APCO 2025 is just over one week away, and there's still time to register! We'd love to have you join us for the full conference, but if that's not an option, day passes and exhibit hall passes are also available! Don't miss out — register today and join us July 27-30 in Baltimore.
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The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau seeks input from public safety agencies, government entities and the public on the impacts of a service outage in Wisconsin and Michigan experienced by Cellcom in May 2025. The multi-day outage, reportedly caused by a cyber incident, disrupted voice, text and data services — including 9-1-1 access — for Cellcom customers. The Bureau is particularly interested in how the outage affected public safety operations, emergency response and the ability of emergency communications centers to receive and respond to emergency calls and texts.
More detailed information can be found in the Bureau’s Public Notice: DA-25-607A1.pdf.
Feedback is due to the Bureau by August 25, 2025.
How to Submit Comments:
If you have questions or need help preparing or submitting comments, contact APCO’s Government Relations Office at gro@apcointl.org.
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Three APCO Standards (revision) working groups still have a few seats open for volunteers:
Working groups include emergency communications professionals from all levels and roles and both APCO members and non-members are welcome to be involved. To learn more about each standard and to apply visit apcointl.org/standards. The deadline to apply is July 31.
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AT&T is seeking approval from the FCC to discontinue traditional copper-based landline service in several states as it continues its transition to IP-based and wireless technologies. These requests are part of the standard federal process companies follow when phasing out legacy telephone services. AT&T states that no customers will lose voice or 9-1-1 service during this shift and that emergency communications centers (ECCs) will not need to move away from copper lines until they are prepared to do so, such as after migrating to an ESInet. ECCs in affected areas may receive additional information from AT&T. APCO members can also contact the Government Relations Office for assistance with any issues that arise during the transition.
Learn more
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As high-stress calls become more complex, a specialized APCO course is helping telecommunicators build their crisis response skills. The APCO course, Crisis Negotiations, 2nd Edition, explores crisis situations and how to handle them effectively. Students will learn to recognize the stages of a crisis, apply communication techniques used in crisis negotiations, and manage high-stress incidents such as hostage scenarios, barricaded subjects and suicidal individuals. After completing the course, students will be equipped with a deeper understanding of crisis dynamics and practical tools to support resolution efforts. The training is available as an online, virtual classroom or in-person course. Worth 8 CDEs.
Upcoming dates: 8/6 - 8/26 (Online) | 9/8 (Mount Pleasant, MI) | 10/2 (Virtual Classroom) | More dates
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Radio Results Network
Tyler Woodkey won the Professional Excellence Award for guiding a woman through CPR that saved her husband’s life.
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Fox 8
The Chagrin Valley (Ohio) telecommunicator pushed the hibachi chef into a swimming pool after his coat caught on fire and she provided aid until paramedics arrived.
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WSMV 4
The Nashville Department of Emergency Communications used the improper calls as an opportunity for public education: “See smoke? Yes, call 911. Need smokes? No, call literally anyone else,” the agency said in a news release.
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Patch.com
Public safety telecommunicators immediately dispatched emergency medical units and dispensed life-saving first aid instructions for applying a tourniquet to the injured worker.
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