NENA NEWS
It is with great sadness that NENA announces the passing of Roger Richardson, the association's first President. Roger was a devoted public servant and a true leader in the 9-1-1 industry. In addition his instrumental role in NENA's formative years, Roger played a key part in the launch of the nation's first ever E9-1-1 system in Orange County, FL, in 1980. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Karen, and their children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He will be missed, but his friendship, contributions, and legacy will endure and not be forgotten.
NENA HQ will be closed from Dec. 24 until Jan. 2. During this time, the best way to reach staff with urgent requests is via email. Please visit the staff page for contact info. Happy holidays!
Disaster Versus the Dispatcher
Wednesday, January 29 | 3PM Eastern (live) or On Demand
$50 (NENA Members) | $85 (Non-Members)
Click here to register!
The last Wednesday of each month (except June, November, and December) is now Webinar Wednesday! Get the team together for these hour-long webinars covering all sides of 9-1-1. The first NENA webinar of 2014 addresses a critical issue faced by anyone who works in the Public Safety Communications industry, no matter what your role or the size of your agency: Planning for, managing, and moving on from disasters.
This informative, insightful, and entertaining presentation will address five primary areas of interest related to effective managing of major disasters:
- Disaster planning for communications centers and personnel
- Resources to assist in the planning and response process
- Effective management of the service requests during and after disasters
- The importance of sharing lessons learned with fellows members of the 9-1-1 community
- Relevant standards and resources offered by NENA
Can't attend on the 29th? Register now and receive on-demand access to the webinar archive.
Webinar Access Info
Dial-in and web-access details will be provided to attendees via email the week of the webinar.
Please note: if you would like to use the free webinar credit you received for renewing your 2014 NENA Membership online, please wait to register for this webinar until the promo code is mailed to you during the week of January 6.
Save the date! Registration for the NENA 2014 Conference & Expo is going live on January 6!
Register early and save! NENA members who register online using a special discount code between Jan. 6 and Jan. 10 can save an additional 10% off full-conference Early Bird rates when paying by credit card at the time of registration.* That's a total savings of more than $150 off Regular registration pricing!
Watch your email on the morning of Jan. 6 for the discount code, and lock-in your special, members-only deal! To be eligible for the extra 10% savings, you must register and pay online and use the discount code during the promotional window.
*This offer cannot be combined with group membership vouchers or other promotions.
On the morning of Saturday, June 14, kick off your NENA 2014 experience by lacing up your running or walking shoes and participating in the Friends of 9-1-1 first-ever "Run for 9-1-1" charity 5k!
The run/walk promotes healthy living among 9-1-1 professionals, gives the Nashville community and supporters from around the country a chance to say "thank you" to 9-1-1, and generates funds for scholarships and 9-1-1 training opportunities.
Race logistics, registration, and additional details will be available soon. We'll also be providing information on how you can start an easy training program to prepare for the run/walk!
Learn more about the NENA Foundation's Friends of 9-1-1 program at www.friendsof911.org.
Although most people dial 9-1-1, there are circumstances where it becomes important, for recognized emergencies, to support access to PSAPs via their 24x7 numbers.
When PSAPs, commercial call centers, and telephone company operator services groups need to contact distant PSAPs to deliver emergency calls, the NENA PSAP Registry (NPR) supports those needs. PSAP personnel can access and search online for other PSAPs and their 24x7 contact numbers in the Registry, if they are registered as users. PSAP managers should make sure that their calltakers are registered on the NPR website before they encounter an emergency need to find a distant PSAP’s 24x7 number. Do that here.
When a centralized senior citizen, health care, or other personal services call center or telephone operator services group receives a call that becomes identified as an emergency situation, the Registry database Call Center product provides the info needed to identify and direct that call to the caller’s local PSAP.
Clearly, given the purposes of the NPR, this is a critical activity that all PSAP administrators should undertake, in order to support emergency call completion for their residents who use centralized call center services or who may call the telephone operator or a distant relative when they have a problem.
Click here for more information.
By now, you should have received an email from NENA with a link to your 2014 NENA dues notice. Help NENA go green and save a stamp by choosing to pay online by check or credit card. If this is not an option for you or your agency, the email also contained a link allowing you to print out a copy of your invoice for local processing.
