Latest news with #PSAPs
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
CentralSquare Technologies and C1 Enter Partnership to Expand Advanced 911 Call Handling Access
BUSINESS WIRE)-- CentralSquare Technologies, a leading provider of public sector software, announced today a partnership with C1, a global managed services provider that specializes in delivering tailored technology solutions to public sector organizations. "Partnering with CentralSquare significantly enhances the offerings we're able to provide our public sector customers,' said Greg Miles, Executive Vice President, Public Sector, at C1. Through this partnership, C1 will offer CentralSquare's Vertex NG911 Call Handling solution as part of its larger customer portfolio, improving the speed and accuracy of emergency call handling to Public Service Answering Points (PSAPs) across the U.S. Vertex NG911 improves traditional emergency communication systems by integrating advanced capabilities like caller location query, text-to-911, streaming video, automated foreign language translation, and more. These capabilities provide first responders with fast, dependable access to vital information – enabling quicker, more efficient emergency response. 'Partnering with CentralSquare significantly enhances the offerings we're able to provide our public sector customers,' said Greg Miles, Executive Vice President, Public Sector, at C1. 'This collaboration represents a shared commitment to empowering PSAPs with modern, innovative solutions, helping them to keep communities safer.' CentralSquare joins C1's roster of 300+ technology partners, all of which C1 collaborates with to create customized solutions for their clients. "Partnering with C1 strengthens our ability to deliver mission-critical NG911 solutions to the public sector,' said Rob Farmer, National Director of Sales for Vertex NG911 at CentralSquare Technologies. 'C1's deep relationships in the public safety space align with our mission of delivering best-in-class technologies to enhance emergency response and protect local communities.' About CentralSquare Technologies: CentralSquare Technologies is the leading provider of public sector software in North America. The best-run communities rely on CentralSquare to manage all aspects of their state and local governments – from public safety to public works. Our comprehensive software suite includes modern cloud-based solutions to support police, fire, finance, payments, permits, utility billing and much more. With more than 40 years of dedication to the public sector, today we proudly serve over 8,000 customers. Learn more at About C1: C1, a global technology solution provider, is transforming businesses with AI-powered solutions that elevate connected human experiences. Through advisory, professional, and managed services, C1 ensures seamless integration across communications, infrastructure, and security. C1 solutions are tailored to align with client goals to drive innovation and operational excellence. Through partnerships with leading technology providers and an engineering team holding over 7,000 certifications, C1 empowers enterprises to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced digital world. At C1, it's about turning complex challenges into meaningful solutions, enabling businesses to design, deploy, and manage technology that delivers impactful outcomes. Learn more at
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
VIPER NextGen Solution from Intrado Revolutionizes Emergency Response Communications
LONGMONT, Colo., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intrado Life & Safety, Inc. (Intrado), the leader in emergency communications technology, today announced the availability of VIPER NextGen™, a Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) call handling solution offering enhanced cybersecurity and AI capabilities, including real-time transcription and translation. The intuitive, cloud native platform enables 9-1-1 telecommunicators to operate from anywhere while providing life-saving features to PSAPs everywhere. 'VIPER NextGen was designed with the future in mind,' said Jeremy DeMar, Senior Manager, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Intrado. 'The flexible platform is incredibly robust with georedundant failover, critical cybersecurity protocols, and local survivability built in. We designed a solution that's easy to deploy, learn, and upgrade with future enhancements, enabling even small PSAPs with limited resources to get up and running quickly. And while it works with AT&T and other i3 ESInets, we wanted to bring this new technology to legacy networks as well. VIPER NextGen also supports CAMA and RFAI, enabling cloud call handling adoption in areas previously unable to do so.' VIPER NextGen offers an easy to use, map centric interface which simplifies workflows and reduces response time. In addition, VIPER NextGen facilitates rapid onboarding of new 9-1-1 call takers, delivering an average 90% reduction in onboarding time. Innovative AI-driven tools are baked right into the VIPER NextGen solution. PSAPs can now take advantage of automated two-way voice and text translation in over 40 languages, enabling