The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced on Wednesday the beginning of the latest in a series of projects designed to counter the problems public communication professionals face every day.
The ultimate goal of Project 43, also known as Broadband Implications for the Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), is for every public safety communication professional to have access to effective broadband connections.
“As we have done countless times in our 80-year history, APCO is embarking on this new multi-faceted project to address the changing landscape of the public safety communications profession,” APCO President Brent Lee said. “The stakes this time are the highest we’ve seen. The PSAP of the future will be unlike anything we have ever experienced with new technologies sending information into and out of our PSAPs. APCO is launching a major effort to assist PSAPs around the country to address the opportunities and challenges presented by broadband-based technologies.”
Steven H. Proctor, a former APCO president, will lead the project. Proctor has more than 45 years of experience in the public safety communications industry and currently serves as the executive director of the Utah Communications Authority.
“APCO is involved in a number of collaborative efforts with FirstNet, the Federal Communications Commission, Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security and Transportation, the public safety community, telecommunications industry and other stakeholders, but we are also uniquely positioned to care about what goes on in the PSAP and to shape policy and practice at this most essential element of emergency response,” Proctor said. “The challenges are many and we expect our members to once again answer the call to serve and support Project 43 to best prepare for the PSAP of the future.”