Mary Rose Roberts
Mary Rose Roberts is the associate editor of Urgent Communications, formerly Mobile Radio Technology magazine. She can be reached at maryrose.roberts@penton.com
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today released for comment a standard to identify minimum training requirements for public safety telecommunicators. The revision includes information for those typically charged with receiving, processing, transmitting, and conveying public safety information to dispatchers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, emergency medical and emergency management personnel. This document seeks to define training in certain knowledge, skills, and abilities to be provided to telecommunicators by the agency, allowing different agencies to comply with the portions of the standard applicable to the functions within their agency.
The revisions were facilitated by APCO International’s Call Center Standards Committee, which is made up of public safety communications subject matter experts from across the U.S. The Georgia Public Safety Training Center compiled the research the committee conducted through regional Occupational Analysis Workshops over the past year to assist with the revisions. The Workshops consisted of consulting multiple panels of professionals representing each position and validation panels of each were conducted to produce job profile charts.
“APCO International is proud of the work of this committee to continually review and update this most important standard for our public safety professionals,” APCO International President Chris Fischer said. “The issue of standardized training for telecommunicators has been the topic of much discussion lately and we are glad to provide this benchmark for the industry through our inclusive and iterative standardization process.”
The draft is available for public review and comment through July 30 at www.apcostandards.org . After all comments are addressed and needed changes made, the final draft will be presented to the APCO International Executive Council for ratification. Following their approval, the final document will be facilitated through APCO International’s American National Standards (ANS) process to become an American National Standards Institute- (ANSI) approved standard. The final standard is tentatively planned to receive approval in December 2009.
SkyCross, a global antenna solutions company, is providing award-winning iMAT® antennas to TECOM Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of telecommunications equipment, for its latest WiMAX USB dongles. VMAX, a WiMAX operator and 2.5 GHz license holder in Taiwan, will offer the USB dongles for its trial network in June and its full commercial launch in Q3 of this year.
The WiMAX standard requires MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) operation, which typically calls for multiple antennas. However, today’s small mobile devices do not provide the additional space necessary for these antennas to operate without interfering with each other. iMAT solves this challenge by enabling a single antenna element to behave like multiple antennas. Recent field tests confirmed that the antenna is a key component to the overall system throughput, and the iMAT antenna yielded the highest throughput on average compared to PCB antennas, ceramic chip antennas, and others.
“We are very pleased that Tecom selected our antennas for the WiMAX network deployment in Taiwan,” said David Williams, Director at SkyCross. “This win underscores the benefits that iMAT delivers not only to the device, but also to the network. A greater number of efficient, iMAT-equipped devices on a network can improve the capacity and bandwidth of the entire system, enabling operators to optimize network performance without additional infrastructure investments.”
“First impressions are critical in new network deployments, and iMAT antennas proved to be the best solution for our sleek USB dongles,” said Jonah Kao, Senior Director at Tecom. “We selected SkyCross because iMAT uniquely optimizes size, performance, and price.”
These products will be on display June 2-6 in the SkyCross hospitality suite at the Grand Hyatt Taipei and at Tecom booth 731 at the WiMAX Taipei show co-located with Computex. Contact Al Petrick at al.petrick@skycross.com or Luis Tso at chtso@tecom.com.tw to arrange a meeting at the exhibition.
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the inaugural winners of its Horizon Award. The Horizon Award acknowledges the efforts of communications centers that have proactively assessed and met the technological and operational needs of their center, employees and service population and are presented to one large center and one small center. The awards will be presented at the APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nev. on August 18.
The 2009 Horizon Award for a Large Center is being presented to Fairfax County (Va.) Department of Public Safety Communications. The Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications is a next generation 9-1-1 center servicing Fairfax County, Virginia, a community of nearly 400 square miles and a population over one million. It is co-located with the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Transportation Traffic Management Center and the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center.
The 2009 Horizon Award for a Small Center is being presented to Cambria 9-1-1 (Penn.). Cambria 9-1-1 provides 9-1-1 calltaking and dispatching for the 47 fire departments, 23 emergency medical stations and 37 police departments in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. They recently completed rebanding establishing full countywide interoperability.
“APCO International is proud to honor the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications and Cambria 9-1-1 with these awards and call attention to the technological advancements they have made to enhance their life-saving services,” APCO International Executive Director George S. Rice, Jr. said.
The APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition will be held August 16-20 in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information on the APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition, visit www.apco2009.org . To obtain a press pass for the APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition, please contact Courtney McCarron Hastings at 571.312.4400 x7002 or mccarronc@apcointl.org.
