCO, and view our blog at apcointl.org/tabletopx.
Jeff Cohen (cohenj@ apcointl.org) is Chief Counsel and Director of Government Relations for APCO International. Mark Reddish ([email protected]), Senior Counsel and Manager of Government Relations, and Alison Venable (venablea@ apcointl.org), Government Relations Counsel, also contribute to this column.
