Communications Open Forum

Here we are allowed to read the local newspaper, in print or online, and some supervisors allow magazines & books; however our contract states that our reading material is limited to the local newspaper.
We have a limited account on cable tv, which is provided free of charge to us by the local cable provider and usually we have the television muted. We are allowed to watch sports events & anything else we can find so long as it is appropriate.
Our internet is very limited due to the Barracuda Webfilter. We are blocked from social networking sites, shopping sites, anything offering streaming media, and obviously NSFW type material. We are not allowed to use computer games or chat services. Hotmail is one site that was recently added to the blocked category for reasons unbenownkst to us.
Losing the capability to play games was a bit of a morale killer for some time, however there were many who could not set aside gaming for working.

Debra, we allow reading of books, magazines, newspapers, etc. (paper or e-readers). We have a big screen TV in the center but only weather and local mapping is on it. I don't think our Director is against us having access to cable with rules, but justifying paying for cable is hard to do. We have internet access at all of the work stations as well. Facebook is blocked, but everything else is allowed; with common sense applying of course. And I have always been a supporter of allowing such things in a 911 center for the reasons you mentioned. If we can trust our employees to save lives and manage emergency responses I think we can trust them with more common things such as internet and a TV.