Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, November 14, 2019

Posted by npstc

T-Band, FirstNet Updates, Laptops and Tablets

First and vitally important to eleven major cities and their metro areas, both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate have introduced bills cancelling the T-band (470-512) giveback. House bill H.R. 451 is one of the simplest bills ever introduced in the House and it is almost exactly the same as the bill that languished in the House last year. This bill that was sponsored by Representative Eliot, a democrat from New York, now has nineteen sponsors. Three are Republicans and sixteen are Democrats who are primarily from areas that will suffer badly unless the requirement to return the T-band to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) for auction is overturned. The original bill is presently under the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.

The Senate bill, S. 2748, contains the exact wording as the House bill. It was introduced in the Senate by Senator Markey, a democrat from Massachusetts. The bill currently has a total of four co-sponsors including Senators from NY, MA, and PA, all Democrats. After it was introduced in early October and submitted to the Committee on Science and Technology where it currently resides.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which provides cost estimates for most bills, has not yet weighed in on this bill, however, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report that is in line with the reports from National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) concerning the cost of relocating first responders in the eleven metro areas that currently have access to portions of the T-band. That is if there was any spectrum available for relocating these agencies. Based on FCC data, there is none. There is a bill in both houses of Congress, as there was last Congressional session, and NPSTC and the GAO have both stated that moving first responders off the T-band would be a very costly and, in reality, impossible task.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and first-responder agencies in areas where the T-band is in use have been working with Congressional staffers and their bosses to make sure they understand the seriousness of the consequences if these bills do not pass in both houses and are not signed into law.

Read the Entire Column Here

Below are the news story selected with the assistance of Discoverypattern.com and their AI technology

USDA invests $4.2 million in rural broadband for Oklahoma families

Oologah Lake Leader Nov 14 06:35

On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the investment of over $4.2 million in highspeed broadband …

5G Security Warnings Pile Up

Light Reading Nov 14 06:30

5G could eventually connect everyone and everything. But a growing number of researchers are highlighting potential security holes in the standard.

Firstnet Training Manual

effect.org Nov 13 14:50

written permission of Cerner Corp Updated 09/25/2014 by CT For more training options, visit wwwnavicenthealthorg Hover over For Health Care.

Rural broadband approved by Monroe County EPA members

Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Nov 13 14:30

AMORY The Monroe County Electric Power Association (MCEPA) board of directors held a special meeting on Nov. 12 to review the results from the …

NIST cyber bills moving on down the road

Politico Nov 13 14:10

A grid attack simulation kicks off today, with physical and cyber assaults alike. …

Tech, Wi-Fi companies back broader unlicensed use at 6 GHz; public safety and utilities balk

RCR Wireless News Nov 13 13:10

In a filing with the FCC, the coalition of nearly three dozen companies said that Wi-Fi has become the single most important wireless technology for …

Why Reconnecting Our Rural Communities Matters

USDA.gov Nov 13 11:20

Secretary Perdue has made the investment in rural broadband a priority for …

Nokia Selected to Upgrade California Public Safety Network

Pipeline Magazine Nov 13 11:20

Nokia has been selected by Cal OES Public Safety Communications office to upgrade CAPSNET, which is operated by Cal OES Public Safety …

AT&T to upgrade University of Miami to 5G+, powering Magic Leap technology

Newspapers Today, USA News, Headlines, Breaking News, Sports Nov 7 07:15

The University of Miami in Coral Gables will be the first college campus in the nation to receive AT&T’s 5G+ and Multi-access Edge Computing…

Atlantic Broadband Expands Services in VA & Opens New Office

Light Reading Nov 14 06:30

FTTH network will provide high-speed broadband to about 2,700 homes and businesses.

Why African mobile networks must invest in 4G

MyBroadband Nov 14 06:15

Even with the 5G era already upon us, investment in 4G/LTE networks is still vitally important for operators in sub-Saharan Africa and must remain a …

Samsung growing 5G network equipment biz

Digitimes Nov 14 05:50

… accounts for 60% of 5G telecom equipment market in Korea thanks to support from fellow top-three telecom operators – SK Telecom, KT and LG U+.

