The Public Safety Community Needs Your Help NOW!

The Public Safety Community Needs Your Help NOW!

The following letter has been sent to every member of both houses of Congress, to the FCC Commissioners, the Director of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau for the FCC, and to officials at NTIA. …

 

1)     Re-allocate the 700-MHz D Block to the PSST

2)     Have the FCC authorize the PSST to allow access to the spectrum by regional, state, and city for all 20 MHz of the spectrum

3)     Have the FCC approve the waivers already on file along with others that will be filed

4)     Address the issue of funding the network and its operation

a.     With a specific allocation from the federal government

b.    By using funding already set aside for rural broadband, educational, and medical services

 

ipwireless seeks green light from public agencies

ipwireless seeks green light from public agencies
East Bay Business Times
The South Georgia system now has about 3000 users, including public safety agencies, residences, school districts and farmers who use it to run security ...

Wisc. emergency responders awarded $4.2 million for radio upgrades
WXOW.com
... a $16.3 million dollar grant funded through federal Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) and federal Homeland Security grant monies. ...

 

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON REQUEST FOR WAIVER FILED BY THE COUNTY OF MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY TO OPERATE A TRUNKED PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM USING FREQUENCIES IN THE TELEVISION CHANNEL 19 BAND (500-506 MHZ). (DA No.

09-2549). Released:  12/07/2009.  Comments Due:  12/28/2009. Reply Comments Due:  01/07/2010.

PSHSB . Contact:  David Siehl at (202) 418-1313, TTY: (202) 418-7233,

Email: David.Siehl@fcc.gov

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2549A1.pdf

 

State would be an island

State would be an island
In-Forum - Fargo,ND,USA
For this reason it was also recommended by the National Public Safety ... to the Public Safety Spectrum Trust – a collaboration of the major public safety ...

 

United States and Mexico Sign Border Spectrum Accord

United States and Mexico Sign Border Spectrum Accord US Department of State

This week at the Tenth Meeting of the U.S.-Mexico High Level Consultative Commission on Telecommunications (HLCC) in Washington, senior level telecommunications officials of the two governments signed a new protocol to reduce the possibility of cross border radio interference between public safety organizations in both countries as they begin employing a new radio frequency band (4940-4990 MHz ) for broadband fixed and mobile use in the common border area. ...

FCC - Seeks Comment on NPSTC 900 MHz Paging Petition

12/03/2009.  WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FOR RULEMAKING OF THE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL. (DA No.  09-2528). (Dkt No 09-217 ).

Comments Due:  01/08/2010. Reply Comments Due:  01/25/2010.  WTB

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2528A1.pdf

 

FCC - New Station Class Code for 4.9 GHz Fixed Stations

Released:  12/03/2009.  PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ESTABLISHES A NEW STATION CLASS CODE AND PROVIDES LICENSING INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRIMARY PERMANENT FIXED STATIONS IN THE 4940-4990 MHZ BAND ALLOCATED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY USE. (DA No.  09-2530). (Dkt No 07-100 ).  PSHSB .

Contact:  (717) 338-2646

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2530A1.pdf

A municipal Wi-Fi model that actually wor

A municipal Wi-Fi model that actually works
Urgent Communications
While New York City's mobile broadband network garners much attention concerning its ability to serve both public safety and multiple government agencies, ...

Assessment of Mobile wimax in the US

Assessment of Mobile wimax in the US
The Viodi View
This is particularly true in developed countries, where there are many alternatives for nomadic broadband Internet access. These include: ever increasing ...

FCC Request Comments on Transition from Circuit-switched to IP Based Networks

COMMENT SOUGHT ON TRANSITION FROM CIRCUIT-SWITCHED NETWORK TO ALL-IP NETWORK.

 (Released:  12/01/2009.

DA No.  09-2517). (Dkt No

09-137 09-47 09-51 )  NBP Public Notice # 25, PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED. Comments Due:  12/21/2009. 

…appropriate policy framework to facilitate and respond to the market-led transition in technology and services, from the circuit switched PSTN system to an IP-based communications world..