emergency callers to easily converse with 9-1-1 telecommunicators. Voice-to-text transcription provides live call transcripts, delivering faster, more efficient communications both inside and outside the PSAP. Additional key features and benefits of VIPER NextGen include: 'Emergency communications technology must continue to advance to meet evolving public safety demands, and platforms like Intrado's VIPER NextGen are driving the entire sector forward in our mission to serve and protect communities,' said Maggie Goodrich, CEO and Co-Founder of TacLogix. For more information about VIPER NextGen, visit: About Intrado Intrado is the essential partner for those committed to saving lives and protecting communities anywhere in the world. As a leading global provider of trusted emergency response solutions, Intrado improves public safety outcomes by connecting help to those in need. The company blends legacy intelligence, modern technology, and passionately dedicated people to create end-to-end solutions that are innovative, resilient, intuitive, and insightful. For more information, visit Media Contact [email protected]
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Higher surcharge leads to higher spending on 911
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Last July, state government began charging South Dakotans another $9 a year on nearly every telephone line to pay for 911 emergency-call services. The compromise struck between state lawmakers was that the $2 monthly surcharge would return to $1.25 on July 1, 2026. But that deal didn't last. This past winter, state lawmakers agreed with a proposal from the Noem administration to do away with the 2026 ending date and let the $2 surcharge stay in place. Rabies lingers in South Dakota The Senate voted 33-2 to make the 75-cent per month increase permanent, and the House of Representatives agreed 69-0. On March 11, Noem's successor as governor, Larry Rhoden, signed the legislation into law. A 75-cent monthly increase doesn't sound like much. But a fiscal note prepared last year by the state Legislative Research Council estimated that the total collected through the $2 surcharge would be roughly $20 million a year — a $7.5 million increase. So now what becomes of the additional $7.5 million that South Dakotans must pay the government each year for telephone service? On Thursday, the state 911 Coordination Board began deciding some of that. The board's administrator, Jason Husby, proposed on that the board use some of the additional surcharge to make $80,000 per month available for grants that 911 centers, known as public service answering points or PSAPs, could request for specific projects. As for the 70% of surcharge revenue that goes back to the 63 counties where it's collected, the 2025 legislation didn't change that. Nonetheless, for the 33 PSAPs throughout South Dakota, the extra surcharge revenue means county and municipal governments can now pay less for PSAPs to operate. Vote for South Dakota's best beef burger According to Husby, the old $1.25 surcharge covered 29% of the PSAPs' operational costs. At $2, he said, the surcharge payx an estimated 44 to 45%, while the national average is 66%. Board member Andrew Boyd of Wall said that the grant approach would be better than increasing the percentage that PSAPs receive. Husby said the board could direct grants to the board's priorities. As an example, he pointed out that some of the larger cities face a $10 million hit in the years ahead as Motorola phases out a series of consoles. The board agreed to make $80,000 available each month for grants. The board also agreed to pay Lumen Technologies, which oversees 911 for state government, another $22,000 per month to add a third technician specifically in western South Dakota who will service the area's 911 centers, known as public service answering points, or PSAPs. The five-year contract that took effect in 2019 was extended in 2023 to run until June 30, 2029. Lumen had a service technician based in Belle Fourche, but he retired. For a while, there were two technicians in South Dakota, then three, and now back to two — one stationed at Sioux Falls and one at Huron. Board member Stephanie Olson of Rapid City said Thursday that it was 'absolutely necessary' to have a service tech on the western side of South Dakota. Said board member Amy Leon of Yankton, 'Geography wise, it's smart.' She added that having three techs would provide 'depth on the bench' and would be important for times of bad weather. The board also agreed on Thursday to cover an estimated $13,500 of one-time costs to add a fourth console at the new Clay County PSAP and pay the ongoing $1,064 monthly cost for it. And Husby told the board that he's assembling a statewide job listing that will be displayed on the state Department of Public Safety website where PSAPs can post job openings. 'Staffing continues to be one of the biggest challenges we have in the state,' he told the board, explaining that the current vacancy rate is down but still roughly 20%. Having a statewide site means job seekers wouldn't have to search through individual county and municipal sites. Husby said he might eventually ask the board for money to pay a contractor to promote the statewide site. For now, some of DPS staff are brushing up recruiting videos that PSAPS also could use. 