Instantly renew your membership online in just a few easy steps:
1) Simply log in to the NENA website.
2) Go to your Manage Profile page.
3) Click on Membership under the "Account History" header to view your renewal options.
4) Pay online by check or credit card.
5) Print out a receipt for your records.
In appreciation of your continued support, when you renew online by credit card before Dec. 31, 2013, you will receive free access to an upcoming NENA webinar of your choice - a $50 value!
We look forward to sharing many new and exciting member benefits with you in the coming year!
Looking to get more out of your career? Want to stay on top of the latest in emergency communications? Need continuing education credits? NENA’s education program has just what you are looking for! We've already scheduled dozens of educational opportunities for you in 2014 and are adding more to the calendar every day! Our courses and certification programs, developed and lead by experts in the field, provide relevant, informative, and up-to-date training on all aspects of 9-1-1 technology and PSAP operations. Check out the current list of classes towards the end of this email or view it online. Contact Ty Wooten if you would like to book a class in your area or if you have any questions.
NENA is pleased to open the nominations process for our 2014-2015 Executive Board election! This election will be for the following positions: Second Vice President, Southeastern Regional Director, Western Regional Director, and Private Sector Director. All nominees must be current members in good standing and current Emergency Number Professionals (ENPs). Nominees for the position of Regional Director must reside in the region they wish to represent.
Nomination / Election Documents:
- Nomination Form - PDF
- Executive Board Statement of Responsibilities - PDF
- Request for Paper Ballot - PDF
The nomination deadline is March 14, 2014. Contact Bri Robinson with any questions about the nomination process, eligibility requirements, or general election details.
Make sure the addresses (email and postal) that we have on file for you are current! Please log in to your online member account to verify or update your information, or send an email to Bri Robinson.
OPS UPDATE
"Every public safety Agency needs to be aware of these attacks," said NENA Education and PSAP Operations Director Ty Wooten. "They must take immediate action to report the attacks to the proper authorities we have in our recommended response. Most importantly, neither agencies nor personnel should pay the money that the callers are demanding. It will not make the issue go away, you will just set your agency or yourself to become a target again later."
Information continues to be received from multiple jurisdictions indicating the existence of ongoing attacks targeting the telephone systems of public sector entities. More than 200 such attacks have been identified to date. The perpetrators of the attack launched numerous phone calls against the target telephone network, tying up the system and preventing the agency from receiving legitimate calls. This type of attack is referred to as a TDoS or Telephony Denial of Service Attack.
As a result of a cooperative effort between Federal Authorities, public safety representatives, and commercial service providers, a checklist has been developed to provide you with information that will assist in the development of a continuity of operations plan for your agency.
Click here to view the checklist online or here to download a PDF copy.
The Northern Illinois University Trauma, Mental Health, and Recovery Laboratory is recruiting and enrolling 9-1-1 telecommunicators for a series of studies examining the health and experiences of telecommunicators. The survey is broken into two categories, one for trainees and one for experienced telecommunicators. If you or anyone on your team is interested in participating in this landmark study, please send an email to tmhrlab@niu.edu providing your name, contact number, agency, and the category you are registering for (trainee or experienced). You may also click here to submit your information via web form.
TECH UPDATE
NENA Standards for the Provisioning and Maintenance of GIS data to ECRF/LVF, NENA-STA-005 (DRAFT) has been posted to the NENA collaboration website and is available for Public Review and Comment starting Dec. 20, 2013, and ends on Jan. 16, 2014, at 5PM ET. All comments shall be submitted by going here and then selecting "add a comment" just above the title "Document Details." Please complete all requested data and "Save" OR if submitting multiple comments, select "Save and Add Another".
Any questions or concerns with submitting your comments please contact the NENA Committee Resource Manager.
Executive Overview
This document defines operational processes and procedures necessary to support the i3 Emergency Call Routing Function (ECRF) and Location Validation Function (LVF). Additionally, this document identifies ECRF/LVF performance and implementation considerations for 9-1-1 Authorities’ consideration.