.http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2517A1.pdf

What's in and out of the LTE standard

What's in and out of the LTE standard
SearchNetworking.com - Australia
Surprisingly, LTE supporters have not yet agreed on a single method to support voice and text messaging. ... IMS was designed and standardized by the 3GPP. ...

…Statements made by wireless executives and industry pundits make it appear that 4G LTE services are right around the corner. But the lack of a single approach to support voice and SMS raises serious questions about the readiness of this technology for widespread enterprise adoption. …

Congress and Law: Conclusions Regarding Public Safety

Congress and Law: Conclusions Regarding Public Safety
By -
…resources (people and infrastructure) to achieve interoperability for emergency communications. In that context, both Congress and the 9/11 Commission have recognized the link between deploying wireless equipment and accessing spectrum ...

VirtualAgility and Rivada Networks Launch Virtual Smart C3, an End-to-end

VirtualAgility and Rivada Networks Launch Virtual Smart C3, an End-to-end
Earthtimes (press release)
About Rivada Networks Rivada Networks designs, integrates and operations interoperable Broadband public safety communications and IT networks, ...

…deployable to the field as a standalone device that does not rely on commercial communication networks for internet connectivity. It is an end-to-end solution designed to provide uninterrupted communications even when commercial networks go down….

…gives users the ability to leverage advanced communications capability such as GPS Location based services, IP Push-to-Talk, High speed streaming video, Remote Wireless High Speed Internet, and Location based surveillance.

Weather balloons no longer a crazy idea for rural coverage

Weather balloons no longer a crazy idea for rural coverage
Register
As the major mobile players start to form alliances with mobile satellite operators to expand their rural reach and target new markets such as public safety ...

4G LTE Cellular To Speak With 2 Voices?

4G LTE Cellular To Speak With 2 Voices?
Twice
VoiceOne is based on IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) technology defined by an international group called the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project). ...

Altoona, Pennsylvania deploys municipal wireless network

Altoona, Pennsylvania deploys municipal wireless network
By Esme Vos
50000) has deployed a municipal wireless broadband network that combines Wi-Fi (using 2.4 GHz) and licensed wireless (4.9 GHz) for public safety use. The network was deployed by BIG Wireless, a systems integrator based in York, ...

Jacobs Receives Contract from Harris Corporation for the State of Maine

Jacobs Receives Contract from Harris Corporation for the State of Maine's ...
PR Newswire (press release)
The MSCommNet statewide digital radio system was designed to meet the communications needs of Maine's law enforcement, public safety, and public service ...

3GPP LTE for TDD Spectrum in the Americas - White Paper

 

3GPP LTE for TDD Spectrum in the Americas – White Paper

3G America

Mobile broadband is becoming ubiquitous throughout many parts of the Americas. To meet this growing

demand for mobile broadband services, operators are making plans for deployment of LTE Frequency

Division Duplex (FDD) technology. It is important, however, that operators, regulators, license holders and

investors closely consider deployments of LTE for unpaired Time Division Duplex (TDD) spectrum. …

Making waves in new technology

Making waves in new technology
In-Forum
Flow Mobile has big plans to revolutionize wireless and broadband access in rural America, and plans to start in Cass County. The project has support from some influential people, but also has its share of critics.

…In an interview Friday, Hoeven said the state was not aware that other firms were interested in providing wireless broadband public safety communications ...

 

3G and 4G Wireless Blog: Focus on TD-LTE by 3G Americas

3G and 4G Wireless Blog: Focus on TD-LTE by 3G Americas
By Zahid Ghadialy
3G Americas has published an educational white paper titled, "3GPP LTE for TDD Spectrum in the Americas". The report provides a top-level overview on the considerations for deployment of Long Term Evolution (LTE) in Time Division Duplex ...

Alcatel-Lucent Completes LTE Data Call in 800 MHz "European Digital Dividend" Band

Alcatel-Lucent Completes LTE Data Call in 800 MHz "European Digital Dividend" Band

Alcatel-Lucent completed the first LTE data call on the 800 MHz "European Digital Dividend" (EDD) spectrum band in a live network. The call was completed in October at Alcatel-Lucent's 4G/LTE end-to-end solutions center in Stuttgart, Germany, and involved transmitting HD video streaming over the air using Alcatel-Lucent's commercial infrastructure platforms and prototype mobile devices….