'I think it's a good idea,' said the board's chair, Perkins County Sheriff Kelly Serr. 'We have to do what we can as a team to help everybody.' Here's a quick look at the role of South Dakota's 911 surcharge in funding annual costs of PSAP operations, as summarized from the board's annual reports, 2020-2024. : 'Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge funds distributed to counties and PSAPs in calendar year 2020 were $9.3 million. 9-1-1 expenditures reported were $28.2 million. Based onthese numbers, approximately 33 percent of the local 9-1-1 costs are covered by the9-1-1 surcharge.' : 'Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge funds distributed to counties and PSAPs in calendar year 2021 were $9.3 million. 9-1-1 expenditures reported were $29.6 million. Based onthese numbers, approximately 31 percent of the local 9-1-1 costs are covered by the9-1-1 surcharge.' : 'Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge funds distributed to counties and PSAPs in calendar year 2021 were $9.3 million. 9-1-1 expenditures reported were $30.7 million. Based onthese numbers, approximately 30 percent of the local 9-1-1 costs are covered by the9-1-1 surcharge.' : 'Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge funds distributed to counties and PSAPs in calendar year 2022 were $9.5 million. 9-1-1 expenditures reported were $32.6 million. Based onthese numbers, approximately 29 percent of the local 9-1-1 costs are covered by the9-1-1 surcharge. This percentage has been trending downward every year by anaverage of approximately 1% due to rising PSAP operational expenditures.' : 'Statewide 9-1-1 surcharge funds distributed to counties and PSAPs in calendaryear 2023 were just under $9.9 million. Locally the cost to provide 9-1-1 was $34.5million. Total cost, including the state's costs, was $38.8 million. Based on the FCC's2023 annual report, the $1.25 surcharge and all other fees covered 36% of SouthDakota's cost to operate the 9-1-1 system. The national average, according to thesame report, is 66%.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
09-04-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
All DuPage County residents can now text 911 in an emergency, officials announce
Residents across DuPage County can now text 911 in an emergency. The launch of the service was announced at this week's DuPage County Board meeting as part of a proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which this year runs from April 13-19. 'Text-to-911 is a critical step forward in making emergency services more accessible and inclusive,' County Board Chair Deb Conroy said Tuesday as she announced the program. Residents should still call 911 if possible, officials say, but text-to-911 will allow them to reach telecommunicators in situations that do not lend themselves to a voice call, such as assistance for someone who is deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, situations in which it would be unsafe to call 911 or medical emergencies that render someone unable to speak. The program has been in the works for about six months across two of the county's three Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), according to Greg Schwarze, District 6 County Board member and chair of the county's Emergency Telephone System Board. The county's PSAPs are the Addison Consolidated Dispatch Center (ACDC), DuPage Public Safety Communications (DU-COMM) and Naperville's Emergency Communications Center. Naperville instituted a text-to-911 service in September 2021, according to city spokeswoman Linda LaCloche. With the county's launch Tuesday, ACDC and DU-COMM are following suit, Schwarze said. Regionally, Will County implemented text-to-911 in 2015. Aurora instituted the service in 2016. Statewide, 140 out of 176 PSAPs across Illinois — nearly 80% — are accepting or in the process of allowing text-to-911, according to an Illinois State Police spokesman. DuPage officials commended the local adoption of the service at their meeting Tuesday. District 5 Board Member Dawn DeSart, D-Naperville, called text-to-911 a 'game-changer,' noting that she knows firsthand the value in the program. 'Four years ago this week, I couldn't breathe,' she said. 'Turns out I had double pneumonia, but I could not breathe and there was no text-to-911 (where I was) at that time. … I kept calling and hanging up just to get word out that I needed help.' The system is compatible with mobile carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile and works on any text-capable device, including smartphones and tablets. Dispatch centers cannot receive photos, videos or emojis. To participate in the service, start by typing '911' in the 'to' or 'recipient' field of a message, which should also include the sender's exact location and what kind of emergency help is needed. Officials advise texting short messages without abbreviations or slang. They also say to be prepared to answer questions and follow instructions from telecommunicators. More information on DuPage's text-to-911 service can be found at