New International Pact Aims to Accelerate Next Generation Emergency Communications

HSToday Nov 14 02:30

The alliance will promote standards-based Next Generation emergency-communications frameworks such as the ones enabled by the i3 standard for …

Samsung Galaxy S11 phones set to launch with bigger screens, 5G

The Express Tribune Nov 14 02:25

Samsung will be launching its next-generation flagship device, Galaxy S11 around February 2020 and the word around is that the smartphone is …

Rural broadband study looks promising for Southern Alberta

Prairie Post Nov 14 01:30

SouthGrow Regional Initiative recently released its study, Cost Benefit Analysis of Rural Broadband in Alberta. It was noted, the study by the …

Sprint Expands True Mobile 5G to Cover Approximately 16 Million People Within Nine Metropolitan …

New Kerala Nov 13 14:20

In these areas, customers with 5G devices are experiencing dramatically faster speeds, with initial 5G performance results showing a nearly 6X …

Nokia Says 5G will Enable a New Era of Economic Growth

Qrius Nov 13 13:55

In the early aughts, Nokia produced the most coveted mobile phones in the world, before it was disrupted by big tech giants ushering in the age of …

5G has security flaws that could let hackers track your location

MIT Technology Review Nov 13 13:17

5G has security flaws that could let hackers track your location …

Motorola’s folding Razr leaks again just hours before official launch event

The Verge Nov 13 13:10

Images of Motorola’s unannounced foldable Razr phone have surfaced once again, this time via the device’s Federal Communications Commission …

2 Reasons American Tower’s Business Will Continue to Flourish

Motley Fool Nov 13 12:15

… will continue to thrive thanks to increasing infrastructure demands driven by the rise of 5G communications networks and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Land Mobile Radio LMR Market Will Reflect Significant Growth Prospects during 2019-2025 …

Eastlake Times Nov 13 11:45

Land Mobile Radio LMR Market Will Reflect Significant Growth Prospects during 2019-2025 | Harris, Motorola Solutions, Sepura, JVC Kenwood.

BlackBerry On 5G And The IoT Security Problems That Must Be Fixed

pymnts.com Nov 13 11:40

It explores ways to integrate AI into IoT-enabled devices and analyzes how AI and IoT might converge over the next few years especially with 5G …

Qualcomm’s 5G phone forecast all but guarantees ‘iPhone 5G’ in 2020

MacDailyNews Nov 7 08:45

Qualcomm said on Wednesday it expected some 200 million 5G smartphones to be sold in 2020, including flagship devices launching next fall, which investors took as a hint that Apple would offer 5G in the company’s next-gen iPhones…

Hostile drones neutralised with falcon attack strategies and 5G disruption

E&T Magazine Nov 7 07:45

Eighteen projects designed to thwart nefarious drone attacks including a plan to use swarms with peregrine falcon attack strategies have been given …

China kicks off work on 6G research after 5G launch, state media say

TODAYonline Nov 7 07:30

China kicks off work on 6G research after 5G launch, state media say …

Registration Open for 2019 ANSI Unmanned Aircraft Systems Standardization Collaborative Meeting

Posted by npstc

Launch Meeting for Version 2 Update of Standardization Roadmap; Register by September 3

New York, July 22, 2019: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) announced today the opening of registration for the 2019 meeting of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems Standardization Collaborative (UASSC), scheduled for September 12 in Washington, DC. The meeting is the official kickoff to support the development of a version 2 update of the Standardization Roadmap for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (December 2018).

Launched in September 2017, the UASSC’s mission is to coordinate and accelerate the development of the standards and conformance programs needed to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace, with particular emphasis on civil, commercial, and public safety applications. The UASSC itself does not develop standards but, rather, helps to coordinate the efforts of standards developing organizations (SDOs) and those who participate in standards development. Goals for the roadmap version 2 include expanding the content to include topics such as spectrum, urban air mobility, and recreational operations, etc., bringing in subject matter experts not previously involved, identifying potentially overlooked gaps, tracking progress to address the roadmap recommendations, reviewing priorities, and otherwise incorporating feedback. The target date for publication of version 2 is the end of June 2020. working groups (WGs) will convene twice a month conference calls starting in October to update the document.

The UASSC meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT on September 12 at the AAMC Learning Center, 655 K Street, NW, Room LC 200 (2^nd Floor), Washington, DC, followed by a networking reception. Participation is open to UAS stakeholders that have operations in the United States. There is no fee to participate but advance registration by September 3^rd is required. The draft agenda is posted on the UASSC website. Meeting attendees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the roadmap, review the topics covered by each WG, and return the sign-up sheet.