…Deploying LTE at 800 MHz has a clear benefit for operators which can require fewer sites to cover rural areas, thus reducing overall environmental impact. 800 MHz spectrum LTE deployment could be an ideal complement to a 2.6GHz spectrum LTE deployment where smaller cells are required, in a dense urban environment for example. …

4GWE Conference Anticipates Rise of WiMAX, LTE

4GWE Conference Anticipates Rise of WiMAX, LTE

November 20, 2009

The two technologies that have emerged as front-runners for dominance in the next-generation wireless world of “4G” – WiMAX and LTE – both made headlines this week  …

…in the land down under, WiMAX took a major step forward as Adam Internet – a group that’s building a wireless broadband network as part of the Australian government’s Broadband Guarantee Program, designed to serve all of the nation’s residents – said it’s targeting 14 service areas for the next year. …

…in the land down under, WiMAX took a major step forward as Adam Internet – a group that’s building a wireless broadband network as part of the Australian government’s Broadband Guarantee Program, designed to serve all of the nation’s residents – said it’s targeting 14 service areas for the next year. …

Congress and Law: Public Safety Communications and Spectrum

Congress and Law: Public Safety Communications and Spectrum ...
Friday, November 20, 2009
that of the adjacent Public Safety Broadband License (PSBL). Choices will be made in the management of these spectrum licenses that could have a defining, long-lasting impact on the advancement of public safety communications. ...

…Many of the proposals before the FCC would combine the public safety and D Block licenses into
a single, 20 MHz block. The three administrative models that correspond to the most discussed
proposals for this spectrum assignment are
• Private sector. One or more commercial license holders control both the D Block
and the PSBL, with or without a requirement to accommodate public safety
needs.
• Public Sector. Public safety entities hold both licenses, with specific rights
assigned to different groups. Some proposals would eliminate the PSBL but all
proposals would increase the role of regional, state, and local emergency
communications managers and frequency coordinators. Commercial partners
might be included in the mix.
• Public-Private Partnership. The PBSL and one or more commercial licenses are
assigned rights and responsibilities by the FCC and agree to cooperate on
network and spectrum sharing.

With appropriate governance, the choice among alternatives for ownership of the licenses is a
policy decision more than a business decision. A commercial owner or owners would be more
likely to follow FCC policies for spectral efficiency and consumer service; public safety
ownership might be guided by local, state, or federal policies, including the National Emergency
Communications Plan. Dual ownership, the third alternative, could balance the two policies, or
could lead to disequilibrium and a failed partnership. Concerns about how the FCC would
maintain an equitable partnership through its regulatory authority was one of the uncertainties
that may have contributed to the failed auction of the D Block. …

Efficient, seamless TD-LTE

Efficient, seamless TD-LTE By Maximus Seamless and future proof TD-LTE technology deployments are closer than expected. Building on the success of the world's first TD-LTE femtocell demo for indoor coverage and the first 3GPP standard compliant TD-LTE call on commercial ... TD-LTE call on commercial Flexi Multiradio base stations for macro deployments, Nokia Siemens Networks tied up with China Mobile at GSMA Mobile Asia Congress to assure subscribers a flawless end to end next generation mobile broadband user experience. … “While we have proven that we are ready for large scale outdoor TD-LTE deployments as early as 2010, our femtocell solution takes care of maintaining superior coverage indoors.”   …

 

NENA alters D Block position

NENA alters D Block position
Urgent Communications - Overland Park,USA
The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) yesterday said it would support public-safety efforts to reallocate the 700 MHz D Block for first-response ...