The roles and responsibilities of 9-1-1 Authorities vary depending on jurisdictional hierarchy, resource availability, capabilities, service arrangements, and regulations, and statutes. As such, 9-1-1 Authorities are expected to work with ECRF/LVF operators to further clarify and/or identify additional required services prior to development and implementation of ECRF and LVF.
Although this document contains references to 9-1-1 Authorities’ Geographic Information System (GIS), Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) equipment, access and call network providers Location Information Servers (LIS), and other core functions of the ESInet, their functionality and operations are out of scope for this document. NENA 08-003, Detailed Functional and Interface Specification for the NENA i3 Solution – Stage 3, contains definition of data structures and detailed functional and interface standards that are referenced in this document.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS UPDATE
NENA applauds today’s action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve 9-1-1 reliability (PS Docket No. 13-75) and the reliability and continuity of communication networks, including broadband technologies (PS Docket No. 11-60).This action will increase the likelihood of reaching 9-1-1 in times of emergency by requiring telecommunications infrastructure owners to certify compliance with best practices and routinely audit network elements that are essential for 9-1-1 service, such as path diversity.
While there can never be a fail-proof assurance that telecommunications infrastructure will survive every man-made or natural disaster, today’s action lays out a process to routinely certify those elements of infrastructure that are essential to sustaining and restoring 9-1-1 service. NENA recognizes that mandatory circuit audits and certification processes will come at a cost, but these costs must be weighed against the value of 9-1-1 service to the thousands of Americans who face emergencies every day. With nearly 250 million 9-1-1 calls made each year in the United States, it is critical that all parties with responsibility for provisioning 9-1-1 service routinely assess the critical elements of their networks and other facilities.
Today’s action establishes a solid foundation for the Commission’s anticipated trials of all-IP service. NENA is pleased that the Commission is moving swiftly to implement IP-transition trials, and looks forward to working with the Commission to ensure that 9-1-1 is available to all consumers during and after the transition to an IP-environment.
Click here to read more from the FCC on this item.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION NEWS
NENA recently launched a FREE email news service called Public Safety SmartBrief. It provides a weekly summary of news, trends, and updates on public safety issues - not just 9-1-1, but police, fire, and EMS. Knowledgeable editors handpick key articles from hundreds of publications, summarize them, and provide direct links to the original sources.
In other words, we do all the research and you get the latest news in your inbox or on your handheld device, absolutely free.
HELP WANTED
NENA's new and improved career center now offers more options and search functionality to job seekers and recruiters, including the ability to browse openings by category, subscribe to receive email notifications of new openings, and apply for openings directly online. Recruiters can now view and rate candidates applying for openings, search the resume database of available candidates (members-only feature), and manage postings online.
UPCOMING EVENTS
From reporting on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars to covering the on-going situation in the Middle East/North Africa, to observing the North Korean celebration of the 65th Anniversary of the Workers Party, to witnessing the final troops leaving Iraq from Camp Virginia in Kuwait and visiting the very border spot where he entered Iraq on March 20, 2003, embedded with the Marines, Woodruff conveys the most influential stories facing our world today.
In January of 2006, while reporting on U.S. and Iraqi security forces, Woodruff was seriously injured by a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle near Taji, Iraq. In an instant, his life was altered forever. Sharing stories from his moving and inspirational best-selling memoir, In An Instant, which he co-authored with his wife Lee, Woodruff captivates audiences and leaves them with a new understanding of the fragility of life, the strength of family, the bravery of those who helped save his life and lessons on how to survive and overcome even the most tragic of circumstances.
For his intrepid ability to get at the heart of a story, Woodruff has won numerous awards including three Emmys, a George Foster Peabody, an Alfred I. Dupont Award and the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism. After his miraculous recovery, the Woodruffs established the Bob Woodruff Foundation (ReMIND.org), which assists wounded servicemen and their families with receiving the long-term care they need and helps them successfully reintegrate into their communities.
9-1-1 Goes to Washington (March 23-26 in Arlington, VA) brings together hundreds of 9-1-1 professionals from around the country with policy leaders in our nation's capital to explore and discuss today's most pressing 9-1-1 and emergency communications issues. 9-1-1 Goes to Washington is the only event where you can learn about the policy challenges facing public safety and take immediate action to address them through dialog with your elected and appointed officials.
