NPSTC’s Monthly Committee and Working Group Update–September 2014

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Interoperability Committee:

Radio Interoperability Best Practices Working Group: Radio programming at the scene of a large-scale incident is a challenge. NPSTC will develop a set of best practices for radio programming, to include programming guidelines, verification, testing, and training. UPDATE: The Working Group and its two Task Groups met on September 4, 10, 11, and held a 2-day on-site meeting in Phoenix on September 16-17, 2014. The Working Group accomplished the following tasks this month:

  • Finalized a draft process for the receipt and processing of Best Practice submissions.
  • Finalized a draft template for the standardized recording of a Best Practice statement.
  • Evaluated all items in the Silo List and reorganized them into best practice candidate statement and supporting element statements.
  • Created 12 draft best practice statements for referral to the two Task Groups for further work

Border Issues Working Group: This group meets on a recurring basis to review cross border public safety communications issues, and monitor and recommend positions on frequency coordination and interoperability with Mexico and Canada. UPDATE: NPSTC and the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG) Cross Border Communications Group met on September 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 to review the White Paper report recording best practice implementations in use. These include the use of a FAX message from EMS dispatch centers to border crossing agencies to expedite the clearance of ambulances crossing the border; the agreement by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to do clearance checks on rosters of public safety personnel to indicate which employee might not be allowed across the border; and the use of shared radio systems and shared frequencies.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Working Group: This group meets monthly to review issues impacting public safety communications in the Emergency Medical Services arena. Narrowband voice and broadband data issues are discussed and the group recently completed an EMS Broadband Applications list for the FirstNet Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC). UPDATE: The EMS Working Group held a conference call on September 8 to review the State of Florida EMS Communications Plan, which provides mandatory direction to local agencies over the use of VHF, UHF, and 800 MHz frequencies, and the provision of UHF radios in designated Strike Team ambulances. The Working Group will be discussing EMS response to the Ebola crisis during their October conference call, including communications issues affecting PSAPs who process 9-1-1 calls involving persons suspected of having the disease.

Spectrum Management Committee: The Spectrum Management Committee met on September 12 to review and discuss a number of issues, including:

  • Discussed LED Lighting Interference. Ed Hare from the American Radio Relay League provided a presentation on efforts their group has undertaken to catalog interference from installation of LED lighting fixtures by businesses and home owners. NPSTC will work with ARRL to further study this issue and to bring it to the attention of the FCC.
  • Discussed a proposal by ACD Telecom, LLC, to become a certified public safety frequency coordinator and the possible impact of that request on first responder agencies.
  • Discussed a recent FCC decision to allow Anchorage, Alaska, to operate a 50 KHz wide broadband system in the 700 MHz narrowband frequency spectrum.
  • Discussed additional recent engineering studies regarding in-building 9-1-1 location accuracy issues that are under review by the FCC.
  • Reviewed an FCC Report and Order on Part 17 rules regarding radio tower lighting, marking, and registration.
  • Discussed the pending release of a Public Notice by FirstNet seeking input on various questions regarding deployment of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network.

Technology Committee:  The Technology Committee met on September 17 to review the activities of the Working Groups and Task Groups discussed below. The BBWG Chair provided an update on 3GPP standards development, including pending updates to the mission critical voice agreement expected following a September conference in Canada. The Committee also discussed NPSTC’s participation with the for Alliance Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) working group studying Public Safety Related Applications (ATIS PSRA) Task Force.

Radio Programming Compatible Requirements (Radio PCR) Working Group: The Radio PCR Working Group is focused on the impact to public safety agencies caused by the mandatory use of dissimilar radio programming software systems in the P25 environment. UPDATE: Radio PCR met on September 25 to review proposed changes to the PAM Tool spreadsheet received during the APCO International Conference in August. The State of Florida has also requested a presentation on the PAM Tool at statewide Homeland Security meeting in October.

 Broadband Working Group: NPSTC’s Broadband Working Group is the largest and most active group of public safety and industry stakeholders addressing broadband in the United States. NPSTC leverages the full strength of its members associations while working with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), through the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) and with the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR).

Priority & Quality of Service Task Group: This group has been formed to refresh the 2012 NPSTC Report on Priority & QoS issues in Public Safety LTE and is also examining the impact of technological improvements that have occurred in the past 2 years. There are 49 volunteers from the first responder and industry community working on this project, meeting on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. UPDATE: This group met on September 10 and 24, and completed its review of the EMS Broadband Survey. Participants have reviewed the 2012 Priority and QoS report and have provided initial feedback. The group is currently reviewing each of the proposed change requests.

Local Control Task Group: This group was formed to refresh the 2012 NPSTC Local Control Report on public safety issues with LTE deployments. There are 53 volunteers from public safety and industry working on this report. They are meeting on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. UPDATE: This group met on September 3 and 17, and has been finalizing their scope of work and also conducting a review of proposed changes to the 2012 document. A list of recommended changes has been processed and is being reviewed with the group.

LTE Deployable Assets Task Group: This Task Group is a joint effort of DHS and Canada’s Centre for Security Science to study public safety LTE deployable assets that will operate along jurisdictional boundaries. 91 volunteers from Canada and the U.S. are working on this project. They are meeting on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. UPDATE: This group met on September 9 and 23 and is reviewing a wild land fire use case to verify that it is both realistic (from a public safety practitioner view point) as well as technically accurate from a deployable asset activation perspective. The group continues to utilize forum discussions to exchange various comments and perspectives.

Console/LTE Requirements Task Group: The group is examining public safety requirements for dispatch center consoles with new FirstNet services and applications, as well as local broadband usage. UPDATE: NSPTC approved the Console LTE report and the final document contains 52 public safety requirements for LTE consoles. This report was transmitted to the FirstNet PSAC for review, comment, and forwarding to the FirstNet technical team. The report, published on September 30, was noted in Mission Critical Communications and TRDaily.