"I Could be Wrong..." Jack's iconic signature statement.

It is with great remorse I report that Jack Daniels has passed away after a brief illness.
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Silent Key: Jack Daniel Passes Away | Public Safety Communications

New DHS office tackles broadband network next steps
Fierce Homeland Security
Much of the LMR equipment utilized by public safety jurisdictions does not interoperate due to the fact that jurisdictions often license different spectrum bands, especially since some frequency ranges are better suited than others for certain man-made ...

GAO: First Responders Broadband Network Lacks Crucial Feature
InformationWeek
While a new public safety broadband network will provide more interoperability that will let first responders better coordinate efforts, it won't have the same mission-critical voice capabilities that current land mobile radio (LMR) systems have had ...

Public safety broadband network won't replace LMR, says GAO
FierceGovernmentIT
Public safety agencies across various jurisdictions today operate radio equipment mostly not interoperable--a fault partly of LMR device manufacturers who have, neither historically nor recently, placed great emphasis on interoperability.

Various Challenges Likely to Slow Implementation of a Public Safety
Multiple federal entities are involved with planning a public safety broadband network and while such a network would likely enhance interoperability and ...

Congress approves D-block reallocation with payroll tax cut extension
SecurityInfoWatch
Though it was a recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, the creation of an interoperable public safety network for first responders had stalled in both the House and the Senate as lawmakers were divided on how exactly to fund it.

US Congress allocates US$7 bil for public safety network FutureGov Magazine By Thanya Kunakornpaiboonsiri | 21 February 2012 Legislation has been approved by the US Government on the 17th of February to build a new nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network. The reallocation of the 700MHz “D-block” section of ...See all stories on this topic »

Solacom Selected for Hawaii Statewide Next Generation 9-1-1 Network PR Web (press release) Solacom Technologies announced they have commenced deploying their emergency services platform in a multi-site IP-based next generation 9-1-1 network that will serve all Islands and public safety answering points (PSAPs) in the state of Hawaii. ... President signs into law the 700 MHz public safety bill and other spectrum ... Lexology (registration) The law includes several spectrum related provisions that may be of interest to electric utilities seeking access to the 700 MHz public safety spectrum, including the allocation of the 700 MHz "D-Block" to public safety and for the construction and ... Payroll tax agreement also re-allocates D-block spectrum to public ... “I am pleased that this agreement reallocates the D Block to public safety and ensures sufficient spectrum for the development of a national interoperable public ... NGA Praises Passage of The Reallocation of D Block Governors have long called for reallocation, a cornerstone of any effort to make the nation's first interoperable public safety broadband network a reality. Today's ... Congress to Provide D Block to Public Safety News JEMScom WASHINGTON – Today the Public Safety AlliancePSA applauds Senate ... a much needed nationwide interoperable Public Safety Broadband NetworkPSBN This bill ...

FCC Working on Device Interoperability Rules, Girding for Another Battle With Verizon, AT&T

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

 

By Paul Barbagallo
The Federal Communications Commission is laying the groundwork for yet another battle with Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. over competition policy.
According to agency and industry sources, the FCC is expected to begin a formal rulemaking process by midyear that could result in manufacturers of handsets, chipsets, and network equipment being required to make their products compatible with all frequencies across the entire 700 megahertz band of radio spectrum—not just particular slices under the control of Verizon and AT&T.  ...
“If you're a carrier that has only 1 million subscribers, you can't buy a handset that's uniquely designed for your 700 MHz band spectrum that's anywhere near cost-competitive to that of a Verizon or AT&T,” Steven Berry, president and chief executive officer of the Rural Cellular Association, told Bloomberg BNA in a phone interview. “This world is all about scale.”
“Once my customer leaves my network and tries to go to another, they can't roam because it's technologically impossible.”Ben Moncrief C Spire Wireless Some manufacturers have declined requests to build phones and network equipment for C Spire Wireless, Cavalier Telephone, and U.S. Cellular, among others, for precisely this reason. If a manufacturer cannot sell 65 million to 80 million units globally, Berry noted, “they're just not making money.”

