Andrew Renfree, Program Manager, Alberta Emergency Management Agency, talks about the new $.44 Wireless Tax Levy for cell phones that will provide a new stream of cash to PSAPs in the Providence. 911 Call taking, NG911 and Text to 911 will all benefit

The practice, commonly referred to as SWATting, has been noticeably increasing over recent years. The name derives from the callers instigating a SWAT Team response to a particular location, based on the fact that a horrendous crime has taken place such as a mass murder or hostage situation. The prank is designed to embarrass and traumatize a particular individual, but the practice can very easily turn dangerous, only for the person being swatted, but for police as well.

February 11th is European 112 Day. ‘112’ is the common European emergency number in official use across 28 EU member states, and most countries surrounding the EU (including the UK).

The telephone number with the largest recognition worldwide is clearly 911. In fact, it's so well recognized and known, that it starts to create problems when it's used for non-emergencies.

Have we done too well of a job? Citizens know that 911 will reach public safety, but they don't stop to think they're tying up emergency dispatchers from real emergencies by calling 911. The problem is exacerbated when Public Safety officials can't agree on policy!

In nearly every industry, there is a close bond between customer, distributor and manufacturer. Strategically, companies become loyal to a specific brand, and in certain cases to a specific technician or distributor. This is typically based on individuals going above and beyond or doing, what I commonly call, "the right thing".

In the past, sending a letter may have gotten some action, however you had no guarantee that a legislator actually read your words. The only thing that you had was a glimmering hope that a staff assistant was moved enough by your statements to bring it to the attention of “The Boss", and although I am a proud Jersey boy, I don't mean Springsteen.

What makes a hero? What drives that special person to do that special thing, at that special time? Whatever it is, it can be found in anybody, including a nine-year-old girl.

Tragedy always brings out awareness.

Would you know what to do if you needed to dial 911 from your hotel room? If you operate a hotel, have you considered what guests need to do to place an emergency call?

In many cases, too little or nothing has been done, or what were thought to be "best practices" are, in reality, not such a great idea according to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and their model legislation for multiline telephone systems (MLTS/PBX.

Don't get caught up in all of the hype.

The practice of barging in on a 9-1-1 call;

locally recording a 9-1-1 call;

interfering with the 9-1-1 call path are all knee-jerk reactions that are not considered best practices by the industry.

Providing situational awareness in ease of access to 9-1-1 are things that are both built into most PBX systems today and that's where the focus on 9-1-1 should be.

It was just a matter of time before the inevitable happened.

On December 1st, in Marshall Texas, her estranged husband murdered Kari Rene Hunt in her hotel room. If that wasn't gut wrenching enough, one of Kari's children knew enough to call 911, but was unable to because the telephone system required a 9 for an outside line.