Sponsorship opportunities are available with recognition benefits at the meeting, on the web, and in print collateral. All sponsorship revenue is directly applied to help offset ANSI’s costs of operating the UASSC. ANSI extends its appreciation to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate, and others, for their generous contributions in support of the UASSC. The UASSC is co-chaired by Jay Merkle, the FAA’s executive director of UAS integration, and Matt Zuccaro, president and CEO of the Helicopter Association International.

“We are pleased to hear that the UASSC roadmap has been well received by the FAA, industry, SDOs, and others. The planned revision of the roadmap offers an opportunity for UAS stakeholder engagement to help develop and refine recommendations on standardization’s role in helping to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace,” said ANSI president and CEO S. Joe Bhatia.

More information is available at www.ansi.org/uassc.

About ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is made up of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. ANSI represents and serves the diverse interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide.

News Release: DHS S&T, IJIS Host Text-to-911 Techfest on Google Campus

Posted by npstc

Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently joined the Integrated Justice Information Systems (IJIS) Institute and Google to host the Text-to-911 Translation TechFest at the Google campus in Kirkland, Washington. The TechFest was designed to encourage nationwide efforts to improve technologies in support of public safety communications and response, particularly for people with limited English proficiency. The event included participation from technologists, public safety leaders, language service providers, and trade associations.

When DHS S&T and IJIS began the project in February of 2015, less than three percent of the nation’s 6,000 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), also known as 911 call centers, had implemented Text-to-911. Since then, not only has the number of PSAPs using the platform increased to 30 percent, but federal, state, and local laws have required call centers to ensure that the platform is available to the Limited English Proficient (LEP) population. Currently, almost 28 million people across the United States are identified as LEP and need to be accommodated as more PSAPs implement the technology in their respective communities.

“We anticipate the end result of this joint project will be a national standard for implementing Text-to-911 to LEP populations as well as operational, business, and training protocols that will ensure consistent national implementation,” said DHS S&T program manager Denis Gusty.

The TechFest provided insight to the advancements in currently available translation technology and also highlighted restrictions in translation, such as colloquial terminology and text shorthand. Overall, the TechFest revealed the need for further research and development to ensure 911 calls are answered efficiently and first responders are provided the correct information to respond.

Presently, DHS S&T and IJIS are researching best practices as well as interviewing experts in emergency communication, next generation 911 technology and public safety to develop standards that will be implemented nationally. DHS S&T and IJIS anticipate pilot tests with Arlington and Prince William counties in Virginia to test the protocols as well as determine estimated costs of nationwide implementation. These test pilots will begin in late summer of 2019.

Snapshot: S&T NUSTL Supports First Responder Radiological Preparedness

Posted by npstc

A radiological dispersal device (RDD), or “dirty bomb,” detonation in a local jurisdiction will have significant consequences for public safety, responder health and critical infrastructure operations. First responders and emergency managers must quickly assess the hazard, issue protective action recommendations, triage and treat the injured, and secure the scene in support of the individuals, families and businesses in the impacted community. This is why, in 2017, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL), in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) published guidance for first responders and emergency managers on how to plan for the first minutes of an RDD detonation response.

The Radiological Dispersal Device Response Guidance Planning for the First 100 Minutes is the result of years of scientific research and experimentation conducted by DOE laboratories – Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and Sandia National Laboratories – coupled with S&T NUSTL’s direct conversations with first responders about operationalizing and documenting the scientific recommendations. The Guidance includes five missions and ten tactics to address initial response efforts. It is intended to be engaging and easy to use, allowing communities to plug in their specific assets, agencies and response protocols.

“The Guidance provides emergency planners and first responders across the nation with a playbook of best practices to start from in planning for a RDD detonation response,” said Ben Stevenson, Program Manager at S&T NUSTL.

Now that the Guidance is published, S&T’s NUSTL is leading efforts to make it accessible to the responder communities who will need to incorporate it into their planning efforts and to state and federal partners that will support the response.

Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, May 30, 2019

Posted by npstc

Month-End Miscellany. The first order of business this week is to give a shout out on behalf of all those who have given their lives for our freedom, military and first responders alike. I wish it was not necessary, but they did make the ultimate sacrifice for us, so this week especially, it is time to stop what we are doing, even if only for a few moments, and give thanks for each and every one of them.

