Technology Solutions for Public Safety

If you work in the public safety industry, you need to reduce costs, be more efficient in delivering services, and keep employees, volunteers and citizens safe. Not only is public safety under public scrutiny more than most other industries in times of stability, but the industry is now moving from reactive to predictive and preventive in times of great change. With pressure mounting, public safety agencies need an experienced technology provider to help them keep up with communications technology used by the public so they can focus on their important missions.

To meet their civic duties, public safety entities require:

  • Real-time, two-way voice and data communications so agencies can provide updates to local stakeholders as an event unfolds
  • High bandwidth to enable the videos, sensors, voice calls, photos and texts that are streaming into command centers
  • Network protection from natural disasters and other unexpected circumstances
  • Ability to transfer calls from offices to employees working in remote locations
  • Ability to capture, manage, and analyze a sea of data before, during and after an emergency
  • Omnichannel contact center technology to communicate with the public
  • Internet access to monitor social media to help solve crimes and to increase civic engagement

Two national initiatives address some public safety challenges

Consolidated Communications works with multiple state agencies, as well as local police, fire and rescue agencies in our communities to ensure they have state-of-the-art communications technology to fulfill their mission. Contact one of our experienced public safety technology experts in your area today to learn more.

NG9-1-1

Next Generation 911 (NG9-1-1) will create a faster, more flexible and scalable 911 system that can keep up with communication technology used by the public. Put simply, NG9-1-1 is an Internet Protocol (IP)-based system that allows digital information (e.g., voice, photos, videos, text messages) to flow seamlessly from the public, through the 911 network, and on to emergency responders. Consolidated Communications now provides NG9-1-1 service in two states, Maine and Vermont, and is helping other states and municipalities consider their options. Learn more about Consolidated Communications’ NG9-1-1 experience.

FirstNet

Today, first responders rely on more than 10,000 separate, incompatible, and often proprietary radio networks to communicate with each other during emergencies. Because they’re not connected on one network, it’s difficult for emergency responders from different jurisdictions or agencies to communicate and work together. To help address this challenge, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) was created within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). FirstNet will create a single, nationwide, interoperable wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety communications. FirstNet also will enable 911 centers to share video and other relevant data in real time with emergency medical services and other first responders. This mission grew out of the public safety community’s advocacy for a dedicated network to address the communications challenges they faced on 9/11, during Hurricane Katrina, and with other events in their local communities.