Month: January 2016

S&T Snapshot: S&T’s POINTER System More Precisely Pinpoints First Responder Locations

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When firefighters rush into a burning building, it is imperative that they and their operations team know their precise locations at all times. Even with global positioning systems (GPS) and other tracking technologies, environmental conditions, obstructions and interference from the building materials can severely limit pinpointing them. In the event of an injury, search teams rely on communications systems to rescue these first responders. The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is developing a new system, known as the Precision Outdoor and Indoor Navigation and Tracking for Emergency Responders (POINTER) to help tackle this challenge.

“This technology is critical to ensuring the safety of our first responders. In the event that they lose communication with their command unit, we will be able to pinpoint locations as close as three feet,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Science and Technology Dr. Robert Griffin, a former firefighter. “Besides assisting the first responder community, we could use this technology for a variety of response capabilities, such as a mine collapse to pinpoint the exact location of trapped individuals.”

Interested in learning more? Read the full Snapshot Story. Do you have any questions about the publication? Please e-mail st.snapshots@hq.dhs.gov

Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, December 30, 205

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This is the last Public Safety Advocate for 2015, and as required by the writers’ union, I must write about what transpired in 2015. Failure to do so would result in my being driven from the union in disgrace! For FirstNet, 2015 turned out to be a very good year. Much was accomplished, the C-level staff went from acting to full time, many states, territories, and tribal nations were visited by FirstNet staff members to work on what states need to do to prepare and what FirstNet needs to do to help convince states to opt into the FirstNet network instead of trying to go it alone. The first draft RFP was released by FirstNet as promised, a Q and A period was provided, as was a deadline for filing comments. The comments were reviewed, digested, dissected, and absorbed by FirstNet and according to FirstNet, many mid-course corrections were applied. We have been promised that when the final RFP is released in early January of 2016 it will be a much different document from the original draft, which frankly read more like a procurement document than a request for partnership.

We will have to see once it is delivered and keep in mind that FirstNet has also stated that additional course corrections might be possible even after the final document is released. Some in both the vendor community and within the Public Safety community are, and continue to be, disappointed that three years after FirstNet was created there is still no partner and no real work is being done to build the network. FirstNet is well aware of the need to move forward but in fairness, it is trending on new ground with many of the delays being caused by the federal government bureaucracy behind FirstNet.

If this had been a commercial enterprise, the network would be up and running at least in the top 50 markets by now, but it will come, and once the partner is chosen things should begin to move forward rapidly. The reason I believe it will move more quickly is that the chosen partner will have committed to a multibillion dollar investment to build out the network and its return on that investment will only begin once the network is up and running and producing FirstNet and secondary user revenue.

There were also downsides to 2015. First, those who have never used push-to-talk services in their lives continue to extoll the virtues of Mission-Critical PTT over LTE, and continue to try to convince elected officials they do not need to continue to spend money on their existing LMR systems. This is a very dangerous game to play since today LTE, in and of itself, cannot be considered as mission-critical as today’s LMR systems. LTE by nature of its architecture and its reliance on being connected to the Evolved Packet Core all of the time cannot be compared to LMR networks that have multiple layers of graceful degradation. Further, the 3GPP mission-critical PTT standard has not been released and has not been vetted by the Public Safety community. Slow down folks!

Also on the negative side of the ledger were the vendors that, even after FirstNet made it clear that states opting out cannot simply collect the secondary income for network usage in that state, continued to try to con states into believing they could magically change the law and make it happen. It reached a point in December where one state actually issued an RFP for its own FirstNet system to be purchased and built prior even to FirstNet providing that state with the FirstNet design and plan for the state’s review. Lessons we should have learned in 2015 when it comes to FirstNet and broadband wireless data include the fact that a city, county, state, or federal entity cannot simply show up at a location with a backhoe, some concrete, and a tower and expect to be met with open arms.

As in the commercial world, advance planning, advance notification, and working with the community is a must when it comes to putting in new towers, even if they are for use by Public Safety. We should have also learned that voice communications is the most important part of Public Safety communications now and well into the future. Voice needs to be used primarily on LMR Public Safety channels and perhaps experimented with over LTE. The broadband network is for broadband services: data and video. Perhaps someday it will be robust enough to replace LMR, but not for a very long time.