Next, I want to give a shout out to all the first responders and scores of volunteers assisting them in what seems to be a never-ending series of tornadoes and floods across much of this nation. I have watched reports of numerous water rescues and UAV (drone) views of utter devastation from tornadoes. In the years I spent in the Cincinnati area working for General Electric Mobile Radio, I remember all too well the day the area was hit with more than seventeen tornadoes. My car, a new car GE leased for me, was parked in front of a GE two-way radio dealer. When we came out, it looked like it had been hit by rocks, not hail.

I reported to my fire department and my amateur radio net and proceeded to work for the next few days trying to find survivors. It was an experience I will never forget. Those in the Midwest are dealing with far too many similar situations. I only hope there is a break for them in the near future. Read the Entire Column Here.

Here are the articles I have selected with the help of Discovery Patterns artificial intelligence

Critics dismiss new FCC report showing increased broadband access

Technology May 30 08:18

TheÂ Federal CommunicationsÂ CommissionÂ (FCC) on WednesdayÂ released a report showingÂ the number of Americans with access to high-speed broadband has increased in recent years, figures that were dismissed by the commission’s…

Democrats criticize FCC broadband report – CNET

CNET: Apple May 29 17:01

Republicans say the digital divide is narrowing. Democrats say that’s news to the 21 million Americans who still don’t have it.

T-Mobile’s 5G network makes early appearance in New York

CNET May 29 16:45

AT&T, Verizon and Sprint have all either launched or are about to launch their respective 5G networks. One carrier that has been quiet, however, …

DHS Awards Phase 2 LMR/LTE Interworking Contract to Catalyst

RadioResource Media Group May 29 16:00

When the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) deploys the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN), the need for a feasible …

FCC’s broadband deployment report called ‘fundamentally at odds with reality’

TechCrunch May 29 15:03

The FCC has officially issued this year’s Broadband Deployment Report, summarizing the extent to which the agency and industry have closed the digital divide in this country. But one Commissioner is not fooled: “The rosy picture the report paints about the status of broadband deployment is fundamentally at odds with reality,” said Geoffrey Starks in a lengthy dissenting statement.

The FCC’s Second 5G Spectrum Auction Ends With Bid Topping $2B

Light Reading May 29 14:45

The FCC has completed its second-ever high-band 5G auction, in the 24GHz band, pulling in over $2 billion in bids. The auction raised 2,024,268,941 …

Sprint’s Campbell: 5G Is Getting Real – Now What?

Light Reading May 23 06:30

Sprint’s mobile 5G launch could happen in the next few days. But the real question is what the industry will do with 5G once it launches.

Analog Devices Announces Breakthrough Solution to Accelerate mmWave 5G Wireless Network …

Investor Relations – Analog Devices May 30 10:00

NORWOOD, Mass. –(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 30, 2019– Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), the industry leader in RF and Microwave technology and system …

Should you buy a 5G phone in 2019?

Android Central May 30 09:45

The networks are small and inconsistent, and you have to choose a phone specifically to get 5G. They’re expensive, and aren’t the best phones …

Verizon Teases 5G in NYC in the ‘Very Near Future’

PCMag.com May 30 09:45

Verizon’s 5G network launched in downtown Chicago and Minneapolis in early April, and it’s stayed in Chicago …

Motorola just unveiled the $499 Moto Z4 with 2-day battery life and upgradeable 5G

Boy Genius Report May 30 09:45

The cat was let out of the bag a little early regarding Motorola’s new Moto Z4, the $499 handset the company officially unveiled this morning — and which Amazon mistakenly sold to a user two days before we were supposed to, er, know it existed. Nevertheless, it’s here now — or, rather, it will be soon, as it hits Verizon in the US two weeks from today. In keeping with past Z flagships, Verizon has got the exclusive stateside, and as with the announcement of the Moto Z3 as the world’s first “5G

Microsoft hints at a “modern OS” for the 5G age

IT PRO May 30 08:15

Microsoft hints at a “modern OS” for the 5G age …

Lenovo Launches World’s 1st 5G Laptop Powered With Snapdragon; Mediatek’s Helio M70 Is 5G …

Trak.in May 30 07:35

This most powerful 5G SoC announcement was made at the Computex Event held …

Gogo is building a 5G network for aviation

ZDNet May 29 16:45

In-flight WiFi provider Gogo said it will launch a 5G network for business and commercial aviation in 2021. The air-to-ground network will be built on …

5G on EE: The phones, the speeds, the prices and everything you need to know

Pocket-lint.com May 29 16:10

There will be a range of handsets on offer, with a range of deals and offers to get you into the next-gen mobile phone service. Here’s everything you …

SoftBank picks Nokia solution for commercial 5G offering

iTWire May 29 15:45

Japanese telecommunications company SoftBank has selected Nokia’s AirScale solution for its commercial 5G offering in both centralised and …

Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, May 16, 2019

Posted by npstc

Hurricanes and Other Disasters. Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, 2019, and a number of agencies and organizations are formulating their predictions about the potential severity of the upcoming season. For example, the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project Team has predicted a slightly below average Atlantic hurricane season, forecasting thirteen named storms and five hurricanes. The National Weather Service defines a hurricane as “a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 MPH or higher” and major hurricanes as class 3 or higher storms.

