Chicomm Blog

In the aftermath of 9/11, FirstNet was established to give public safety professionals access to a dedicated communications network built to meet their mission: saving lives, solving crimes, and protecting communities.

Operated through a public-private partnership between the federal government and AT&T, FirstNet is the only nationwide wireless broadband network built for first responders, with first responders.

In an emergency, every second matters — and FirstNet ensures that first responders have reliable, secure access to voice, data, video, and location services when they need it most.

Staying compliant with FCC regulations is critical for anyone using VHF/UHF two-way radios. The FCC continues to crack down on unauthorized radios, enforcing rules that impact which radios are sold, imported, and used in the U.S.

If your radios aren’t compliant, you could face interference issues—or even fines. Here’s what you need to know about the latest rules and enforcement trends.

Ensuring safety in schools, hospitals, and public spaces is more challenging than ever. Security teams, administrators, and operations managers must balance incident prevention, real-time response, and documentation for legal protection.

The Motorola V200 Body Camera is built to meet these needs, providing frontline employees with an instant connection to security teams while offering livestream video, recorded evidence, and encrypted data storage.

With Illinois’ body camera mandate officially in effect as of January 1, 2025, public safety agencies are entering a new era of transparency and accountability. For those still navigating the process of adopting body cameras, now is the time to ensure you have the right tools, policies, and training in place to meet compliance standards while maximizing the benefits these devices can provide.

We're here to help you understand the mandate, how to choose the right body camera solutions, and what steps to take to set your team up for success.

Every moment matters when you’re in public safety, and having reliable, versatile communication tools is essential. The Motorola APX 8000 is built with public safety in mind, providing the features you need to stay connected, secure, and ready to respond in any situation. This radio combines unmatched interoperability, ruggedness, and a host of advanced features designed to meet the demands of critical environments. Here’s what sets it apart in 2024.

Police radio codes, along with 10 codes and the police phonetic alphabet, are part of what makes public safety’s communications style so unique.

The radio lingo specific to police officers and personnel has its own history and patterns, while allowing radio users to communicate faster and more clearly. 

While ten codes for public safety usually get the spotlight, there are other interesting police radio codes to be aware of that are specific to departments and locations.

In today’s world, where technology moves quickly, your business needs the best tools to stay safe and run smoothly. Safety and security systems are crucial for spotting issues, keeping everyone connected, and responding quickly to any problems. Unfortunately, many businesses struggle with old, disjointed systems that don’t work well together. This outdated approach can slow you down, cut into your productivity, and, most importantly, put your people and property at risk.

The case for investing in a mobile command center (MCC) for police departments and other public safety agencies is strong – they’re easily customizable, can be as high-tech as you need them to be, and they’re appropriate for a wide variety of use cases. 

With the proper mobile command center, police officers and first responders have the ability to host all of their necessary functions in a single area, all while being able to move throughout their community as needed.

As public safety technology and 911 Communications continue to evolve, the benefits for investing in a mobile command center are as compelling as ever.

Anyone familiar with two-way radio lingo, particularly the military phonetic alphabet, will attest that the phrases, codes, and terms form a unique language that distinguishes its users from those who may not be familiar with its nuances.

If there’s one thing we know about incidents of violence or destruction, it’s that they happen quickly, and human eyes and memories can be unreliable. 

This is where the need for an unbiased observer becomes key, particularly for security and police forces tasked with maintaining public safety and order. 

In recent years, body-worn cameras have emerged as a solution to this challenge. These devices serve as impartial witnesses, capable of capturing continuous, objective video footage of events as they occur.

Motorola’s VB400 body camera is a notable example of this technology in action. The device captures high-quality images and is becoming necessary for security teams and small to mid-sized police departments.