 

3GPP LTE for TDD Spectrum in the Americas

Report Highlights Important Considerations for Serving Society’s Demands for Mobile Broadband

November 19 2009

3G Americas, a wireless industry trade association representing the GSM family of technologies including LTE, today announced that it has published an educational white paper titled, 3GPP LTE for TDD Spectrum in the Americas. The report provides a top-level overview on the considerations for deployment of Long Term Evolution (LTE) in Time Division Duplex (TDD) technology spectrum in the Americas and recommends LTE TDD as a mobile broadband solution to utilize valuable TDD spectrum assets in the region. …

 

Public Safety Communications and Spectrum Funding Plans

Public Safety Communications and Spectrum Resources: Summary of Key State and Federal Funding Plans

Thursday, November 19, 2009
…safety agencies.54 As with BTOP, even if some loans were made for public safety broadband networks, the narrow scope of the loans would do little to advance the goal of achieving national coverage. However, the RUS model might be used ...

FCC Sets 90 to 150 Day Review Limit for Tower Applications

FCC Sets 90 to 150 Day Review Limit for Tower Applications

Nov. 18, 2009

 

FCC Issues Declaratory Ruling Establishing Timeframes for State and Locality Processing of Applications for Wireless Towers.

FCC has set new timeframes of 90 days for collocations and 150 days for all other tower siting applications reviewed by state and local governments.

Declaratory Ruling: Acrobat
News Release: Acrobat
Genachowski Statement: Acrobat
Copps Statement: Acrobat
McDowell Statement: Acrobat
Clyburn Statement: Acrobat
Baker Statement: Acrobat

FCC IDENTIFIES CRITICAL GAPS IN PATH TO

FCC IDENTIFIES CRITICAL GAPS IN PATH TO

FUTURE UNIVERSAL BROADBAND

November 18, 2009

USF Structure, Lack of Transparency, Spectrum Needs, and Adoption Levels

Identified as Key Gaps …

Public Safety Assoc Hold Third Meeting - Nationwide Broadband Network

PUBLIC SAFETY ASSOCIATIONS HOLD THIRD MEETING TO FORM CONSENSUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONWIDE BROADBAND NETWORK

November 16, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC) co-hosted a meeting on Friday of nine major public safety organizations to further address matters related to the development of a nationwide interoperable broadband network. …

…Building on the success of the previous two meetings, the participating organizations substantially agreed:

• that there are considerable efficiencies generated through the use of broadband technology for first response and other government agencies;
• to continue to support the approval of waiver requests for use of 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum and early build-out in those areas requesting waivers;
• that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) should more clearly specify and delineate, and accept applications from, public safety as an entity to receive funding through the next round of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). …

 

LARICS Waiver for early Use of PS 700 Broadband

LARICS Waiver for early Use of PS 700 Broadband

… The Region could deploy a broadband data system with a relatively small incremental investment beyond the funding needed for the Land Mobile Radio network, by taking advantage of the same capital and resources utilized in deploying the voice network. …

Congress and Law: Public Safety Communications and Proposals

Congress and Law: Public Safety Communications and Proposals

Combine the 10-MHz D Block with the 10-MHz Public Safety Broadband License and auction the newly created 20-MHz block, with sharing requirements similar to some of those considered by the FCC for the D Block auction. Funds ...

Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corporation NTIA-RUS Filed Public Comments

Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corporation
Broadband Stimulus Round I: NTIA-RUS Filed Public Comments, Comments of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corporation.

 

 

Digital TV Switch And Its Impact On Public Safety

The Digital TV Switch And Its Impact On Public Safety

A clearer picture wasn’t the only good thing to come out of the switch to digital TV on June 12, 2009. In fact, it was a pivotal day for police and public safety technology in general. It was the date all primary over-the-air TV broadcast transmitters ceased transmitting analog signals and moved to new channel assignments broadcasting in a digital format.

Why did this event have such an impact on law enforcement agencies with technology projects, such as those funded under the COPS Technology Program? …

 

Remarks of Commissioner Copps, FCC Field Hearing on Broadband & Public Safety

Remarks of Commissioner Copps, FCC Field Hearing on Broadband & Public
Safety, Georgetown University Medical Center
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-294632A1.pdf>

...Some jurisdictions have-understandably, given the time this is
taking-requested waivers to proceed with building their own local
networks. That is another option, but it strikes me that without
guarantees that these systems can become part of a nationally-connected
and interoperable system sooner or later-preferably sooner-such an
approach falls far short of the potential for broadband to create
something that really delivers for the safety of the people. So this
kind of option would surely require explicit standards to guarantee
interoperability. Here our challenge becomes agreeing on such standards
when we still don't have the configuration of the broadband public
safety system clearly in mind. ...