It is interesting to read the various projections. Several, like the one above, call for a lighter storm season but some are predicting we could have more and more damaging storms this year. We won’t know until it is over, but we do know we need to be prepared for these storms if we live in the Eastern region of the United States. We also need to continue to be prepared for the types of storms that have been racking the Midwest and the fire season on the West Coast that now runs all year long.

With the likelihood of so many disasters, public safety resources can become strained. Communications, of course, is key to being able to position resources where they are most needed and to coordinate activities which, during disasters, are highly focused on saving lives, then property, and protecting first responders’ personal safety. For many years, only Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems have been capable of providing communications needed in the field. However, there are shortcomings inherent with LMR systems. While they work well, some are not fully hardened to remain operational during most disasters. The most significant problem is that local, state, or federal agencies called in to assist bring their own LMR communications capabilities and these are not usually compatible with LMR services of others at the incident.

Read the Entire Column Here

Here are the articles I have selected with the help of Discovery Patterns artificial intelligence

FCC’s Pai Focuses on Broadband, Phone, Spectrum in Hill Testimony

Multichannel News May 16 10:20

FCC’s Pai Focuses on Broadband, Phone, Spectrum in Hill Testimony …

EU picks 26GHz for 5G millimeter wave, requires support by end of 2020

TAtech May 16 10:00

Millimeter wave spectrum is expected to be critical in deploying the highest speed and lowest latency 5G wireless services, but its prior use in …

Huawei Pinned in Eye of Trade War Storm as Trump Blacklists 5G Networking Giant

TheStreet.com May 16 06:40

President Donald Trump’s decision to ban China’s Huawei Technologies from dealing with U.S. companies drew sharp criticism from political leaders …

AT&T and San Jos join forces to close digital divide

SmartCitiesWorld May 15 14:55

FirstNet built with AT&T and the First Responder Network Authority is a nationwide communications platform dedicated to public safety.

FCC overcoming workforce, regulatory challenges to 5G implementation

Federal News Network May 15 13:00

The Federal Communications Commission is trying to lay the groundwork for 5G, but the logistics for an infrastructure push on that scale can be …

Apple will take years to build a 5G modem

Fudzilla May 16 10:00

According to The Information Apple’s attempt to replace Qualcomm on 5G modems proved to be a nightmare for the company starting in 2017.

Japan Plans To Create 10 Billion 14-Digit Phone Numbers as 5G Era Nears

Slashdot: Mobile May 16 06:20

Japan’s communications ministry plans to create for assignment some 10 billion 14-digit phone numbers starting with the code “020.” From a report: …

NIST’s Small Business Cybersecurity Corner

Kraft Technology Group May 16 05:15

Cybersecurity is complicated and small businesses have a hard time keeping up with it. They can’t …

TCCA’s 21st CCW Event Set to Bring the Critical Communications World Together in Kuala Lumpur

The Critical Communications Review May 16 05:00

… that are in the process of or are planning to start their journey from narrowband, voice-centric critical communications to the broadband era.

T-Mobile-Sprint Merger Will Bring Underserved Californians Into The 5G Future Faster

Lasentinel May 16 04:25

T-Mobile-Sprint Merger Will Bring Underserved Californians Into The 5G Future …

SK Telecom, Microsoft ink deal to cooperate on AI, cloud and 5G

Enterprise IoT Insights May 15 15:00

Under the terms of the agreement, SK Telecom and Microsoft will combine their technological capabilities in areas such as 5G, AI and cloud to jointly …

European Commission to harmonize 26 GHz band for 5G deployments

RCR Wireless News May 15 15:00

The decision finalizes the EU-wide coordination of all three pioneer bands (700 MHz, 3.6 GHz and 26 GHz) needed for 5G rollout in the member states …

