Just returned from the IACP (International Chiefs of Police) Conference in Orlando, which was very well attended this year and seemed to have more vendors in the exhibit hall than in past years. All in all, it was a very good show with great sessions. My general observations from the show floor include: This was the year for software companies—analytical software, crime scene, evidence collection, tracking, and more. However, there were fewer drones (excuse me, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)), perhaps because as the FAA stated in its session on the subject, we are a stage where drones are considered to be the wild, wild west of UAVs. A citizen can use one to buzz a star’s house and if arrested, the drone must be handed over to the feds, but there is no federal law that has been broken. If a law enforcement agency flies a drone it is against the law unless the person at the controls is a licensed, certified pilot. Go figure. I want to see drones used not only for surveillance but also as a platform for small radio repeaters when radio coverage is needed in an area where there is no coverage.
There were a number of hardened tablet computers on display, ready for FirstNet, or so they said. However, no one I talked with seemed to understand that in order to be FirstNet-certified a device must be approved by the PSCR in Boulder. If you intend to purchase a device you can use today for commercial LTE services and tomorrow for FirstNet, ask whether it has been submitted to PSCR for approval. I also saw Motorola’s new handheld device and while it is better than the previous one because it enables two-way voice communications to and from an LMR radio, I was still underwhelmed with the design. Everyone seems to think all devices have to look like an iPhone and I don’t think that is true for frontline first responders.
On Sunday, Chief Harlin McEwen (Ret.) who is, among other things, Chairman of the IACP Communications and Technology Committee, invited me to be a guest speaker. I presented a few slides about my ideas on how to build out FirstNet in logical and affordable phases. The slides were well received by the members of the committee and the guests so I have posted them to my website to share with my readers. You can find them here http://andrewseybold.com/3492-iacp-orlando-slides
This week’s big news, of course, is that the FCC has decided to do away with the 2016 requirements to move to even narrower 700-MHz channels with the 6.25-KHz requirement, and to open up the reserve pool of channels and make it available first to those in the 11 cities currently faced with having to give back their T-Band (470–512-MHz channels). APCO Phase II is how the 6.25-KHz goal would have been reached—two Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) voice channels on one 12.5-KHz existing channel. However, the audio from TDMA is not very good when compared to a single 12.5-KHz digital voice system, and fire departments are finding that digital on a fire ground is problematical due to background noise even with special microphones. I am very supportive of the FCC dropping this requirement and I hope fewer organizations will move to APCO P25 Phase II since the rules have changed.
Have a great weekend!
Andy
700 MHz Narrowbanding Deadline Eliminated, Spectrum Prioritized for T-Band Licensees – MissionCritical Communications, Radio Resource International, and Public Safety Report … via Google Alerts Oct 29 22:15 Public-safety licensees have been anticipating the narrowbanding order. …
FirstNet Receives 122 RFI Responses, 64 Public Notice Responses – MissionCritical Communications, Radio Resource International, and Public Safety Report … via Google Alerts Oct 30 04:25 Both the RFI and the public notice allowed stakeholders, including public-safety professionals, regional, state, tribal and local jurisdictions, and the …
Network 4g lg g3 855 – XDA-Developers via Google Alerts Oct 29 22:15 4G LTE FREQUENCIES 1800 Mhz / 2100 Mhz LTE / LTE 2600 MHz / 700 MHz LTE / LTE 800 Mhz / 900 Mhz LTE Now check your .. band mobile …
APPA applauds recognition by broadband agency of safety role played by electric utilities – American Public Power Association via Google Alerts Oct 29 14:20 As consumer-owned electric utilities, public power “strongly supports the creation of a nationwide interoperable broadband network for public safety …
LA-RICS helped by 700 MHz narrowband order, set to begin LTE network deployment next week – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Oct 28 12:50 The Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System …
On the Road: Cross-Border Workshop in Canada – First Responder Network Authority via Google Alerts Oct 28 08:35 Canada is in the beginning stages of preparing for a public safety broadband network, so the workshop was a great opportunity for FirstNet to provide …
The next step; Public Safety LTE, critical PTT applications and multiband radio’s. – LTE Applications via Google Alerts Oct 24 02:10 However, the nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN) currently in development will leverage the same LTE used for commercial cellular …
Economically sustainable public security and emergency network exploiting a broadband … – Sussex Research Online – University of Sussex via Google Alerts Oct 30 08:40 As such, the research provides a case study of a Nigerian Public Safety Security Communications Pilot project deployed in regions of the African …
bos teaching materials – Blue Ocean Strategy via Google Alerts Oct 29 15:25 Blue Ocean in Public Mobile Broadband – Blue Ocean Strategy. Heavy investments into public safety networks that are focused on digital voice …
TIA Voices Support for Next Generation Text-to-911 Applications that Will Improve Public Safety – IN Compliance via Google Alerts Oct 29 10:15 The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to its request …
FCC Issues Final Rule on Information Communications Requirement – Targeted News Service via Google Alerts Oct 29 07:20 John Evanoff, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-0848, or email: john.evanoff@fcc.gov.
Study blames backbone business deals for broadband congestion – PCWorld via Google Alerts Oct 28 19:45 That debate, dating back to Netflix complaints about Comcast in 2010, has flared up during the past year as the FCC debates new net neutrality rules.
Mobile Broadband Market in Public Safety 2014 2018 Global Forecasts and Analysis in New … – Fox 14 News via Google Alerts Oct 28 19:30 In the coming years, the Global Mobile Broadband market in Public Safety is expected to be driven by the public communication network operators …
T-Mobile 4G LTE reaches 250 million American wireless users – Telecom Lead via Google Alerts Oct 27 23:15 T-Mobile, the small rival to AT&T and Verizon Wireless, will be using 700 MHz and 1900 MHz PCS spectrum with LTE, and push 4G LTE on AWS …
WT Docket No. 96-86; FCC 00-348 and FCC 01-10 – s3.amazonaws.com via Google Alerts Oct 27 22:40 and Local Public Safety Agency Communications Requirements Through the …
Germany shares plans for Q2 2015 spectrum auction – Total Telecom Oct 24 06:01 State to sell off frequencies in various bands, including 700-MHz second digital dividend, in bid to boost mobile broadband, competition.
National Public Safety Telecommunications Council 