November 2009 MHz Update: Money in Kentucky, fusion in Michigan, and data ...

November 2009 MHz Update: Money in Kentucky, fusion in Michigan, and data
Police News
Mobile BIS's law enforcement and public safety applications are reportedly in use in Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and New York. ...

Solving the interoperability issue

Solving the interoperability issue
Security Director News
In October, three counties in western Maryland began developing the…

 

FCC Broadband Role in Improving Public Safety Workshop Agenda

FCC ANNOUNCES AGENDA FOR NOV.12 FIELD HEARING ON BROADBAND'S ROLE IN

IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE.   Event

to be Hosted in Conjunction with Georgetown University Medical Center.

News Release. News Media Contact: Robert Kenny at (202) 418-2668, email Robert.Kenny@fcc.gov or Mark Wigfield at (202) 418-0253, email:

Mark.Wigfield@fcc.gov  PSHSB

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-294549A1.pdf

 

 

Channelized vs. Broadband

Channelized vs. Broadband

Saturday, November 07, 2009 Andrew M. Seybold

 People brought up in a channelized world are often confused when faced with the new broadband technologies. Those of us who grew up with wired and then analog cellular phone systems know that a channel is a single voice path that is created when we dial a call. We have our own circuit or channel back to the hub (a wired switch) and outbound from that switch until our call is completed.  ...

AT&T and Verizon Introduce One Voice Standard for Voice/SMS Over LTE

AT&T and Verizon Introduce One Voice Standard for Voice/SMS Over LTE
PhoneNews.com
The CSFB standard as proposed by the 3GPP would allow LTE devices to revert to GSM or UMTS for incoming/outgoing voice calls as well as SMS. …

 

Broadband stimulus awards delayed

Broadband stimulus awards delayed
Urgent Communications
... including public-safety entities. Governors' offices and state broadband program officials around the nation were charged with advising the NTIA on ...

Dispelling LTE Myths

Dispelling LTE Myths
Wireless Week
However, 3GPP recognizes that adoption of both LTE and IMS will not occur overnight. For this reason 3GPP provided a transition solution for voice called CS ...

…VoIP support for emergency calls (including location support) is specified as part of Rel 9. This fulfils the last regulatory requirement separating VoIP from CS in 3GPP networks. A transition solution exists which is falling back to 3G/2G for completing emergency calls. This solution has existed since IMS was introduced (Rel 5). …

Three benefits of VoFi – Voice over Wireless

By WildPackets on November 3, 2009 3:00 AM

The use of VoFi, or Voice over Wireless, has been rather limited. But now, with the newly ratified 802.11n standard, we're expecting to see a surge of interest in this technology since 802.11n and its increased throughput and range is what makes VoFi feasible.  …

 

Report: Interoperability Requires Improvements in Governance

Nov 2, 2009, News Report

Creating interoperability in the governmental context requires government leaders to take responsibility for improving the capabilities of government agencies to effectively partner with other agencies and governments as well as the private sector, non-profit groups, and research institutions according to  IT Governance Capability: Laying the foundation for government interoperability released by The Center for Technology in Government (CTG) at the University at Albany-SUNY.

 

FCC Field Hearing to Focus on First Responder Needs Nov 12

FCC Field Hearing to Focus on First Responder Needs Nov 12
BroadbandCensus.com
... a broadband field hearing in conjunction with Georgetown University Medical Center on The Role of Broadband in Improving Public Safety Communications ...

Three Maryland Counties and State of Maryland Sign ARINC to Build Public

Three Maryland Counties and State of Maryland Sign ARINC to Build Public
Media Newswire (press release)
“Recognizing that State and Local budgets are tight, we coordinated efforts to obtain funding for the project under a US Public Safety Interoperable ...