5G Is a Big Deal But Revolutionary? I Think Not

SDxCentral May 15 15:00

The telecom industry is more exciting than it’s been for years, and 5G is a …

Apple’s In-House 5G Modem Not Expected Until 2025

Motley Fool May 15 14:50

The company’s legal saga against Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) came to an …

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G Launches in UK on 7th June

HEXUS May 15 14:45

This new device offers smooth transitions across networks to ensure an unparalleled mobile experience while streaming video, playing games, …

Connected Vehicles Race Toward A 5G Future

pymnts.com May 15 14:15

Exactly how 5G will work with connected vehicles is still largely the stuff of informed …

Orion Labs Inc. and Geoverse Announce Strategic Collaboration Agreement to Deliver Enterprise …

SYS-CON Media May 15 13:10

Working together, I see our evolution to 5G as a collaboration that will help make …

Huawei ‘to go extra mile’ to reassure world on 5G spying

Sky News May 15 13:10

A senior figure at Huawei in the UK has told Sky News it is willing to go the “extra mile” to reassure countries its technology poses no security threat.

Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, May 9, 2019

Posted by npstc

Feds, States in Rural Broadband Push. I recently saw a posting on Twitter from the governor of South Dakota announcing her state is requesting proposals to cover “all corners” of the state with broadband. By the time I saw the announcement, the time period for submitting proposals had passed but it started me thinking once again about rural broadband and FirstNet (Built with AT&T).

We all should know that when FirstNet was created by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by the then President in February of 2012, one requirement called for the FirstNet organization to provide coverage to public safety agencies in rural America. When FirstNet the Authority issued its Request for Proposal (RFP), it stated that Band 14, the public safety broadband spectrum, was to be built out in metro and rural areas essentially at the same time. This was to ensure the winning bidder did not build out Band 14 only in metro areas where it could resell unused spectrum to recoup its costs and that Band 14 would be built out everywhere.

As it turned out, AT&T won the RFP and is not only building out Band 14 public safety, it is providing full pre-emptive access for public safety to all AT&T LTE spectrum. As we continue to conduct our drive tests and follow the build-out, it is clear this mandate is being followed by FirstNet (Built with AT&T). However, where Band 14 is available in rural areas, two things are being missed by those offering grants and loans to various organizations wanting to build out rural broadband.

As I have stated before, the number of different grants from different agencies within the federal government is staggering and they are all different. Some are outright grants, some are low-interest loans, and some are a mixture of the two. The grant applications are all different and most do not provide any ongoing funding for continued operation of the broadband services once the build has been completed. To my way of thinking, another issue is that many of these grants focus only on fiber to the business, house, or farm. Repeating myself, farmers would rather have wireless broadband covering their fields so they can continue to automate their machines and other devices. Read the Entire Column Here .

Here are the articles I have selected with the help of Discovery Patterns artificial intelligence

FirstNet surpasses 600K connections

RCR Wireless News May 7 12:55

AT&T executives have credited the FirstNet build-out with recent improvements in network performance rankings. CEO Randall Stephenson also said …

More than 600000 connections made under FirstNet platform

Homeland Preparedness News May 8 17:20

More than 600,000 devices used by more than 7,250 public-safety agencies have connected to the FirstNet communications platform. FirstNet is …

Pai Lays Out Plans for New Spectrum Auction, 5G Rollout

TV Technology May 8 15:25

In addition, Pai spoke as to why the FCC denied China Mobile USA’s application to provide international telecommunication services in the U.S., citing …

FCC Drone/Unmanned Aircraft Systems Policy

FC Cincinnati May 8 13:15

In the interest of public safety, privacy and security, please be advised that FCC prohibits any unauthorized media and/or individuals from operating …

CBRS Getting Closer; 800 MHz EB/GB Coordination Update; NIST Privacy Framework; Rural …

Lexology May 7 10:20

CBRS Getting Closer. On May 1 the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) concluded its testing stage of five Spectrum …

AT and T Adds IP Access to FirstNet Dealer Program

MissionCritical May 7 10:05

IP Access International joined AT&T’s First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Dealer Program. As a FirstNet dealer, IP Access International can now sell FirstNet services to eligible public-safety customers. read more

FirstNet Association Changes Name

MissionCritical May 7 10:05

The FirstNet Association changed its name to the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association (PSBTA) to avoid confusion between the association and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). read more