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today released recommendations for public safety communications personnel as they prepare for the 2009 hurricane season.
“Based on the lessons learned from prior natural disasters, APCO International recommends that communications centers be prepared for inoperable systems, loss of power, and security, personnel and supply needs,” APCO International Executive Director George S. Rice, Jr. said. “We have a variety of resources to assist public safety professionals in their preparation.”
APCO International recommends that communications centers assess their capabilities of preparedness, survivability and sustainability amidst a wide range of natural and man-made events. APCO International and NENA partnered on a standard PSAP Service Capability Criteria Rating Scale that assists communications centers in identifying their current level of service capability.
APCO International further recommends that all communications centers take the time to review and update their continuity of operations planning (COOP). APCO International’s Guidebook for Homeland Security and Preparedness Planning provides a framework for COOP for all emergency communications functions, including resilience of the 9-1-1 infrastructure and operations of public safety answering points.
In addition, communications centers should focus on planning and training to include the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) and planning for system restoration, multi-agency response and evacuation. The APCO Institute offers several related courses including Public Safety Telecommunicator I , Fire Service Communications and The Telecommunicators Role in Homeland Security .
“Aside from the preparations communications centers should make, APCO International urges the public to make all necessary preparations for the hurricane season including creating family evacuation plans and compiling emergency supply kits,” Rice said. “We also remind the public to call 9-1-1 for life threatening emergencies only – not for structural damage or power outages.”
For additional resources, visit http://www.apcointl.org/new/resources/hurricanes.php .
L-com, a global leader in the manufacture of wired and wireless connectivity solutions, has released three new four port 802.3af PoE injectors to address applications where multiple data/power connections are required.
The new BT-CAT5-P4 series injectors feature Industrial grade cast aluminum housings and shielded RJ45 jacks for EMI suppression. The BT-CAT5-P4-4848 ships with a 48 watt power supply and the BT-CAT5-P4-4870 ships with a 70 watt power supply. The standard model BT-CAT5-P4 does not include a power supply but can be used with a user supplied AC or DC power supply up to 60 volts.
About L-com
L-com, a global leader in the manufacture of wired and wireless connectivity products, offers a wide range of solutions and unmatched customer service for the electronics and data communications industries. The company’s product portfolio includes cable assemblies, connectors, adapters, computer networking components, and custom products, as well as their Hyperlink line of wireless products which include Antennas, RF Amplifiers, Coaxial lightning and surge protectors, and NEMA rated enclosures. L-com’s HyperLink wireless products are designed for WiFi, WiMAX, SCADA, 802.11a/b/g/n, RFID and Bluetooth applications. Trusted for over 25 years, L-com, which is headquartered in North Andover, MA, is ISO 9001: 2000 certified and many of its products are UL® recognized. www.L-com.com
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today announced the 2009 Public-Safety Communications Award winners. The awards will be presented at the Opening General Session of the APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nev. on August 17.
The Public-Safety Communications Awards are presented annually by APCO International to public safety communications personnel who have demonstrated the highest levels of personal and professional conduct and performance in the line of duty. The six awards are Telecommunicator of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Information Technologist of the Year, Radio Frequency Technologist of the Year, Line Supervisor of the Year, and Communications Center Director of the Year and the 2009 winners are as follows:
• Telecommunicator of the Year – Loanne Travess, Grays Harbor Communications E9-1-1, Aberdeen, Wash.
• Trainer of the Year - Stephan Bunker, Maine 9-1-1 Bureau, Augusta, Maine
• Information Technologist of the Year – Scott Sipe, Grays Harbor Communications E9-1-1, Aberdeen, Wash.
• Radio Frequency Technologist of the Year – David King, City of Bakersfield, Bakersfield, Calif.
• Line Supervisor of the Year – Patrick Healy, Arlington Fire Department/Communications Services, Arlington, Texas
• Communications Center Director of the Year – Jerald Bleck, Tri-Com Central Dispatch, St. Charles, Ill.
“APCO International congratulates the 2009 Public-Safety Communications award winners,” APCO International Executive Director George S. Rice, Jr. said. “The work they have done in their respective agencies are great examples of activities deserving of this great honor and their entire departments should be proud their awards.”
The APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition will be held August 16-20 in Las Vegas, Nev. For more information on the APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition, visit www.apco2009.org . To obtain a press pass for the APCO International 75th Annual Conference and Exposition, please contact Courtney McCarron Hastings at 571.312.4400 x7002 or mccarronc@apco911.org.
