Thinking Regionally
Government Technology - Folsom,CA,USA
Regional subscribers include federal, state and local public safety and law enforcement agencies, fire departments, public works departments, cities, ...

Digital radios tested for high-rise crises
Chicago Sun-Times - United States
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter After a lengthy delay that kept 2100 portable radios in mothballs, the Chicago Fire Department is finally making the ...

Of Wireless Microphones, Broadcast White Spaces, Field Testing ...

Of Wireless Microphones, Broadcast White Spaces, Field Testing ...
By Harold Feld
As I explain on my Wetmachine blog here, the filing has the dual purpose of cleaning up a potentially nasty mess in the broadcast UHF bands before the public safety and new commercial services start operating on Channels 52-69, ...

NENA’s Fontes has a universally good idea

NENA's Fonts has a universally good idea
MRT (subscription) - Chicago,IL,USA
Better still, let's create a public-safety USF fund that also could be used to fund the proposed nationwide wireless broadband network in the 700 MHz band. ...

D Block reauction may be pushed into 2009

D Block reaction may be pushed into 2009
MRT (subscription) - Chicago, IL, USA
Harlin McEwen, chairman and CEO of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST)—the national licensee for public safety's 10 MHz of 700 MHz broadband ...

Wireless microphones flap causing static
The FCC also is currently considering whether to allow companies to use the airwaves spaces between television channels, following the digital transition, for transmitting wireless broadband signals. ...

MRT Name Change

Why are we changing our name?

Because we live in a post-9/11 world and first responder communications — already vital to the nation's well being — have become even more important. Consequently, we gradually have shifted our editorial coverage towards the first responder, homeland security, public utility, public transportation and military sectors, and away from the enterprise wireless sector. Today, we focus exclusively on communications systems and equipment used by professionals who have dedicated their lives to keeping the public safe and secure.

FCC Commercial Mobile Alert System First Report

In accordance with the CMSAAC proposed timeline, CMS providers must begin development

and testing of the CMAS (Commercial Mobile Alert System) in a manner consistent with the rules

adopted in this CMAS First Report and Order.

Officer makes case for towers
YORK — The town can save money, beef up its drastically insufficient public safety communications system, and engage in regional collaboration with the state and federal government if selectmen would agree to allow a "public safety" ...

FCC Takes Second Shot at D-Block Auction

FCC Takes Second Shot at D-Block Auction
The Heartland Institute - Chicago,IL,USA
By the end of FCC's auction of the 700 MHz part of the analog spectrum, the commission had earned a record high $19.1 billion, but it failed to sell a ...

New Wireless 9-1-1 Location Accuracy Testing Tool Designed to Help ...
MarketWatch - USA
ComSite9-1-1e(TM) will be officially unveiled at the Associated Public Safety Communications Official - International 74th Annual Conference and Expo, ...

FCC field tests TV white space devices

Jul 15, 2008 11:28 AM, - MRT 

The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology yesterday field-tested prototype television white space devices. The test was conducted as part of a rule-making procedure that will consider the authorization of new low-power devices that operate in the TV broadcast spectrum at locations where individual channels/frequencies are not being used by licensed services. The FCC already has conducted laboratory tests and the field-testing is open to public comment at: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/projects/tvbanddevice/Welcome.html/

Sarasota Weighs Web-Based 911
Tampa Tribune - Tampa,FL,USA
... of a partner with first responders," said Bob Stuckey, a former Sarasota County firefighter who runs the county's public safety communications center. ...

IEEE Approves Standard For Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA)
IEEE has approved a new standard for mobile broadband wireless access. IEEE Std 802.20, "Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks - Standard Air Interface for Mobile Broadband Wireless Access Systems Supporting Vehicular ...

Linking up
2TheAdvocate - Baton Rouge,LA,USA
Interoperability allows public safety agencies to communicate on radios within and across agencies and jurisdictions. The state's move to a 700 MHz radio ...

Interim Report on Digital Radios Released

June 30, 2008... The IAFC Digital Project Working Group today released its Interim Report and Recommendations: Fireground Noise and Digital Radio Transmissions (pdf). The report includes conclusions based on nine months of laboratory testing conducted by the NIST and NTIA. An important part of the report is the set of recommendations for the fire service, the federal government and industry... www.iafc.org/digitalProject Go to the media release

Reform groups tell FCC that DO Block needs new leadership

Reform groups tell FCC that D Block needs new leadership
Ars Technica - Boston,MA,USA
"It is entirely unclear whether PAST [Public Safety Spectrum Trust] remains the best trustee of a national license," PISA wrote to the agency on June 20th. ...

