Recognizing the importance of broadband, over the last ten years NPSTC has assembled public safety practitioners, industry, and academia to research what would be needed in a nationwide broadband network for public safety.  This was before FirstNet existed or before there was even the addition of the D Block to the public safety spectrum allocated in 700 MHz. From the earlier 2007 Broadband Task Force report to the most recent 2017 report on LTE Broadband Deployable Systems, NPSTC has coordinated thousands of stakeholders over the past ten years.

A Little Broadband History:  In 2007, NPSTC's Broadband Working Group developed the Public Safety 700 MHz Broadband Statement of Requirements to assist with the development of a nationwide interoperable broadband network for public safety agencies.  The report states, "This work was undertaken following the decision of the Federal Communications Commission to establish a Public Safety Broadband Licensee, and reflected the outcome of a first opportunity to solicit and develop public safety broadband requirements."

NPSTC Publishes BBBWG Launch SoR.  The groundbreaking legislation that created FirstNet established the governance and identified the funding necessary to build a public safety broadband network.  NPSTC focused on developing a statement of public safety's technical and administrative requirements in the immediate-, medium-, and long-terms. In December 2012, NPSTC presented the Public Safety Broadband High-Level Launch Requirements, Statement of Requirements for FirstNet Consideration (SoR), to the FirstNet PSAC.  Prior to writing the 700 MHz Public Safety SoR, NPSTC created five task groups in 2011 to research specific issues, including Direct Mode, Technical Requirements for MCV, Priority and Quality of Service (QoS), MMES [MultiMedia Emergency Services], Local Control, and Security.

Here is a list of NPSTC reports on public safety broadband requirements from most the recent to the earliest:

NPSTC/CSS Broadband Deployable Systems Report (March 31, 2017)

FirstNet Local Web Status Page Report (December 2, 2016)

Public Safety Local Control Final Report (October 2015)

Priority and Quality of Service in the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network Report (August 2015)

FirstNet and Next Generation 9-1-1: High-Level Overview of Systems and Functionality Report (June 2015)

Public Safety Broadband Console Requirements (September 2014)

NPSTC/APCO Defining Public Safety Grade Systems and Facilities (May 2014)

Radio Programming Compatibility Requirements (PCR) Project Report (April 2014)

Public Safety Broadband Push-to-Talk over Long Term Evolution Requirements (July 2013)

Public Safety Broadband High-Level Launch Requirements, Statement of Requirements for FirstNet Consideration (December 2012)

Use Cases & Requirements for Public Safety Multimedia Emergency Services (MMES) Report (Rev C, November 2012)

Priority and QoS in the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network Report (April 2012)

Local Control in the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (Rev F, February 2012)

Mission Critical Voice Communications Requirements for Public Safety (August 2011)

700 MHz Public Safety Broadband Task Force Report and Recommendations (September 2009)

Public Safety 700 MHz Broadband Statement of Requirements (November 2007)

Now that ATT has been chosen as a partner to FirstNet, NPSTC continues to identify areas that public safety needs to provide their requirements and input.  NPSTC's Working Groups and Committees continue to work hard to ensure that public safety requirements are met as the network is developed and improved over the next few years.  This is an exciting time for public safety communications. We are closely watching and listening as discussions are occurring within states developing state plans.  The thousands of participants assisting with all of our requirements are waiting for the deployment of the network.  NPSTC will continue to meet the needs of the communications community and look to FirstNet to support these requirements.

        

 

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials | American Radio Relay League | Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies | Association of Public Safety Communications Officials | Forestry Conservation Communications Association | International Association of Chiefs of Police | International Associate of Emergency Managers | International Association of Fire Chiefs | International Municipal Signal Association | National Association of State Chief Information Officers | National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials | National Association of State Foresters | National Association of State Technology Directors | National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators | National Sheriffs' Association | National Emergency Number Association

 

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