Blount County Communications District

04/19/2026

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week may be coming to a close, but our gratitude for this team never stops! 📞💛

They are the steady "gold line" connecting our community members to the help they need.

To our dispatchers: We see the resilience you show and the tireless effort you put into every single shift. You are the "first" first responders—the calm voices in the chaos and the lifeline for our police officers, deputies, firefighters, and medics in the field.

"Thank You" to the dedicated men and women who keep Blount County and Leeds safe, 24/7/365! 🚓🚑🚒

04/18/2026

As we continue celebrating National Telecommunicators Week, we are overwhelmed by the kindness shown to our team!

We wanted to give another huge shoutout to those in our community who recognize the crucial work our dispatchers do!

Special Thanks To:
Straight Mountain Fire Department
Ricetown Volunteer Fire Department
Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department
Southern Linc
AmeriPro Health EMS
Oneonta Police Department & Oneonta Fire and Rescue Service
Bob & Ashley Swain

Thank you all for helping us honor the heroes who answer the call when it matters most! 💛

04/16/2026

National Telecommunicators Week is all about honoring the calm voice in the chaos. We are overwhelmed by the kindness of local donors who stepped up to recognize our dispatchers so far this week!

We wanted to express a special THANK YOU to:

Snead Police Department, Julie Ward with Air Evac Lifeteam, Straight Mountain Fire Department & Owen McLaughlin. Thank you for your generous contributions of gift baskets, meals & treats.

Because of you, our "unseen heroes" felt truly seen and appreciated this week.

04/12/2026

We are incredibly proud to announce that Julie Mitchell has earned her 9-1-1 Public Safety Telecommunicator Level 1 Certification!

Since joining the Blount County Communications District, in January of 2026, Julie has shown a steadfast commitment to the safety of our citizens and partner agencies. This certification is a significant milestone in her career and a true reflection of her hard work. Please join us in celebrating her achievement!

Requirements for advancement and promotion to 9-1-1 Public Safety Telecommunicator Level 1 include the following certifications;

•American Heart Association CPR/AED
•CJIS Level 4 Security Awareness Certification
•Alabama NCIC Full Access,
•APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator
•APCO Emergency Medical Dispatcher
•FEMA Introduction to the Incident Command System: ICS 100, FEMA Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response: ICS 200, An Introduction to the National Incident Management System: IS 700, FEMA An Introduction to the National Response Framework: FEMA Telecommunicators Emergency Response Taskforce (TERT) Basic Course: IS 144.
•Missing and Exploited Children: Introduction for Public Safety,
•Missing and Exploited Children: Telecommunicators.

04/12/2026

This week, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12–18, 2026), we are celebrating the incredible, hardworking 911 Telecommunicators here at Blount County Communications District!

They are the calm in the chaos, the lifeline in emergencies, and the first "first responders" you never see—but always rely on.

Thank you for your tireless dedication, your skill under pressure, and your commitment to keeping Blount County & Leeds safe 24/7.

04/02/2026

PSA: All Administrative Phone Lines are now back operational. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

03/20/2026

The Blount County Communications District is proud to formally recognize and commend 911 Telecommunicators Katie Gulledge, Joseph Benson, and Jennie Banks for their outstanding performance and unwavering excellence!

In the early hours of February 23, 2026, these three individuals handled an intense, high-stakes medical emergency involving a CPR-in-progress. Under extreme pressure, Katie, Joseph, and Jennie operated as a seamless unit—providing life-saving instructions and coordinating emergency units with remarkable skill and calm.

Thanks to the teamwork and professionalism of these three individuals, a life was saved on February 23!

Thank you, Katie, Joseph, and Jennie, for your invaluable contributions to our agency and the communities we serve!!

03/17/2026

🚨BIG WIN FOR BLOUNT COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY & TAXPAYERS!

We are proud to announce a major breakthrough in our emergency communications! Blount County Communications District is now one of the first agencies in the Nation to implement a cutting-edge hybrid radio solution that solves our county’s toughest terrain challenges.

The Problem:
For years, our rugged hills and valleys created "dead zones," making reliable radio contact difficult for First Responders. Our 800MHz P25 system was a start, but it left us with only 86% mobile countywide coverage and significantly less for handheld radios.

The Multi- Million Dollar Challenge:
A 2025 study, conducted by a team of professional consultants, showed that hardware upgrades to fix these gaps would cost millions upfront, plus hundreds of thousands yearly in annual maintenance. The Blount County Communications District refused to place that massive burden on our taxpayers.

The Innovation:
Instead of expensive towers, we got smart. We partnered with Catalyst Propulsion™ dispatch solutions, Southern Linc, and FirstNet to bridge their mission-critical networks with our existing P25 technology.

The Result:
✅ 95+% Handheld Coverage across the county.
✅ ZERO additional RF hardware saving millions.

✅ Lower Maintenance vs. owning and maintaining equipment.
✅ Instant Interoperability between different technologies.

✅ First Responder Agency Choice
✅ Agencies can now chose between the Southern Linc, FirstNet or 800MHz P25 technology platforms that are offered to our combined 34 Law Enforcement, Fire and EMS agencies based on what serves them best.

By utilizing the national 3GPP-standard Push-to-Talk technology, we’ve given our First Responders the vital lifelines they need at a small fraction of the cost.

We are honored to lead the way in public safety innovation while remaining dedicated stewards of your tax dollars! 🚑🚒🚓

The project interworking between LMR and broadband PTT, was spearheaded by Executive Director Derrick Walker

/PRNewswire/ -- Southern Linc, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), has partnered with the Blount County, Alabama Communications District (BCCD) to...

02/14/2026

Please see the Blount County Communications District Regular Board Meeting Agenda below.

This meeting will take place Thursday, February 19th 2026, at 9:00am CST