Fortress Technologies, the leading provider of secure wireless solutions for government, today announced the appointment of Jeff Bradbury as Vice President of Marketing and Product Management.
Bradbury will be responsible for driving the company’s go-to-market strategy, including marketing programs and product positioning. He will also refine the company’s market focus and lead brand initiatives to build on Fortress’ success in the government space.
“Jeff Bradbury has a long and diverse background as a marketing executive, and has led a variety of companies through successful high-growth phases, which is exactly where Fortress is right now,” said Janet Kumpu, President, Fortress. “This combined with his military background makes him the perfect fit, and we are excited to have him on board.”
Bradbury added, “Fortress Technologies is the market leader in its space, and is making strategic investments in its people and its products to deliver a host of new offerings in the coming months that will further extend its leadership position. I look forward to utilizing both my marketing and military background to help Fortress move forward.”
Prior to joining Fortress, Bradbury served as Managing Principal for EMCG, and held executive-level positions at MarketBridge and KPMG Consulting. His clients included Motorola, IBM, Microsoft, Symantec, and Unisys. Bradbury entered the private sector in 1997 after a successful career in the Navy that included tours as Department Head at the Joint Staff, National Military Command Center, and shipboard Division Officer.
Bradbury holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy.
Carlson Wireless is offering a 15% discount on all SafeTCOM systems purchased by June 15th, 2009.*
Carlson’s SafeTCOM is a Wireless PBX, Intercom and PA system that provides network quality service to inaccessible areas or dynamic environments without the costs and problems of wireline.
SafeTCOM systems are specially designed for applications such as:
Outdoor Industrial Facilities
Mining and Oil Exploration
Campus Public Safety
SafeTCOM systems include a single base station with up to 8 CO lines and up to 16 field stations (CPEs) each equipped with up to two phone lines (fax/modem), an amplified public address (PA) output and SCADA input. Systems can be built to suit your particular application.
Custom interfaces for many emergency phone systems including Femco phones are also available.
Some unique features include:
Complete interoperability with both VoIP and TDM systems
Available in unlicensed 2.4, 5.4 and 5.8 GHz frequency bands, and licensed public safety 4.9 GHz frequency band
Built in Channel Bank 4-wire, E&M, POTs and Ethernet interfaces included
32 Watt PA system output
Remote monitoring
Available in a NEMA 4x waterproof enclosure as well as rackmount
Class 1, Division 2 enclosures also available
Solar powerable, accepting any DC voltage from 12V to 24V
Fixed low latency, less than 5 milliseconds
Distances beyond miles
*For more information about the SafeTCOM wireless system special or any of the Carlson Wireless products please contact our sales team at 800-834-2076 or email us at
LANSDOWNE, Va. – May 12, 2009 – Fortress Technologies, a leading provider of secure wireless solutions for government, today announced that it has expanded its certified training program, which is aimed to better enable organizations to establish and manage secure wireless networks. Fortress Certified Training provides a comprehensive educational program that includes in-depth lectures, as well as hands-on lab work to practice the methods taught for creating secure wireless networks using Fortress products.
“Fortress Certified Training was originally launched in December 2008 as a two-day training course focused on properly establishing and managing secure wireless networks,” said Matt Collar, Professional Services Manager, Fortress. “The response to this training has been overwhelming, and attendees are now requesting additional educational opportunities that offer a deeper dive into other related topics. To meet this demand, we are expanding our training program to offer a total of four courses – all presented by our internal experts – that will provide additional value to both our partners and end users.”
Fortress Certified Training provides an avenue to increase the technical depth of Fortress customers and partners in support of the growing demand for both indoor and outdoor secure wireless communications. The training includes intensive courses that require a general understanding of network technologies/topologies, the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model, network device functionality, and security concepts, as well as an intermediate knowledge of Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) and RF fundamentals. The training courses, designed specifically to meet the needs of administrators and engineers who plan to create secure wireless networks using Fortress products, include:
Wireless and Site Survey Fundamentals
Fortress Certified Administrator
Fortress Certified Engineer
Fortress Security Overlay
“As a participant in the original Fortress Certified Training program, I can verify the benefit that the session had on my ability to effectively establish and maintain secure wireless networks,” said Zac Grayner, RF Engineer, Northrop Grumman. “The training staff was extremely professional and, most importantly, experienced. I will definitely consider attending some of the newly developed educational courses in the future.”
Fortress Certified Training courses can be held at Fortress’ headquarters in Tampa, FL or at a customer/partner location. For more information on Fortress Certified Training or to register for an upcoming session, visit: http://www.fortresstech.com/Services/Training.aspx.
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