APCO, NENA seek changes in PSST

APCO, NENA seek changes in PSST
MRT (subscription) - Chicago,IL,USA
The PSST’s advisor/agent is Cyren Call Communications, which first proposed the notion of a public-private partnership providing public safety with a ...

Fed Disaster Readiness Gets Mixed Reviews
HSToday - Germantown,MD,USA
In April 2007 GAO reported that DHS's SAFECOM program that is intended to strengthen interoperable public safety communications at all levels of government

Clash of the Titans: Harmonization of WiMAX and LET

Clash of the Titans: Harmonization of WiMAX and LET
By Lynnette Luna
Robert Syputa is a senior analyst with Amravati's Inc., a research and analysis firm focusing on broadband wireless technologies including Imax, 802.20, TD-CDMA and Wireless Local Loop Systems.

Released:  06/16/2008.  PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU
SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FOR RULEMAKING OF THE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY
TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL CONCERNING THE 700 MHZ PUBLIC SAFETY
NARROWBAND CHANNELS. (DA No.  08-1422). Comments Due:  07/16/2008. Reply
Comments Due:  07/31/2008.  PSHSB. Contact:  David Munson at (202)
418-2921
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-1422A1.pdf>

Disparate Solutions Work To Fill Communications Gap

Disparate Solutions Work To Fill Communications Gap
Microwaves & RF - Paramus,NJ,USA
The COMM. network will eventually link to other interoperable public-safety microwave systems that are being built in the greater San Francisco Bay region. ...

FCC Finally Redefines Broadband

FCC Finally Redefines Broadband
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), following years of criticism and threats of Congressional action, yesterday finally issued an order scrapping its previous definition of "broadband" as any service delivering of at least 200 Kb/s. more

Nortel downshifts on WiMax
CNNMoney.com - USA
Rival 4G technology WiMax hangs on in the US thanks to a recent multiparty venture headed up by Sprint Nextel (S) and Clearwire (CLWR). ...

Sprint Nextel joins alliance to further WiMAX

Sprint Nextel joins alliance to further WiMAX
Bizjournals.com - Charlotte,NC,USA
In a release Monday, Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) said that it, Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S), Clearwire Corp. (Nasdaq: CLWR), Alacatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), ...

UPDATE =Sprint, Clearwire Promise Two-Way Internet Video

UPDATE =Sprint, Clearwire Promise Two-Way Internet Video
istockAnalyst.com - Salem,OR,USA
(NYSE:S) (S) and Clearwire Corp. (NASDAQ-NMS:CLWR) (CLWR) pledged Monday to deliver wireless Internet access to police, firefighters and schools at speeds ...

Martin to plow forward with free broadband plan

Martin to plow forward with free broadband plan
RCRNews.com - Golden,CO,USA
... which dissolved shortly before the start of the 700 MHz. Frontline lobbied for rule changes to the D Block — a national public safety-commercial license ...

Verizon Wireless Buys Alltel for $28.1 Bln

Verizon Wireless Buys Alltel for $28.1 Bln
Digitaltrends.com - Lake Oswego,OR,USA
... and customer care to better serve the growing needs of both Alltel and Verizon Wireless customers for reliable basic and advanced broadband wireless ...

Intelligibility of Selected Radio Systems in the
Presence of Fireground Noise: Test Plan and Results

June 2008 - This report describes an experiment conducted to measure the intelligibility of selected radio communication systems when those systems are employed in high-background-noise environments experienced by firefighters.

Multi-Band Radios to Provide Public Safety Interoperability
First responders expect to start receiving first five-band radios later this year under DHS ST program.

Chicago is going mobile with WiMAX

Chicago is going mobile with WiMAX
Medill Reports - Chicago,IL,USA
based broadband wireless company, announced May 7 that they were combining their WiMAX businesses, and received a cash infusion of $3.2 billion from ...

When LTE arrives, Motorola expects that its handsets and other devices will be able to operate seamlessly between WiMAX and the new system, Mitoraj said….

It's time for Congress to get its priorities straight

It's time for Congress to get its priorities straight
MRT (subscription) - Chicago,IL,USA
The FCC is soliciting comments right now as to what to do with the 10 MHz of 700 MHz D Block spectrum that it wants to pair with 10 MHz of public safety ...

Consortium acquires contract for Ireland's National Digital Radio ...
Bapco Journal - London,England,UK
The network will be operated as a fully managed service and will enhance communication between users and improve public safety for Irish citizens. ...

D-Block comments begin rolling in: 'Just give it away,' argues one ...