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON APPLICATIONS AND WAIVER REQUEST FILED BY THE STATE OF MAINE FOR 160 MHZ BAND RAILROAD FREQUENCIES. (DA No. 12-74). Comments Due: 02/13/2012. Reply Comments Due: 02/23/2012. PSHSB . Contact: Brian Marenco at (202) 418-0838 or email: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-12-74A1.pdf

Wireless outage left some bus crash responders in the dark

by KIM BRIGGEMAN of the Missoulian missoulian.com | Posted: Thursday, January 12, 2012 6:15 am

Even as a Rimrock Stages bus went careening out of control on icy Interstate 90 east of Missoula on Sunday morning, Verizon Wireless engineers were scrambling to restore statewide service.

A switch in Helena that manages all voice and data traffic on the Verizon system failed around 1 a.m. as engineers performed routine software upgrades. Customers in Montana and parts of northern Wyoming were without service until 7:30 a.m., according to Verizon Wireless spokesman Bob Kelley in Denver.

The bus wreck west of Clinton that killed two and sent dozens to Missoula hospitals occurred at roughly 7:15 a.m.

"That sucked," said Don Whalen, regional manager of Missoula Emergency Services Inc., which staffed and sent seven ambulance crews to the scene. "That's how we get hold of a lot of our people. Everybody got rid of their home phones and all they have is their cellphones." ...

FCC Approves LMCC Proposal for UHF Non-Standard Frequency Pairs

LAND MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL. Accepted Land Mobile Communications Council's proposed procedures and conditions for handling applications seeking non-standard frequency pairs in the 450-470 MHz Band. Action by: Chief, Policy Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and the Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau by LETTER. (DA No. 12-10). WTB PSHSB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-12-10A1.pdf

Spectrum dropped from payroll tax deal

By Brendan Sasso - 12/17/11 11:01 AM ET

The Senate bill to extend the payroll tax holiday does not include spectrum provisions that were in the House GOP version of the legislation.

The Senate approved the package on Saturday morning in an 89-10 vote, and it now awaits approval in the House. ...

Public Safety Alliance Welcomes House D Block Allocation & Funding Gravely Concerned with Narrowband Giveback & Governance Provisions

APCO International on December 14, 2011

in Industry, News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 14, 1011 – The Public Safety Alliance (PSA) today expressed its appreciation for the full House's vote of support for D Block spectrum allocation to public safety and funding for the Public Safety Broadband Network, but warned of an ominous storm cloud on the horizon as our nation's first responders, who put their lives on the line everyday, learn more about the full extent of the other provisions in the bill that gives with one hand and takes away with the other to make H.R. 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011 disastrous for public safety's goal for nationwide interoperable emergency communications.

San Jose Exists Controversial BayWEB 700 MHz Stimulus Project
The interoperable regional 700 MHz LTE public safety broadband network was planned to serve scores of municipalities and counties in the greater Bay Area of ...

House subcommittee advances spectrum bill
CNET (blog)
Public safety groups have asked Congress to give them the D block to build a nationwide interoperable public safety network. But some Republican lawmakers, including Walden, previously opposed this action. Instead, they wanted the spectrum to be sold ...

Fact Sheet on the Wireless Innovation and Public Safety Act of 2011

• Reallocates the D Block spectrum for public safety use
• Encourages sharing of public safety network spectrum and infrastructure by promoting spectrum and network sharing opportunities as part of negotiated public-private partnerships
• Requires a reasonable transition to the flexible and more efficient use of 700 MHz narrowband spectrum.
• Ensure the availability of devices capable of operating in the public safety broadband spectrum
• Establish a private, non-profit entity, the Public Safety Broadband Corporation, as the national governance vehicle
• Based upon a single, national network architecture that evolves with technological advancements.
• Subject to an open competitive bidding process designed to ensure that multiple equipment and technology vendors
• Maximizing use of the network infrastructure and expertise of commercial mobile data service providers and ensuring reliance upon open commercial standards
• Provides robust mechanisms for state and local public safety input
• Establishes a Public Safety Trust Fund to disburse funds from the auctions

Jumpstarting Opportunity with Broadband Spectrum

The Hill

By Rep. Greg Walden - 11/29/11 11:34 AM ET

In return, the bill requires public safety to transfer over time to commercial use its narrow-band spectrum in the 700 MHz block so it can be used to create ...

