On March 17, the Providing Resources and Occupational Training for Emotional Crisis and Trauma in 911 Act, or the ‘‘PROTECT 9-1-1 Act,” was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. 9-1-1 professionals routinely face significant trauma as they work tirelessly to protect and save lives.
Congress Recognizes National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
Bipartisan resolutions were introduced in the House and Senate last week supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW). The resolutions honor and recognize the important and lifesaving contributions of public safety telecommunications professionals in the United States.
APCO International Guidance on Requesting 9-1-1 Traffic in IP-Based Format
On March 25, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that 9-1-1 authorities can make requests to originating service providers (OSPs) to begin the process of delivering 9-1-1 traffic in IP-based format to delivery points designated by the 9-1-1 authority. This document informs APCO members of the FCC requirements regarding these requests and provides guidance […]
APCO Welcomes Reintroduction of Senate Bill to Reclassify Public Safety Telecommunicators and Improve Emergency Communications
On February 25, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) reintroduced the Enhancing First Response Act, a bipartisan, zero-cost bill that would fix the federal classification of 9-1-1 professionals, improve the information shared during 9-1-1 outages and examine enhancements for 9-1-1 calls made from multi-line telephone systems
Reclassification Update: U.S. House of Representatives Reintroduces Original 9-1-1 SAVES Act
Earlier this month, Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), joined by several cosponsors, reintroduced the 9-1-1 SAVES Act (H.R. 637), correcting an amended version of the legislation that was introduced earlier this year.
APCO Congratulates Newly-Confirmed Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick
APCO extends its congratulations to Howard Lutnick on his confirmation as the United States Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Lutnick’s leadership and extensive experience in both the public and private sectors will be instrumental in driving economic growth, fostering innovation and enhancing critical infrastructure that benefits public safety.
APCO Welcomes Introduction of Legislation to Help Modernize 9-1-1 Centers in National Parks
On January 29, Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Making National Parks Safer Act, a bill that directs the Department of the Interior to develop a plan for upgrading emergency communications centers (ECCs) managed by the National Park System to NG9-1-1.
U.S. House of Representatives Reintroduces the 9-1-1 SAVES Act
On January 16, Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) reintroduced the 9-1-1 SAVES Act in a step toward correcting the classification of public safety telecommunicators in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).
APCO, NASNA and NENA Push for Improvements to 9-1-1 Outage Notifications
On January 7 APCO, NASNA and NENA jointly filed an ex parte with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the agency to improve the rules for 9-1-1 outage notifications to emergency communications centers (ECCs).
APCO CTO Appointed to US Department of Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee
The Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently appointed APCO International Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Steve Devine as a member of the US Department of Commerce’s Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (CSMAC). Devine brings 40 years of experience in public safety communications spanning from spectrum management, dispatch operations and Project 25 technologies.