Jumping on the bandwagon: Introducing the next generation multi-band radios

Jumping on the bandwagon: Introducing the next generation multi-band radios
PhysOrg.com - Evergreen,VA,USA
As the construction of public safety systems consumed all the available channels ... observes that interoperability issues have become more important in the ... Starting in November, 14 agencies across the country will have the opportunity to try out this leading edge technology with fellow first responders through 30-day pilot projects.

Ashley Strickland, a captain at the Pittsboro Fire Department in Indiana who tested out an early multi-band radio prototype, observes that interoperability issues have become more important in the last decade as first responders now routinely respond to emergencies outside their official jurisdiction. …

 

ETSI's standardization of Reconfigurable Radio Systems gets underway

ETSI's standardization of Reconfigurable Radio Systems gets underway
PRLog.Org (press release) - TX,USA
Currently, public safety communications are characterized by patchworks of ... SDR can provide solutions for the required interoperability of such systems, ...

 

NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL PETITION FOR STAY OF INTERIM NARROWBAND IMPLEMENTATION DATES

(DA No. 09-2364). Released: 11/02/2009.

Comments Due: 11/23/2009. Reply Comments Due:

12/03/2009. WTB . Contact: Melvin Spann at (202) 418-1333, email:

Melvin.Spann@fcc.gov or Zenji Nakazawa at (202) 418-7949, email:

Zenji.Nakazawa@fcc.gov

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2364A1.pdf

Who is Seeking Broadband Stimulus Grants in Your State?

Interested in who and what projects are proposed for your state?

Search the applications on the NITA website link below:

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants/applications/search.cfm

Critics say Schweitzer-endorsed Internet plan won’t extend services

By MIKE DENNISON IR State Bureau

Gov. Brian Schweitzer's recommendation that one firm get $70 million in federal stimulus funds to expand high-speed Internet service is being blasted by Montana telephone companies and regulators, who say the project won't extend new service to underserved areas. …

New technology, stimulus funding help revive municipal broadband

Oct 1, 2009 10:10 AM, By Lynnette Luna

…Mark Meier, Oklahoma City's chief technology officer recently indicated that the city has derived approximately $10 million in value from its broadband network to date. "Some of our critical public safety applications required redundant wireless connectivity, but the cellular data cards have remained virtually unused and handle less than 1 percent of our traffic which has resulted in significant cost savings for the city," he says.



City departments using the network include police, fire, transit, public works and IT. And the network has more than 200 applications concurrently running over it. Devices include laptops, handheld devices, traffic controllers and video cameras. 



In most cases, public safety is the anchor-tenant of the network and other government agencies come along for the ride, Settles says. Public safety benefits the most from a variety of applications, ranging from video surveillance to web-based crime database access. …


 

Wireless at work

Apr 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Jennifer Grzeskowiak

The latest technology moves public services from the office to the field…

…New York had a video system at the scene, and the Fire Department's Command Tactical Unit vehicle sent video back to its Operations Center and the Office of Emergency Management to help mobilize vehicles and organize equipment. "Having real-time data and not having to wait for the media to arrive and send back data for us helps make quicker decisions and save lives," says Nick Sbordone, director of external affairs for NYC Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications (DoITT).

The video system was possible because of New York's unprecedented, $500 million, high-speed wireless data network, known as NYCWiN, that covers all five boroughs. …

 

Consortiums will be likely winners of broadband stimulus funding
GovPro Media
... NTIA asked Governors' offices and state broadband program officials to recommend first round project funding in their states. Their support for local government-run or nonprofits created for public-private partnerships runs from 30 percent to 50 percent, says Craig Settles, founder of Successful.com. …

In plain English

In plain English
Worcester Telegram
The Department of Homeland Security is tying grant money to agencies using plain language in the push for interoperability, said Chief Horn, president of ...

 

FCC announces more 800 MHz channels available for public safety

FCC announces more 800 MHz channels available for public safety

By Donny Jackson

Public-safety entities seeking 800 MHz spectrum next month will be able to apply for interleaved frequencies being cleared by Sprint Nextel as part of the rebanding process, the FCC announced in a public notice released yesterday.

