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International City/County Management Association logo, PSAC meeting

City and county managers are represented on the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet Authority) Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) through the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). ICMA is a non-profit organization, founded in 1914, whose mission is to advance local government by supporting excellence in professional management. ICMA provides professional development, training, and research on a wide range of topics, including public safety.

Smoke rises near five wildland firefighters working to put out remnants of a fire in an open space amongst trees.

When a wildfire broke out near Glenwood, Washington, first responders quickly discovered the remote area had nearly no cell service. Needing to communicate with one another as well as check weather reports and order additional supplies, the incident management team requested a FirstNet deployable asset. Within hours, the firefighters were connected with the situational awareness they needed.

Three photos: first photo is a telecommunicator taking a call from home, second photo is a group of telecommunicators sitting at computers set up on tables, third photo is two telecommunicators looking at a workstation in an emergency communications center.

The FirstNet Authority’s 9-1-1/emergency communications team is hosting a nationwide webinar, the Emergency Communications Center and FirstNet. This event will help emergency communications center professionals learn more about FirstNet and have the opportunity to share feedback.

Three police officers standing in front of three Hazelton Police Department vehicles, each holding the leash of a German shepherd dog.

Brian Schoonmaker was named Chief of Police in Hazleton, Pennsylvania in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. With FirstNet, Chief Schoonmaker jumped right into developing policies to keep the community and police officers safe during this unprecedented event.

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) logo and image of Public Safety Advisory Committee representatives making a presentation at a FirstNet Authority Board Meeting.

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) is a national association representing all EMS practitioners, including paramedics, EMTs, and other emergency response personnel. As a member of the FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, NAEMT provides input on issues that are essential to emergency medical technicians.