Complete P25 SDR Waveform Ported to Android(TM) with ORBexpress(R)

WASHINGTON, Nov 29, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Objective Interface Systems, Inc. (OIS) today announced that Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) ported a complete APCO P25 waveform and Software Communications Architecture (SCA) radio system to a small form factor Android device in just one day with zero source code modifications using the ORBexpress communications software. This port by CRC of the P25 waveform to an Android device realizes the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program initiative to facilitate the migration of software-defined radios (SDRs) to smaller, commercial form factors to enable faster time to market and substantially lower development costs. ...

House subcommittee schedules spectrum bill markup
The Hill
"This legislation will create thousands of jobs, establish an interoperable public safety network, and reduce the deficit," he said. ...

IMPLEMENTING A NATIONWIDE, BROADBAND, INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY NETWORK IN THE 700 MHZ BAND.

Approved the Public Safety Spectrum Trust's second-year budget proposal to the extent indicated. (Dkt No. 06-229 ). Action by: Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. Adopted: 11/18/2011 by ORDER. (DA No. 11-1918). PSHSB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1918A1.pdf

DHS Bill Contains Call for D Block Allocation

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/14/2011 5:15:28 PM

A Department of Homeland Security authorization bill that passed out of the House Homeland Security Committee Thursday included an amendment calling for allocating D block spectrum for public safety, but it did not have the force of law according to a copy of the legislation. ...

Android PTT P25 App

Harris Corp.'s BeOn P25 Radio App lets officers use their Android phones as push-to-talk (PTT) Project 25 radio police radios ...

Huawei banned from building public-safety LTE networks
FierceBroadbandWireless
The US Commerce Department declared that China's Huawei won't be allowed to build LTE networks for the public safety community because of concerns over national security. Huawei "will not be taking part in the building of America's interoperable ...

City of Charlotte Selects Alcatel-Lucent to Deploy Public Safety ...
DigitalJournal.com
... a contract with Alcatel-Lucent to deploy a Long Term Evolution (LTE) Public Safety Network in the dedicated Public Safety 700 MHz frequency spectrum. ...

LTE standards body considers study on public-safety direct mode

By Donny Jackson

Currently, the LTE standard requires that all traffic be transmitted over the network and does not support packets being transmitted directly between users. The study proposal is designed to address this technology "gap" in the LTE standard to make it more attractive for public-safety and social-networking applications, according to Andrew Thiessen, lead electrical engineer for the Institute of Telecommunications Sciences (ITS) and technology committee vice chairman for the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC).  ...

Charlotte inks deal with Alcatel-Lucent on LTE network

By Donny Jackson

Yesterday's decision marks the first public-safety LTE win for Alcatel-Lucent. Perhaps more significantly, the deal is the first public-safety LTE contract that calls for the vendor to provide LTE core services via a hosted model. ...

Michigan Seeks to Share 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband
The State of Michigan filed a request for waiver from the FCC to allow for construction and deployment of a 700 MHz public safety interoperable broadband ...

New Testing Report Proves Need for 20 MHz -
Public Safety Alliance
As has been previously stated, public safety has a "window of opportunity" in which to construct a dedicated, nationwide and interoperable public safety ...

Rockefeller praises public safety network in Obama jobs bill

By Brendan Sasso - 09/12/11 04:51 PM ET

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, on Monday praised the inclusion of a public safety broadband network in President Obama's jobs bill

"I am pleased to see that President Obama's jobs plan includes proposals to invest in the wireless economy and provide first responders with the communications tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively," Rockefeller said in a statement.  "Investment in this sector can create hundreds of thousands of jobs, help first responders and generate billions of dollars for deficit reduction. It's a win-win-win proposal. And I look forward to working with my colleagues to make this happen."  ...

