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APCO International announces two new initiatives to assist public safety answering points (PSAPs) that have not yet deployed Wireless Phase II – the MAAP Wireless Facilitator Program and Direct Assistance MAAP Funding Grants.
The MAAP Wireless Facilitator program builds on the existing MAAP (Member Assistance Advisory Program) program by providing Project LOCATE (Locate Our Citizens At Times of Emergencies) trained Wireless Deployment Facilitators to assist as peer counselors/mentors to requesting PSAPs. The facilitators will assist with the development of PSAP-specific readiness assessment and deployment planning and clarification of PSAP needs, challenges, costs and political reality when requesting and implementing Wireless Phase II. The MAAP Wireless Facilitators will help PSAPs identify peer resources in such areas for mapping, readiness assessment, customer premises-equipment (CPE) evaluation, service negotiations and public education initiatives, as well as methods to accomplish local goals.
The MAAP Facilitator Program will provide two MAAP Wireless Facilitators for up to two days of on-site review, guidance and assistance bringing together all necessary parties for a successful start to implement Wireless Phase II. This service will be free of charge to PSAPs who have successfully applied and been approved by a peer application review committee.
APCO International first previewed the MAAP Wireless Facilitator Program at the recent Annual Conference in Kansas City.
In addition, Project LOCATE and the Public Safety Foundation of America (PSFA) will be offering a limited number of Direct Assistance MAAP Funding Grants to PSAPs seeking to complete wireless 9–1–1 readiness and deployment. The grants will be supported by remaining funds from a Project LOCATE Grant from the PSFA. The amounts available to qualifying PSAPS are in the range of $20,000 – $25,000 and would be awarded to PSAPs that have successfully completed a MAAP Facilitator review and who demonstrated through an application process the need for some outside funding source to help the agency get started on the path to receiving and processing Wireless Phase II 9–1–1 calls.
For more information email MAAPWireless@apcointl.org or call 888.272.6911. |