Click here to make your hotel reservations at the conference host site, the Crystal Gateway Marriott. Watch the 9-1-1 GTW webpage for registration details and additional information in the coming weeks.
Housing is now open for the NENA 2014 Conference & Expo, June 14-19, 2014, in Nashville, TN! Click here to make your reservations today. With a wide variety of options just steps from the Music City Convention Center and all that downtown Nashville has to offer, be sure to book early to get the best possible rate at your hotel of choice!
More Details Coming Soon! Stay tuned for lots more about NENA 2014 in the coming weeks! You can expect a preliminary conference agenda, pre-con course info, special event announcements, and, most importantly, registration information!
UPCOMING EDUCATION COURSES
01.29.14 - Webinar Wednesday: Dispatcher Versus the Disaster - Online Live or On-Demand - Register here!
02.24-28.14 - Center Manager Certification Program - Parsippany, NJ - Register here!
03.10-14.14 - Center Manager Certification Program - Marysville, OH - Register here!
03.23.14 - Leadership in the 9-1-1 Center - Arlington, VA ( 9-1-1 Goes to Washington)
03.31-04.04.14 - Center Manager Certification Program - Pikesville, MD
04.11.14 - Liability Issues in the 9-1-1 Center - Schaumburg, IL (NENA Education Summit) - Register here!
04.12.14 - Caught in the Middle: A Guide to Middle Management - Schaumburg, IL (NENA Education Summit) - Register here!
04.13.14 - Overcoming Negativity in the Comm Center - Schaumburg, IL (NENA Education Summit) - Register here!
04.28.14 - Quality Assurance Beyond Call Taking - Orlando, FL ( IAED Navigator)
04.29.14 - Caught in the Middle: A Guide to Middle Management - Orlando, FL ( IAED Navigator)
05.12-16.14 - Center Manager Certification Program - Seattle, WA
05.14.14 - From Ostrich to Eagle: Improving the PSAP Work Culture - Virginia Beach, VA ( VA NENA Conference)
06.11-15.14 - Center Manager Certification Program - Nashville, TN (NENA 2014)
06.14.14 - Training the 9-1-1 Trainer - Nashville, TN ( NENA 2014)
06.14.14 - Supervisory Development: A Guide to Moving Ahead in Your Career - Nashville, TN ( NENA 2014)
06.14-15.14 - SOP SOS - Nashville, TN ( NENA 2014)
06.14.14 - Interpersonal Skills - Nashville, TN ( NENA 2014)
06.15.14 - Liability Issues in the 9-1-1 Center - Nashville, TN ( NENA 2014)
06.15.14 - Comm Center Staffing Workshop - Nashville, TN ( NENA 2014)
06.15.14 - Caught in the Middle: A Guide to Middle Management - Nashville, TN ( NENA 2014)
06.15.14 - Developing a Quality Assurance Program from Call to End of Incident - Nashville, TN ( NENA 2014)
06.15.14 - Understanding Databases in NG9-1-1 - Nashville, TN ( NENA 2014)
08.13.14 - Overcoming Negativity in the Comm Center - Salt Lake City, UT (NENA Education Summit)
08.14.14 - Caught in the Middle: A Guide to Middle Management - Salt Lake City, UT (NENA Education Summit)
08.15.14 - Customer Service for 9-1-1 Professionals - Salt Lake City, UT (NENA Education Summit)
09.05.14 - Customer Service for 9-1-1 Professionals - Sacramento, CA (NENA Education Summit)
09.06.14 - Developing a Quality Assurance Program from Call to End of Incident - Sacramento, CA (NENA Education Summit)
09.07.14 - Caught in the Middle: A Guide to Middle Management - Sacramento, CA (NENA Education Summit)
09.15-19.14 - Center Manager Certification Program - Waterbury, CT
Questions? Want to bring a course directly to you?
Visit our Host a Course page to find out how you can bring it directly to you. You can also contact NENA's Education & Operational Issues Director, Ty Wooten, for additional information.
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