ASAP TO PSAP: “IT’S A NO-BRAINER”

be in production by the end of CY2012. The city of Boston expects to be opera-tional with the ASAP program by the fall of 2013 when a new Intergraph CAD system is implemented.

Dozens of PSAPs have been provided information about ASAP only to learn their CAD provider does not offer an interface solution—yet. PSAP managers should contact their CAD provider to express interest in the ASAP program. The likelihood that a CAD provider is willing to develop an ASAP interface solution increases as more PSAPs con-tact the CAD providers to make their interest known.

ALARM INDUSTRY MOVING

FULL STEAM AHEAD

The Central Station Alarm Associa-tion (CSAA), an Nlets strategic part-ner, is very serious about the success of the ASAP program. A new Message Broker (MB), a combination of hard-ware and software that acts as middle-ware between the alarm monitoring

companies and Nlets, has been imple-mented. The MB provides additional security and performs error checking on each data transmission before the mes-sage reaches Nlets.

The MB offers the opportunity for literally hundreds of alarm monitoring companies to participate with the ASAP program. The first three alarm monitor-ing companies (Vector Security, Moni-tronics, and United Central Control) to participate with the ASAP program are the first to migrate to the MB. The development of the MB was financed by 75+ alarm monitoring companies. These charter members are entitled to be the next to connect to the MB and participate in the ASAP program. Of the 75+, the first five are actively working to come on board, including ADT.

The CSAA is making a concerted effort to bring on board those compa-nies that monitor large quantities of alarm systems for those jurisdictions that already participate in the ASAP program or have committed. This will

include large companies, regional com-panies and localized companies. Once the charter companies have an oppor-tunity to join the ASAP program, other alarm monitoring companies will be able to participate.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The ASAP floodgates are opening as alarm companies line up. As outreach efforts continue, public safety leaders across the country will be asked about the importance of a 1 ½–3 minutes, or more, reduction in response times for alarm notifications in their locality. For more information, write to asap@apcointl.org or visit www.apco911.org/911-resources.html and navigate to ASAP in the navigation panel. ,PSC,

BILL HOBGOOD is a project manager for the city

of Richmond’s DIT public safety team with 40

years of experience in public safety. He is also a

project coordinator for APCO’s Comm Center &

9-1-1 Services Department and a subject matter

expert on the ASAP project.

50 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS B , A AUGUST 2012 B , A WWW.APCOINTL.ORG