Month: April 2016

Inmate Calling Case Panel, Briefing Schedule Set

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has set the pleading cycle in challenges to FCC’s second report and order on inmate calling services (ICS) and designated Circuit Judges David S. Tatel, Janice Rogers Brown, and Cornelia T.L. Pillard to hear the case.  Initial briefs from ICS providers and state and local government petitioners and intervenors in “Global Tel*Link  v. FCC” (consolidated cases beginning at 15-1461) will be due June 6, according to the order setting the briefing format and schedule that the court released today.  The FCC’s brief will be due Aug. 5.  Final briefs in the case will be due Oct. 5.

Courtesy TRDaily

 

Poth Stresses Need for FirstNet to Reinvest in Safety Network

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First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Chief Executive Officer Mike Poth today stressed in a blog posting that FirstNet is obligated under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to continue to use funds to reinvest in the nationwide public safety network and support public safety communications advancements. Under FirstNet’s request for proposal (RFP), at least $5.625 billion in payments would have to be made to FirstNet by its partner over the 25-year contract. Multiple questions submitted to FirstNet in response to the RFP asked about FirstNet’s use of those funds. Some questions tried to elicit information about what FirstNet plans to do with the money. The answers to how the money would be spent were not very specific. Continue reading →

NATOA and IACP Release National SWAT Study

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Monday, April 18, 2016 11:33–The National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) recently concluded a national research study assessing critical trends and issues related to Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team activities in the United States.  The NTOA and IACP collected information about law enforcement teams composed of specially selected, trained and equipped personnel who are deployed/activated to resolve high-risk incidents. The goal of the National SWAT Study was to obtain evidence-based statistics on SWAT operations and to inform the field and the public about the true nature of SWAT practices.

The National SWAT Study report reveals survey results on the composition of SWAT teams, protocols, practices, training procedures, community relations, deployment decisions, outcomes and incident reporting. From the data collected, from 2009 through 2013, the most common incident involving the activation of a SWAT team was a high-risk warrant service. In 2013, more than 60 percent of the 254 reporting agencies had their own SWAT team and more than half reported their SWAT team included paramedics. Agencies that activated their SWAT team indicated they were eight times more likely to use less-lethal solutions than lethal force and almost all of the agencies reported that an after-action report is completed after every SWAT deployment.

The data collected from the National SWAT Study has significant value to the law enforcement field and will contribute to a better understanding of the purpose, structure and operations of SWAT practices across the country. To view a copy of the report, visit http://ntoa.org/pdf/swatstudy.pdf

About the International Association of Chiefs of Police: The International Association of Chiefs of Police is the world’s largest association of law enforcement executives. With over 26,000 members in more than 130 countries, the IACP serves as the professional voice of law enforcement. The IACP addresses cutting edge issues confronting law enforcement through advocacy, education, outreach and programs. IACP is a professional organization that supports the law enforcement leaders of today and develops the leaders of tomorrow.

About the National Tactical Officers Association: The mission of the NTOA is to enhance the performance and professional status of law enforcement personnel by providing a credible and proven training resource as well as a forum for the development of tactics and information exchange. The association’s ultimate goal is to improve public safety and domestic security through training, education and tactical excellence. For more information on the National Tactical Officers Association, visit www.ntoa.org or call 800-279-9127. Join the NTOA today and start receiving the benefits of better training and stay on top of the ever-changing and challenging world of law enforcement.

 

First Responder Network Authority Weekly Update to the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC), April 18, 2016

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FirstNet News

Last week, FirstNet hosted its third in-person state/territory single point of contact (SPOC) meeting in McLean, Virginia, with over 175 attendees representing 55 states and territories, the PSAC Executive Committee (EC) and Tribal Working Group (TWG), and federal agencies. The SPOC meeting was a productive two days filled with valuable information exchange, questions, and conversations. Participants heard updates on the FirstNet Roadmap and RFP, gained clarity on the post-award State Plans development and delivery process, and heard the latest on FirstNet’s outreach and consultation efforts across states and territories, tribal nations, and federal agencies and with the PSAC. The meeting also launched the Consultation Task Team (CTT) effort around Quality of Service, Priority, and Preemption (QPP) and gave participants a chance to hear from FirstNet’s partners at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Public Safety Communications Research program (PSCR). FirstNet’s technical team led several sessions on FirstNet’s current vision for applications, devices, public safety grade end-to-end architecture, and cybersecurity. The SPOC meeting materials were disseminated to attendees earlier today via email. In terms of next steps, the FirstNet Regional Leads are now scheduling governing body meetings with the states and territories to further understand individual states’/territories’ priorities and any concerns regarding State Plans, and identify the individuals within the state/territory that need to be involved in the State plan review process.

The TWG held an all-day meeting on April 14 immediately following the SPOC meeting with eight TWG members, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) leadership, the PSAC chair, and FirstNet staff. The meeting provided an opportunity for the TWG, now under the leadership of a new chair, to regroup and reflect on their efforts to date, identify priorities for the coming year, and obtain clarity from FirstNet on various topics. The group discussed critical issues impacting FirstNet efforts in Indian Country, such as sovereignty, consultation, and tribal engagement moving forward. The TWG will meet again via conference call May 3 with FirstNet staff to further discuss priorities for the year. Continue reading →

LMCC Board Announcement

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The Land Mobile Communications Council has announced the following officer-elections for its board of directors for 2016-2017:  as president, Farokh Latif of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International; as vice president, Michele Farquhar of the Association of American Railroads; and as secretary/treasurer, Mark Crosby of the Enterprise Wireless Alliance.  Elected to the board as at-large members were  Jim Goldstein of the International Association of Fire Chiefs; Ralph Haller of the Forestry Conservation Communications Association; and David Smith of Forest Industries Telecommunications.

 

Entities Propose Questions for FCC’s 5.9 GHz Sharing Public Notice

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April 15, 2016–The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the Association of Global Automakers, Denso International America, Inc., and Cisco Systems, Inc., have proposed some questions the FCC should ask as it seeks to refresh its record on 5.9 gigahertz spectrum sharing between connected-vehicle and Wi-Fi applications.

The FCC is expected to issue a public notice soon to refresh its record ahead of planning testing. In an ex parte filing yesterday in ET docket 13-49, the entities said the FCC should ask questions about dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) application development and deployment and a proposed 5.9 GHz band rechannelization proposal.

The filing said that at a March 23 meeting organized by the FCC, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the auto entities and Cisco “made clear that most developed and envisioned 5.9 GHz DSRC applications – not just the basic safety message (‘BSM’) application that is exclusive to DSRC Channel 172 – are safety applications requiring strong and reliable interference protection. Contrary to the suggestion of some parties in the proceeding, the FCC’s DSRC framework recognizes three classes of DSRC service: (1) safety-of-life service; (2) public safety service; and (3) non-public safety service.” – Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily

 

 

FirstNet Order Among Slew of Items Circulated to FCC Commissioners

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April, 15, 2016–A draft order that would address a First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) request that the Commission condition licenses or other authorizations to use 700 megahertz Band 14 “upon the requirement that no operation on Band 14 be permitted without the express consent of FirstNet after July 31, 2017” (TRDaily, Oct. 22, 2015) was circulated to FCC Commissioners April 13, according to the agency’s weekly list of circulated items and an agency source.

A companion further notice of proposed rulemaking concerning how the FCC should exercise its statutory responsibility to address state opt-out requests is part of the item, the source said.

The FirstNet item was among eight items circulated to Commissioners since April 8, most of which originated in the Wireless Telecommunications or Public Safety and Homeland Security bureaus. FCC sources provided details to TRDaily on most of the items.

A notice of proposed rulemaking circulated April 11 proposes to amend part 90 of the Commission’s rules to expand access to private land mobile radio (PLMR) spectrum.  The item addresses proposals in two rulemaking petitions filed by the Land Mobile Communications Council and proposals of the FCC’s to codify recent waivers.

A memorandum opinion and order circulated April 8 addresses an application for review filed by Avista Corp. that objected to approval of an AMTS (automated maritime telecommunications system) licensee’s proposal to add transmitter sites in the vicinity of a TV station.

An NPRM circulated April 8 proposes to eliminate section 20.9 of the agency’s rules dealing with the CMRS presumption. A report and order circulated April 8 updates the FCC’s rules to provide for new or improved kinds of maritime safety equipment.

An item circulated April 8 in ET docket 10-236 involves promoting expanded opportunities for radio experimentation and market trials under part 5 of the rules and streamlining other rules. The item is part of the FCC’s process reform initiative.

An NPRM circulated April 8 seeks to amend part 97 of the rules governing amateur operators to permit greater flexibility in data communications.

Circulated today was an item dealing with a revision of the FCC’s rules to establish service by e-mail for petitioners seeking to invoke the judicial lottery procedures. – Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

FirstNet Seeks Board Members

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The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) is seeking expressions of interest from individuals who want to serve on its board. “Four of the 12 appointments of nonpermanent members to the FirstNet Board expire in August 2016,” it noted. “Expressions of interest will be accepted until May 20, 2016.”

Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, April 15, 2016

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Each week as I sit down to write this post for the end-of-the-week email blast, I first review the happenings of the week and emails I received about previous posts. Sometimes these emails thank me for my comments, sometimes there are comments that I got something wrong or don’t understand the issue well enough, and sometimes I am called a curmudgeon, which is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as: “a person (especially an old man) who is easily annoyed or angered and who often complains.” I would rather think of myself as a realist who asks questions and tries to come up with answers. Perhaps my blog title, “Tell It Like It Is,” explains who I am or maybe I should have been born in Missouri, the “show me” state. I do tend to get annoyed easily but usually that annoyance has to do with those who talk about what the Public Safety community needs when they have never worn a badge, put on a turnout coat, or saved the life of a patient in the back of an EMS rig. (Yes, I have done these things.)

One of the things I recently reacted to was the crowning of Mission-Critical Push-to-Talk as a killer application for FirstNet’s broadband network when in fact it has yet to be deployed on a network that has yet to be built. This seems to be wishful thinking. My answer is that yes, PTT over a truly Mission-Critical LTE network could in fact become one of the killer applications for FirstNet. But ONLY after those in charge of the folks in the field whose lives sometimes depend on voice communications agree that PTT over FirstNet is an application, a technology, or whatever you want to call it, that they will trust their people’s lives to, and not before. By now we all know that FirstNet has extended the due date for the FirstNet partner RFP response until the end of May, basically adding another two weeks to the two weeks it was already extended. I believe this is a good move on the part of FirstNet.

I have said before that this is a complex bid, with many moving parts and many ways in which a responding company or consortium of companies can consider the requirements and propose solutions that will achieve the basic goals perhaps in ways that have not yet been considered. No bidder wants to submit a half-baked response simply because it doesn’t have enough time to review what it is proposing and poke holes in it prior to the submission date. I believe this additional two weeks probably won’t result in more responses but in better responses that will then be easier to evaluate. This is the middle of April, which means the RFP response due date is only six weeks away. In the scheme of things and considering how slowly government projects normally unfold, these extra weeks won’t be noticed in the long run. Granted, we won’t know anything for a long time I am sure but at least the next phase of the process will be underway. FirstNet’s goal is still to choose the winning partner prior to the end of 2016 so that the real work can begin in 2017. (February 2017 is five years after the law that created FirstNet was passed.)

The Upcoming Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Public Safety Stakeholder meeting to be held in San Diego in early June should be very interesting. Not only for the always-good information that comes out of this event but also because it will be held only a short while after the RFP responses have been submitted. While I don’t expect any comments from FirstNet about who bid, I do expect some comments, and probably some rumors, about who bid and what it will mean to the Public Safety community. I have already made my reservations for this event and hope to see you there, too. For more information please see: http://www.pscr.gov/about/highlights/psbb_062016/ And finally from our friends at inside towers, a very good article about FirstNet’s Keynote at the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA) spring event: https://insidetowers.com/category/featured-story/ Andrew M Seybold Continue reading →

Urgent Comms Reports: Fire Code Proposals Call for In-Building Coverage for Public Safety

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Apr 11, 2016 Donny Jackson | Urgent Communications

Several fire-code proposals designed to support in-building LMR and LTE coverage for public-safety users recently received favorable recommendations in preparation for Fire Code Hearing Committee meeting, which will be conducted April 17-19 in Louisville.  Read more here: http://urgentcomm.com/legislation/fire-code-proposals-call-building-coverage-public-safety

 

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