GD e-Bridge Telemedicine App FirstNet Listed in App Catalog

MissionCritical May 2 10:05

General Devices (GD) announced that its GD e-Bridge application is now certified First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Listed and available via the FirstNet App Catalog. read more

May 1 Deadline for WEA Improvements

MissionCritical May 2 10:05

The FCC reminded commercial mobile service providers participating in wireless emergency alerts (WEA) of their obligations beginning May 1. The carriers must now support longer WEA messages, from 90 to 360 characters, for 4G and future networks and support a new class of alerts, called public-safety messages, to convey recommended actions for saving lives or property. read more

KT, Samsung to expand public safety LTE network coverage in South Korea

Telecompaper May 2 08:30

In addition, the two companies will provide what they call the world’s first narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) service through the PS-LTE network.

Chinese telecom carriers to conduct massive 5G tests

NEWS-DETAIL-CCTVPLUS May 9 05:25

Various of official from China Mobile making announcement about 5G planning 4. Officials of telecom carriers at 5G exhibition 5. Official from China …

China leads 5G patent race

Chinadaily USA May 9 05:25

Chinese companies lead in global 5G patent applications with Huawei …

A retrospective look at the future of communications: Dave George

The Internet Of All Things May 9 03:25

… primarily driven by the advent of FirstNet and other LTE networks. …

DNA Finand Tests Fixed 5G Broadband Service using 3.5GHz Frequency

The Fast Mode May 9 02:45

DNA Finand said it has been testing fixed 5G broadband service in Vantaa in a residential area with detached houses using the actual 3.5GHz 5G …

Waymo CTO: 5G will be a self-driving car ‘accelerator and enabler’

VentureBeat May 9 01:25

Waymo CTO Dmitri Dolgov thinks that 5G and next-generation cellular networks will be an enabler of the company’s autonomous car fleets, he told …

FCC Commissioner O’Rielly condemns government-led wholesale 5G proposal

FierceWireless May 8 22:00

Over the last few months, various ideas have been floated about the offering of 5G wireless services via a government-sponsored network, O’Rielly …

Telus CTO: 5G is Letting Us Down

Light Reading May 8 17:15

Above all, if the edge means deploying the telco cloud and IT resources at customer premises, such as a sports stadium, then where is what Gedeon …

Service Providers Look to Enterprises for 5G ROI

Light Reading May 8 16:55

But panelists said customized enterprise services offer a greater potential for revenue from 5G. These may include wireless control of robots on factory …

NIST is preparing recommendations for power companies to protect IIoT devices

HACKER NEWS May 8 16:10

Public discussion of the project will last until June 5 of this year. The National Cyber Center of Excellence (NCCoE) of the US National Institute of …

How Smart Cities Will Be Transformed by 5G Technology

Innovation & Tech Today May 8 16:00

While this may be tolerable for consumers, dropped signals are unacceptable for the mission-critical data in smart city IoT deployments.

Virgin Mobile invites customers to experience the power 5G

Tahawul Tech May 8 13:15

Virgin Mobile has announced that it is offering its customers the chance to be amongst the first to get connected on the new 5G network via a …

Wi-Fi 6 and 5G explained

Cisco Newsroom May 8 13:00

What you need to know about the new wireless technology from Cisco’s Matt MacPherson and Greg Dorai. To learn more, check out how Wi-Fi 6 and …

Mission Critical Communications Reports: Report Says More Work Needed on Dispatchable Location Database, Public Safety Voices Concerns

Posted by npstc

Report Says More Work Needed on Dispatchable Location Database, Public Safety Voices Concerns, By Sandra Wendelken, Editor, May 7, 2019

Only 38.7% of valid test calls conducted during recent dispatchable location testing for 9-1-1 calls produced a result that meets the requirements for actionable dispatchable location as defined by Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) standards. Dispatchable location testing in the E9-1-1 Location Technologies Test Bed was conducted during the second half of 2018.

The reference point density in the National Emergency Address Database (NEAD) database is not yet at sufficient levels to assure optimum performance, according to conclusions in a report on the testing filed by CTIA with the FCC…… [ more]

The report, titled “E911 Location Test Bed Dispatchable Location Summary Report,” uses two definitions for dispatchable location, a process public-safety groups have roundly criticized.

In the report, dispatchable location level 1 (DL1) refers to “medium-level performance. DL1 indicates that the reported dispatchable location is known to the quadrant or zone of the building on the correct floor or on the floor immediately above or below the correct floor.” Dispatchable location level 2 (DL2) refers to “the highest level of performance. DL2 indicated that the report dispatchable location is known to the specific unit number.”

