The General Business Meeting of APCO 2022 on Tuesday featured association accomplishments, federal progress on behalf of public safety communications, a film about telecommunicators and other first responders, and announcement of a new Executive Committee member.
Stephen Martini, Metro Nashville Department of Emergency Communications director, was elected without opposition as second vice president on the Executive Committee. Martini will be formally sworn in tonight during the Celebrate and Connect Dinner. In addition, President Jason Kern moves to immediate past president, Becky Neugent becomes first vice president and Angela Batey assumes the presidency.
APCO Executive Director and CEO Derek Poarch introduced a host of positive indicators for the association.
“We continue to do what we believe is best for our members under the headset, and we continue to do that without sacrificing our principles,” Poarch said.
Poarch reported that the Daytona Beach headquarters are slated to add 4,700 square feet for office and meeting space and undergo renovation. “This expansion is being done with cash. APCO will remain debt-free after the renovations are complete.”
Poarch said the APCO Institute trained 22 percent more students — 33,597 — over the prior year. Some of those students went through the Certified Public-Safety Executive program, which has graduated 172 professionals to date and the Registered Public-Safety Leader program, which enrolled 132 students in 2021-22. Poarch also said total APCO membership has crossed the 36,000 mark.
Interest is growing in APCO Intellicom, a guidecard system that streamlines emergency response. Poarch said more than 100 agencies have acquired APCO IntelliComm across 35 states. And APCO’s dominance of spectrum management continues as AFC Spectrum Management Services retains 60% market share, according to data presented by Poarch.
Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, advocacy on behalf of NG9-1-1 features a coalition of law enforcement, fire, EMS, and 9-1-1 professionals seeking $15 billion to create grant funding to build the network.
Representatives of the federal government speaking to APCO members included Billy Bob Brown, Jr., executive assistant director for emergency communications within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Brown told APCO members his office is updating the national incident management system to recognize technology and cyber security.
Brown was followed by Debra Jordan, chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau in the Federal Communications Commission.
Jordan listed numerous FCC initiatives, including:
- Adopting new 9-1-1 fee diversion rules.
- Requiring that emergency communications centers receive timely notice of network disruptions.
- Rebanding 800 MHz to eliminate interference and to free up space for public safety communications.
- Helping rollout 9-8-8, the suicide and crisis lifeline.
Jordan pointed to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s advocacy on behalf of reclassification of public safety telecommunicators under the Office of Management and Budget from administrative and support to protective service. “She noted that 9-1-1 operators are among our most essential first responders and offered to work with OMB to explore grouping these professionals with others who work in emergency response,” Jordan said.
Conrad Weaver, producer and director of “911PTSD,” introduced the documentary film to the APCO audience with a trailer and explanation of its goal. The documentary tells the story of telecommunicators and other first responders who suffer from trauma resulting from their work.
Weaver said he wants to raise awareness “about what first responders go through, to bring resources for all of you, funding for mental health awareness and training.” The film premiers in the Dallas metro area November 3. More information is available at ptsd911movie.com.
