Fire Departments Will Step Up to Support Enhanced Public Safety Communications
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) has announced it will help the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prepare the nation’s television viewers for the transition to digital television (DTV). The DTV transition is of special importance to the fire and emergency service community because the switch to digital television service will free up airwaves that can be used to expand the national public safety communication network.
The IAFC and FCC have created a program that links residents who are having difficulties installing digital-to-analog television converter boxes with local fire departments who have volunteered to help make these technical connections work.
The IAFC will sign up fire departments willing to help install and troubleshoot converter boxes. The FCC has established call centers where operators will help solve converter box issues over the phone or deploy a cadre of national volunteers—including fire and emergency service personnel — to callers’ homes if needed. The IAFC will assist with identifying and requesting dispatch of fire-rescue volunteers, as well as provide a venue for reporting back to the FCC.
“The transition to DTV has powerful effects for both the first responder community and the public safety at-large,” said IAFC President, Chief Larry J. Grorud, CFO, MIFireE. “Switching to all-digital broadcasting will free up parts of the broadcast spectrum for much-needed public safety communications. The fire and emergency service community has been demanding communication improvements for years; the time has now come and we need to contribute to its success.”
That success includes ensuring that residents continue to have access to live, real-time information via television in the event of a natural disaster, community emergency, or other health and safety hazards. While assistance will be available to anyone, the FCC has identified six population groups — low-income individuals, senior citizens, minority communities, non-English speaking consumers, individuals with disabilities and consumers living in rural areas or tribal lands — as being most at risk for not being ready when TV stations go all-digital in June.
“The IAFC is in a unique position to provide locally-based assistance for consumers who are having difficulty making the transition to over-the-air digital television service,” said FCC Acting Chairman Michael J. Copps. “Through the efforts of its member fire chiefs, IAFC will be able to engage trusted and qualified fire service professionals in departments across the country who are willing to volunteer to assist consumers. We are fortunate to have these public servants as partners in this important effort.”
At a time when many departments are facing cutbacks in community-oriented programs, participating departments may be able to leverage their participation to support continued community safety education, or simply reassure the community of the fire department’s presence in these difficult times. It also may be an investment in the future of emergency communication, as even consumer-driven benefits of DTV, such as improved picture and sound quality, and increased access to interactive video and data services may have future application to improving public safety and emergency notification for all users.
“June 2009 will be here sooner than we think,” continued Grorud. “I understand that many departments are struggling with resources at the moment, but we must ensure access to critical emergency communications for both our community and our responders. I encourage fire departments to take part in this program, and to begin building the future of emergency communication on the same solid foundation on which we have built all of our successes: helping our neighbors in need.”
The IAFC has developed a website, www.iafc.org/DTV that includes additional program details, informational resources, and online recruitment and feedback forms for departments interested in participating.
Fore more information on this project, please contact the IAFC via e-mail at DTV@iafc.org or via phone at (703)537-4854. Consumers seeking assistance should call 1-888-CALLFCC (1-888-225-5322).