“DL Level 1 is not consistent with the definition in the commission’s rules and is unacceptable from a public-safety standpoint,” the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) said last year. “Furthermore, having these two definitions is likely to create confusion. NPSTC therefore urges the commission to maintain its current definition of dispatchable location, regardless of any apparent attempts by carriers to dilute that definition…..[more]

“Back in 2014 – 2015, public safety had concerns of how successful the NEAD would be, and this report does not do anything to alleviate those concerns,” NPSTC’s Goldstein said. “While the report does not say it directly, it seems that the carriers want more testing. It has been four years since the order and DL was promised as the gold standard, which replaced many of the more stringent requirements proposed by the FCC but not included in the final order based on the promise of DL.

“This makes it even more important to have the Z-axis. The carriers are relying on commercially available technologies such as Wi-Fi. It appears there are other technologies that are available be used to supplement Wi-Fi, but those may only provide the location of a caller and will cost the carriers addtional funds.”

Read complete report at Mission Critical Magazine, https://www.rrmediagroup.com/Features/FeaturesDetails/FID/920

Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, May 2, 2019

Posted by npstc

FirstNet Gains, Some Throttling Broadband, More. The latest numbers are out for FirstNet (Built with AT&T) and as expected, they are really good. At the end of the first quarter of 2019, FirstNet reports its Band 14 buildout is at 53-percent of the total coverage called out in the contract. And the balance of AT&T’s LTE assets are being used daily by FirstNet customers. FirstNet also states more than 7,000 agencies representing 570,000 public safety personnel are onboard (a 33-percent growth over Q4 2018).

It seems every week in the news and on allthingsfirstnet.com there are announcements of more agencies joining FirstNet. These include Anchorage police Department, Alaska, the Navy and Marines, Brazos County, TX Sheriffs Department, Elmore County, Idaho, and more. This bodes well for FirstNet. These agencies are now recognizing the value of FirstNet when they are engaged in multi-agency incidents and rely on FirstNet as the common interoperability network during the event. This is precisely what public safety sought when it went to Congress to carve out this broadband spectrum.

Push-To-Talk—LMR, FirstNet, and Interoperability. The vision of FirstNet was to provide a nationwide network to which all first responders could connect. It started as data and video-centric, but after FirstNet was formed by the federal government, Push-To-Talk (PTT), text, and dial-up voice were added into the mix. This, of course, makes FirstNet a perfect fit to augment Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems. As I have mentioned before, now that push-to-talk over FirstNet is available from three vendors—Motorola (Kodiak), ESChat, and Orion Labs—public safety agencies can continue to use the flavor of PTT they already use or choose to implement another PTT flavor they deem best suited for their needs. Read the Entire Column Here

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Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, April 25, 2019

Posted by npstc

Waiting on Mission Critical Push-To-Talk (Data, Video). According to Motorola, its Kodiak Networks has developed the first Push-To-Talk (PTT) application for on-network use. On-network means the network hosts the application as opposed to an over-the-top application such as ESChat or Orion Labs, the other FirstNet-approved options. Motorola’s claim is that the Kodiak PTT solution as deployed in both the AT&T and Verizon networks (though not compatible across the two, I am told) is close to meeting the Mission Critical Push-To-Talk specification released by the 3GPP standards organization.

All that is needed, claims Motorola, is for companies to start producing Proximity Services (ProSe) chipsets, which Motorola claims remains the greatest hurdle to being fully MCPTT-compliant. I am using Motorola as an example here since it recently stated its PTT solution for FirstNet (Built with AT&T) works and is embedded in the FirstNet network. ESChat and Orion Labs are also certified on FirstNet. I find Motorola’s comments about ProSe to be peculiar coming from one of the premier Land Mobile Radio (LMR) companies in the world that for many years has built mobile and handheld radios that provide push-to-talk on public safety and business radio networks and further provides the capability for off-network push-to-talk.

Off-network push-to-talk, which I have written about over the years, is critical to the ability of those in the field to communicate with others even when a network is not available—either because they are out of network range or because they are deep inside a structure and cannot reach the network that may be available on the street. Simplex, talk-around, or whatever you want to call it is vital to the operation of the public safety community. It is used every day by police, fire, and EMS personnel. Simplex provides one-to-one and one-to-many communications to any unit in range of the transmitting unit. Read the Entire Column Here .
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