Safety is not a subscription

Why should a firefighter, paramedic, or police officer have to pull out their personal credit card to access the data they need to protect the public? It’s a question every leader needs to ask. 

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Some models in our industry treat critical operational intelligence like premium content — locking it behind “Pro” subscriptions and charging the very people who put themselves in harm’s way. Imagine that: a firefighter on the line, making split-second decisions, being told that full access to situational awareness requires a monthly payment. That isn’t innovation, it’s exploitation. 

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Critical data is not a commodity 

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The information that keeps first responders safe — the latest incident intelligence, live location of resources, situational updates — should never be treated as an upsell. This isn’t streaming TV or a fitness app. This is life-and-death decision-making, and our frontline responders shouldn’t have to wonder if their subscription is current before they get the full picture. 

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When public safety data becomes a pay-to-play model, it undermines trust and creates inequities in access to information. And ultimately, it’s the community that suffers when responders don’t have the full picture in the moment they need it most. 

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Trust means equipping every badge 

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At Intterra, we believe trusting the badge isn’t just about giving the public authoritative information. It’s also about making sure every badge has the tools and data to do their jobs safely and effectively. No paywalls. No personal subscriptions. No “premium tier” of situational awareness. 

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If you wear the badge, you deserve the full data picture, because your ability to protect us all depends on it. 

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A call to leaders 

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It’s time for agency leaders, chiefs, and policymakers to reject subscription models that make responders personally fund their own access to mission-critical information. We have the technology, and we have the responsibility to ensure data is distributed equitably and immediately across the force. 

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Our first responders don’t need “Pro” plans. They need the truth, in real time, with no barriers. Trust the badge, and give every badge the data they need to protect us all.

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