Emergency Communications

Wireless RERC researchers were featured at the 2014 International Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference (CSUN) in San Diego, California March 17-22, 2014.  Links to presentations are below.

FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Program Management Office (PMO) was honored with the “Greatest Citizen Impact Award” for its IPAWS system by the American Council for Technology’s (ACT’s) Industry Advisory Council (IAC) at their Igniting Innovation Showcase in Washington, D.C.

March 2014 – Due to the increase in emergency and disaster concerns in the Arctic, Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments (GAATES) has embarked on a new initiative to ensure the protection, security and inclusion of people with disabilities in that region.  On Thin Ice, a project funded by the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnership Program, aims to implement international best practices, effective communications, compliance with regulations, emergency preparedness, capacity to sustain life during an emergency, school participation in emergency management

March 2014 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched a new website this week highlighting best practices currently in place for implementation of text-to-911.  The website is designed to provide resources for text providers and public safety answering points (PSAPs), including lessons learned by the State of Vermont during their text-to-911 rollout and information on various technology solutions that can be used for text-to-911 implementations.  Currently the site provides sources from public safety organizations, such as the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and Ass

March 2014 — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in the Matter of Facilitating the Development of Text-to-911 and Other Next Generation 911 Applications and Framework for Next Generation 911 Deployment [PS Docket No. 10-255 and PS Docket No. 11-153] regarding the implementation of text-to-911.