D-Block comments begin rolling in: 'Just give it away,' argues one ...
The Federal Communications Commission set a June 20 deadline for public comment on D-Block revisions, but already the agency has begun receiving suggestions from industry, public safety and academics. ... - Jeffrey Silva.

Digital, analog radio operations for safety forces debated
The-News-Leader - Ravenna,OH,USA
According to Steve Libby, Summit County director of public safety, 21 of the county's 31 communities have switched or are switching to the county's digital ...

WiMax, 3G, 4G and LTE - What does it all mean?

WiMax, 3G, 4G and LTE - What does it all mean?
Services typically include mobile wide-area wireless voice telephony, video calls and broadband wireless data. Additional features also include High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) data transmission capabilities able to deliver speeds up to ...

WyoLink: making connections in Wyoming
SmallTownPapers News Service - Seattle,WA,USA
Bob Symons, administrative support for the Public Safety Communications Commission (PSCC), which governs the rules and regulations of WyoLink, said that, ...

Harman proposes PSST funding bill

Harman proposes PSST funding bill
MRT (subscription) - Chicago,IL,USA
yesterday introduced legislation that would authorize as much as $2 million in grants to the 700 MHz public-safety broadband licensee—currently the Public ...

FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH THE REAUCTION

 

FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH THE REAUCTION

OF THE 700 MHZ D BLOCK SPECTRUM AND CREATION OF A NATIONWIDE, INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND NETWORK.  News Release. (Dkt No 06-150, 06-229).

Adopted: 05/14/2008. News Media Contact: Robert Kenny at (202) 418-2668 (PSHSB)
or Chelsea Fallon (202) 418-7991 (WTB)  PSHSB, WTB. Contact Peter
Trachtenberg  (Commercial Services) at (202) 418-7369 or Jeff Cohen
(Public Safety) (202) 418-0799
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282151A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282151A2.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282151A3.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282151A4.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282151A5.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282151A6.pdf>

 

 SERVICE RULES FOR THE 698-746, 747-762 AND 777-792 MHZ BANDS

IMPLEMENTING A NATIONWIDE, BROADBAND, INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY
NETWORK IN THE 700 MHZ BAND.   FCC seeks comment on how it should
proceed with the reauction of the 700 MHz D block spectrum and creation
of a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network. By
Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. (Dkt No.  06-150, 06-229).
Action by:  the Commission. Adopted:  05/14/2008 by NPRM. (FCC No.
08-128).  WTB
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-128A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-128A2.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-128A3.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-128A4.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-128A5.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-128A6.pdf>

FCC Seeks Public Input on Public Safety Spectrum

FCC Seeks Public Input on Public Safety Spectrum
PC Magazine - USA
The FCC had the option of stripping the d-block of public safety requirements and re-auctioning it without any conditions, but will instead solicit comment ...

FCC petition for reconsideration and a request for clarification - a notice of proposed rulemaking will be
released prior to adoption of a 6.25 kHz technology transition schedule...

...language in the Third Report and Order encouraging licensees to
consider migrating directly to 6.25 kHz technology was not intended to
dissuade migration to 12.5 kHz technology by licensees that have
already begun the process.

Adopted: May 12, 2008
Released: May 13, 2008

Full text of FCC's 4th MO&O in Docket WT 99-87:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-127A1.pdf

Rallying the rural troops

Rallying The Rural Troops

Cyren Call’s O’Brien lays out D-Block pitch at RCA

By Dan Meyer

Story posted: May 3, 2008 - 5:59 am EDT

LAS VEGAS — Despite troubles brewing back in Washington, D.C., regarding Cyren Call Communication Corp.’s handling of its partnership with the Public Safety Spectrum Trust in regards to the failed auction of the D-Block license, Chairman Morgan O’Brien took Cyren Call’s message to the people last week speaking at the Rural Cellular Association’s 16th Annual Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas.

Cablevision To Build Wireless Broadband Network

Cablevision To Build Wireless Broadband Network
Washington Post - United States
Just days after Sprint (NYSE: S) and Clearwire (NSDQ: CLWR) announced their WiMax deal, cable TV provider Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) said on Thursday in a ...

FCC TO HOLD OPEN COMMISSION MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 14

FCC TO HOLD OPEN COMMISSION MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008

<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282024A1.pdf>

 

FCC Sets Agenda For May Open Meeting

FCC Sets Agenda For May Open Meeting
Streaming Magazine - West Palm Beach,FL,USA
... rulemaking seeking comment on rules for the upper 700 Mhz D Block, the public-safety broadband spectrum, and the 700 MHz Public/Private Partnership…

Massive WiMax Deal Closes Merging Clearwire And Sprint ...