 

FCC mandates county to upgrade radio communications system

FCC mandates county to upgrade radio communications system
Pine Journal
Most current public safety radio systems currently use 25 kHz-wide channels, but beginning in 2013, the FCC will require that all non-Federal public safety ...

 

PSHSB chief: 700 MHz waivers are a priority

PSHSB chief: 700 MHz waivers are a priority
Urgent Communications - Overland Park,USA
“If 700 MHz and the national public-safety broadband plan were the only jobs ... use the public-safety broadband spectrum currently licensed to the PSST for ...

 

FCC mandates county to upgrade radio communications system

FCC mandates county to upgrade radio communications system
Pine Journal
Most current public safety radio systems currently use 25 kHz-wide channels, but beginning in 2013, the FCC will require that all non-Federal public safety ...

FCC APPOINTS APCO BOARD MEMBER TO CO-CHAIR COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

FCC APPOINTS APCO BOARD MEMBER TO CO-CHAIR COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

October 13, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today heralded the appointment of Immediate Past President Chris Fischer of Seattle, Wash. as co-chair of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) for a term of two years. …

 

Samsung will supply the world's first 4G LTE

Samsung will supply the world's first 4G LTE
JoongAng Daily
The LTE device has also been designed to be fully compliant with the newest standard of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) - the 3GPP LTE Release ...

…Users will be able to download a 700 megabit feature movie in under a minute, according to Samsung. The product includes the company’s LTE modem chip branded Kalmia and supports 2.6 GHz band. …

 

Temple Georgia is Testbed for Advanced Public Safety Network

Temple Georgia is Testbed for Advanced Public Safety Network
... public safety applications and services The broadband wireless network ...

…the network, which currently supports Wi-Fi, will be able to upgrade to 4.9 GHz in future expansions. The 4.9 GHz spectrum is dedicated to fixed and mobile public safety services. …

WiMAX: 4G contender or niche play?

WiMAX: 4G contender or niche play?
FierceWireless
Although most wireless carriers on a 3GPP (WCDMA) or 3GPP2 (CDMA2000) track likely will upgrade to LTE, the mobile WiMAX team (both vendors and carriers) ...

3GPP's Scrase puts LTE-advanced in perspective

3GPP's Scrase puts LTE-advanced in perspective
TelephonyOnline
The 3GPP has submitted its LTE-advanced proposal to the International Telecommunications Union, stating that with new technologies such as eight-by-eight ...

AMATEUR SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS DURING GOVERNMENT DISASTER DRILLS

AMATEUR SERVICE COMMUNICATIONS DURING GOVERNMENT DISASTER DRILLS
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2259A1.pdf>
(DA No. 09-2259). FCC/WTB

...Some entities, such as hospitals, emergency operations centers, and
police, fire, and emergency medical service stations, have expressed
interest in having their employees who are amateur station operators
participate in these drills by transmitting messages on the entity's behalf.
The Commission's Rules, however, specifically prohibit amateur stations from
transmitting communications "in which the station licensee or control
operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an
employer...

...we take this opportunity to provide a clear process for requesting a
waiver, and the information that we require in order to consider granting
such a request. ...

...In an actual emergency, the Commission's Rules provide that an amateur
station may use any means of radio communication at its disposal to provide
essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of
human life and the immediate protection of property when normal
communication systems are not available. In those circumstances, rule
waiver is not necessary.

Broadband voice intriguing, but when will it be mission critical?

Broadband voice intriguing, but when will it be mission critical?
Urgent Communications - Overland Park,USA
And, if we got rid of LMR voice systems, wouldn't public safety have a lot of 700 MHz ... committee and chairman of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST). ...

Memo To Intel: Time For An Overdue Reality Check On Mobile WiMAX

Memo To Intel: Time For An Overdue Reality Check On Mobile WiMAX
Gerson Lehrman Group
As expected IEEE 802.16m has been submitted to the ITU, along with LTE-Advanced, for consideration as a true 4G standard. This news may be confusing to ...