9/11 Safety Update: Why First Responder Communications Hasn't Improved In 10 Years

Andrew Seybold, Contributor

Inadequate communication systems costs lives.

Here it is 10 years after the attacks on 9/11 and first responders still cannot communicate with each other during disasters. The lack of interoperability in communications came to the public's attention during 9/11 and also during Katrina. It cost lives, not only the lives of citizens but the lives of a number of first responders, as well. The papers were full of the details of this lack of communications capability, and the 9/11 Commission cited correction of this defect as one of its major recommendations. '''

Tenth Anniversary Report Card: The Status of the 9/11 Commission Recommendations

Radio Spectrum and Interoperability Recommendation: "Congress should support pending legislation which provides for the expedited and increased assignment of radio spectrum for public safety purposes."

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FILES ANTITRUST LAWSUIT TO BLOCK
AT&T'S ACQUISITION OF T-MOBILE

Transaction Would Reduce Competition in Mobile Wireless Telecommunications Services, Resulting in Higher Prices, Poorer Quality Services, Fewer Choices and Fewer Innovative Products for Millions of American Consumers ...

Mission-Critical Voice and LTE: Be Careful!

08.26.2011 by Andrew M. Seybold

Do not ignore continued investment in existing mission-critical analog and P25 voice systems because you believe voice over LTE broadband that is mission-critical is just around the corner. Many elected officials in federal, state, and local agencies seem to believe this so continued investment in existing channelized voice systems is not needed. While a lot of progress is being made in the world of broadband voice, it will be sometime in the future (undefined) before all of the pieces and parts of mission-critical voice as defined by NPSTC (soon be to published) are included in LTE. Even then there may be limitations that will hinder the Public Safety community or require some changes to how voice systems are used today. ...

Harris Corporation Awarded Million Contract by the Oregon ...
... overall system coverage and support interoperable public safety communications ... In public safety and professional communications Harris is a leading ...

LA-RICS Procurement Process Starts Over

MissionCritical ...

Los Angeles County won $154.6 million in Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) funds to build LA-SafetyNet, a 700 MHz public-safety broadband ...

FCC signs spectrum-sharing agreements with Canada, Mexico
Telecompaper
These actions will support commercial broadband services and public safety voice communications. The technical sharing principles reached on the 700 MHz ...

D Block removed from debt-ceiling proposal
Urgent Communications
Reallocation of the 700 MHz D Block to public safety and other spectrum-policy matters are not part of the debt-ceiling compromise that Congress and the ...

No excuses for LA County's emergency communications fiasco
Los Angeles Times
If they hold true to form, the system would indeed be interoperable as long as everybody buys new Motorola equipment. This means that all other competitors would be locked out of selling products for users in the greater LA public safety network. ...

L.A. County starting over on emergency communications system

Hundreds of millions in federal funds are at risk and years of planning are scrapped over concerns that the project's nearly completed contract violates state rules on how it must be structured and awarded.  ...

700-MHz LTE Carrier Compatibility

07.21.2011 by Andrew M. Seybold

...The reason most smartphones and perhaps even dongles and tablets won't be able to make use of LTE on both AT&T and Verizon networks has nothing to do with the LTE standard. Both companies are deploying LTE that meets the 3GPP specifications although there may be some differences in the options implemented by these companies, theoretically a device should be able to be used on either network. ...

700 MHz Public Safety Service: Being a Governmental Entity Is Just Not Enough

FCC declares that government users must show that their proposed uses of spectrum qualify as "public safety service"

The FCC has issued a declaratory ruling clarifying eligible uses of broadband public safety frequencies in the 700 MHz band. For the time being, it has focused only on which governmental agencies may use the spectrum, reserving until later the question of whether other entities may also participate. ...

Verizon 4G LTE Phones to Be Incompatible with AT&T's LTE Network
Gotta Be Mobile
... that the mobile broadband standard is promising: the lack of roaming options. ... "Verizon and AT&T both run their LTE networks in the 700-MHz band. ...