Finally, hats off and a big thanks to the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC). These two organizations made up of all volunteers have done a tremendous amount of work that is benefiting FirstNet and the entire Public Safety community. And thanks to all of our subscribers. Our list has grown by more than 30 percent this year, and the input and feedback we receive from many of you is welcome and keeps us on our toes! A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR TO ALL! Andy Continue reading →

San Diego Union Tribune Reports: SD spending $4.5M for new police dispatch system; officials say replacement badly needed for reliability by David Garrick

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San Diego police are spending $4.5 million to replace their outdated and unreliable dispatch system with a modern version that connects better to mobile computer terminals used by officers on patrol. Police Department officials say their 24-year-old dispatch system doesn’t meet industry standards, is prone to failure and is difficult to repair because of antiquated programming language.

Read complete article here: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/dec/28/police-dispatch-new-system-intergraph/

 

 

Google, Microsoft Urge FCC to Rethink Channel 37 Limits in ‘White Spaces’ Order

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Google, Inc., and Microsoft Corp. have each asked the FCC to reconsider aspects of its new rules for part 15 white space devices, with both raising concerns about rules governing channel 37 and Google raising additional concerns about requiring databases to “push” channel-availability information to unlicensed devices. Both companies said they supported most aspects of the FCC’s order and commended the Commission for promoting wireless broadband while protecting incumbent licensees from harmful interference.

But in a petition for reconsideration filed in ET docket 14-165 and GN docket 12-268, Google urged the FCC to reconsider and clarify the purpose and timeline for Channel 37 test deployments, including setting a target date for nationwide rollout of unlicensed operations in Channel 37. The FCC’s “highly conservative operating rules” for unlicensed devices operating in Channel 37 will “more than adequately protect Wireless Medical Telemetry Service incumbents” and created a waiver process by which WMTS operators “might as much as triple the applicable separation distance for white space devices,” Google recalled.  Continue reading →

NENA Urges FCC to Protect SMS

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The National Emergency Number Association says the FCC should ensure that however it rules on Twilio, Inc.’s petition for declaratory ruling concerning mobile messaging services, it “should carefully and cautiously protect the viability of the SMS platform.”

In reply comments filed in WT docket 08-7, NENA urged the FCC “to avoid an overly-restrictive approach should it grant Twilio’s petition. NENA is convinced that these concerns could be addressed by the Commission under either the current regulatory regime of no-classification, or the alternate regime proposed by Twilio.” In its petition, Twilio asked the FCC to rule that mobile messaging services are telecom services subject to regulation under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act, as amended. NENA also said that it “is concerned that unconstrained ‘spamming’ of SMS users could lead to significant platform viability issues over the medium to long term.”

Courtesy TRDaily

Parties Discus 700 MHz Documents

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The Competitive Carriers Association and T-Mobile US, Inc., recently discussed with representatives of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau the need to protect confidential information submitted related to the 700 megahertz interim benchmark documentation requirements.

“CCA and T-Mobile discussed the benefits and challenges of submitting electronic maps, including whether carriers currently use shapefiles in other reporting requirements,” according to an ex parte filing yesterday in WT docket 12-69 reporting on a call with the FCC officials.

“T-Mobile emphasized that shapefiles are submitted for Form 477 data for specific information and carriers are permitted to request that information remain confidential. Similar to Form 477, CCA and T-Mobile recommended the Division adopt universal procedures to safeguard confidential or proprietary information that may be included in new shapefile submissions to reduce burdens on filers.”

Courtesy TRDaily

FirstNet Launches 2016 Consultation

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The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) has taken the first step toward its 2016 consultation activities with the 56 states and territories by sending planning packages to the single points of contact (SPOCs). “The package provides an overview of our consultation approach and includes a number of tools to assist the SPOCs with preparing for consultation, including a checklist and proposed agenda to help organize their kick-off meetings, as well as suggestions for executive-level consultation in their states and territories,” Dave Buchanan, FirstNet’s director-consultation, said in a blog posting.

“As we discussed at the October SPOC meeting, the November SPOC webinar, and the December Board meetings, FirstNet has developed three goals to guide our consultation activities next year.  They include: (1) expanding outreach and education with state/territory, tribal, local, and public safety entities, (2) obtaining state and territory input to inform State Plans and network deployment policies, processes, and procedures, and (3) preparing key decision makers for State Plan delivery and network deployment,” Mr. Buchanan added.

“Overall, we have designed this consultation program to give the states and territories both the opportunity and the flexibility to provide input into the State Plan process,” he said. “We are extremely pleased with how the initial consultation process worked in 2014 and 2015 and are looking forward to our ongoing consultation efforts with the states and territories in 2016 and beyond.”

FirstNet plans to release its request for proposals (RFPs) early next month and get responses in the May timeframe. Review of the proposals is then expected to take the balance of 2016, and officials have said that state plans will be ready beginning in 2017. – Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily