Emergency Management has published several articles about the movement toward a next-generation 911 (NG911) system based on modern Internet protocols that will allow responders to take advantage of capabilities such as text and video messaging. But accompanying all these important benefits of the switch from analog to digital, one challenge looms large: the increased risk of cyberattacks on 911 call centers once they are connected to so many devices and other networks. Increased Connectivity Brings Cybersecurity Threats to 911 Call Centers
Month: November 2016
NTIA Report on Additional Bands Expected Soon
November 1, 2016–The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is expected to release “really soon” a report on quantitative assessments conducted with federal agencies on their use of various spectrum bands, an NTIA official said today. The assessment will help NTIA decide which bands to study in a more detailed fashion. NTIA’s assessment involves five bands with 960 megahertz of spectrum.
During a spectrum session this afternoon at the 2016 Winnik International Telecoms and Internet Forum, Derek Khlopin, senior adviser-spectrum to NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling, said the report has gotten all the necessary clearance, although he said he doesn’t know specifically when it will be released. NTIA officials have predicted in the past that the report would be released soon.
For example, Paige Atkins, NTIA’s associate administrator-Office of Spectrum Management, said in February that the report would be released “within a couple months” (TRDaily, Feb. 17), and NTIA Chief of Staff Glenn Reynolds said in June that it would be released “relatively soon” (TRDaily, May 16).
Mr. Khlopin also said today he can’t offer any information on when a joint public notice would be issued by NTIA and the FCC to solicit proposals for implementation of a “model city” program to spur spectrum sharing. In February, Ms. Atkins said the public notice would be released by the end of March, while Mr. Reynolds said in May that it would likely come out “relatively soon.” Continue reading
Panelists Question ‘Incentives’ for IoT Security Development
November 1, 2016–The development of robust security for Internet of things devices and the networks that connect them may be impacted by misaligned incentives between IoT device makers and owners, panelists at the 2016 Winnik International Telecoms and Internet Forum said today. Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, noted during a panel discussion that IoT camera devices hijacked by botnet operators and used to perpetrate distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks launched last (TRDaily, Oct. 21) against Dyn – a firm that provides domain name systems hosting – remained operational for their owners despite being used by botnets to conduct the attacks. Likewise, he said, it did not appear that Internet service providers were harmed by the attacks.
In light of that, “we have to figure out how to incentivize” device owners and service providers to cooperate more fully on improving IoT security and “align the incentives” of all parties, he said. Noting estimates that the number of IoT devices will grow to 50 billion worldwide by 2020 – from an estimate of about 500 million devices 13 years ago – Mr. LeBlanc said that even though IoT security improvements can be expected as the technology proliferates, “the challenge is the 500 million devices that we had 13 years ago are still out there” with substandard security protections. Continue reading
OEC Outreach Clips: Morgan O’Brien reflects on dismissed bid for nationwide FirstNet contract, potential for public safety, Source Urgent Communications
On November 9th, around dawn in most cases, thousands of candidate hopefuls will wake up to the grim realization that their hopes, dreams, and considerable investments of time, energy and resources will have all been for naught: they lost! Boy, can I sympathize. Earlier this month, my colleagues, partners, supporters and I were dropped by FirstNet from the selection process that had been a monster part of our lives since early this year. We are Code3 Broadband, and we put the very best of ourselves into the pursuit of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a network to serve public safety. But we lost! Morgan O’Brien reflects on dismissed bid for nationwide FirstNet contract, potential for public safety
OEC Outreach Clips: Arizona changes deadline for public-safety LTE proposals to Nov. 30, Source Urgent Communications – AZ
Arizona postponed until Nov. 30 the deadline for vendors to submit bids for the state’s request for proposals (RFP) to build a public-safety LTE radio access network (RAN), and another postponement is a “very good possibility,” if FirstNet has not announced its nationwide award by late November, according to a state official. When Arizona released the RFP, the vendor submission deadline originally was scheduled to be today. Vendors were informed during the Oct. 20 pre-bid meeting that the deadline would be extended, and the Nov. 30 date was set last week, according to Timothy Chung, an assistant director for the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Arizona is the second state—joining Alabama—to postpone its public-safety LTE procurement process in the wake of Rivada Networks announcing that it would not bid on state RFPs until after FirstNet makes its decision on a nationwide contractor. Arizona changes deadline for public-safety LTE proposals to Nov. 30
Civil Liberties Groups Urge Supreme Court To Back Warrants for Cell Location Data
October 28, 2016– Five civil liberties groups today filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that warrants are needed under the Fourth Amendment before law enforcement authorities can gain access to cellphone location data.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Brennan Center for Justice, the Center for Democracy & Technology, the Constitution Project, and the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms urged the Supreme Court to grant cert in two cases, “U.S. v. Carpenter” from the Sixth Circuit (Cincinnati) and “U.S. v. Graham” from the Fourth Circuit (Richmond) in which the courts ruled that law enforcement officers don’t need warrants to get cell-site location information (CSLI). Criminal defendants were convicted after police used that information, which was obtained without warrants.
“The dramatic increase in the number of cell phones and cell sites and the amount of detailed, sensitive location data they generate, combined with the quantity and extent of law enforcement demands for this data, show that it is time for this Court to address the Fourth Amendment privacy implications of CSLI,” the groups said in their brief. “The fact that judges within the federal and state court systems are in stark disagreement regarding whether a warrant is required to obtain this data only underscores this point.” Continue reading
FirstNet Weekly Update to the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) – October 31, 2016
FirstNet News
FirstNet has completed 45 State Governance Body Consultation Meetings with a Virginia meeting last week. On Tuesday, FirstNet presented to the Virginia Statewide Interoperable Executive Committee (SIEC) in Roanoke. Much of the group dialogue was high-level and regarded network deployment, the Governor’s opt-in/opt-out decision, and potential for including IT personnel in outreach efforts.
Last Monday, FirstNet briefed over 100 local leaders at the first ‘9-1-1 Goes to Lincoln’ event in Lincoln, Nebraska. In addition to FirstNet sharing how the data submitted by the state would be used in State Plan development, there was a discussion about the process for review of the FirstNet plan in Nebraska. Also, a panel of state representatives discussed FirstNet, current planning for Next Gen 9-1-1, the state radio system, and a microwave system in place throughout the state.
On Thursday, FirstNet attended the National Association of State 9-1-1 Administrators (NASNA) annual meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. FirstNet provided programmatic, outreach, and engagement updates, and discussed current activities with the 9-1-1 community. The ensuing discussion focused on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking concerning the opt-out process and how state 9-1-1 administrators can help with the State Plans process.
Also last week, FirstNet spoke at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Special Committee on Wireless Communications Technology Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida, providing a FirstNet update and technical overview of the FirstNet network. Questions addressed state assets, rural coverage, and how the FirstNet network will handle potential overload situations. Continue reading