June 12, 2009 – A Major Milestone Reached on the Long Road to 700 MHz Spectrum
By Stu Overby

Anyone who has taken a road trip with their family is familiar with the often-asked question “Are we there yet?” And if you were the driver, you undoubtedly advised “We‘ll be there soon; pay attention along the way so you don‘t miss something.” Over the past 13 years working to secure and clear 700 MHz band spectrum and obtain compatible rules for its use, the public safety family has often asked that question many times as well. Heeding the same advice as that for a road trip, the public safety community and industry have paid attention along the way and now have reached a major milestone on this long and winding journey. June 12, 2009, marks the conclusion of the analog to digital television transition when full power analog television stations will vacate 700 MHz and clear that spectrum throughout the entire U.S. In addition to benefiting public safety, the 700 MHz spectrum purchased by commercial operators through auctions will also be cleared.

This has been a grueling trip, one which has required the vigilance and continued involvement of the public safety community and the mobile communications industry, along with key actions from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and TV broadcasters. Yet, it has been a road well-worth traveling. The 24 MHz of public safety spectrum in the 700 MHz band is essentially the same amount of spectrum that local and state public safety agencies have in the VHF, UHF, and 800 MHz bands combined.

The success in doubling the spectrum allocated and cleared for public safety wide-area mobile communications throughout the U.S. is a direct result of the many public safety organizations speaking with a powerful and common voice to accomplish the goal. The Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC), the National Coordinating Committee (NCC), and subsequently NPSTC, played a key role in coordinating across the multiple organizations.

Public safety officially started down the path to 700 MHz when the PSWAC report, issued September 11, 1996, identified the 700 MHz band as a key part of the solution to meet public safety spectrum needs. In 1997, Congress directed the FCC to allocate 24 MHz of spectrum from television channels 60-69 for new and expanded public safety radio communications operations. In 1998, the FCC assigned TV channels 63, 64, 68, and 69 to public safety. The 1997 law required the broadcasters to vacate the channels by December 31, 2006, unless they had not achieved 85 percent market penetration for their DTV signals.

While obtaining that spectrum allocation was a huge step for public safety, it became apparent that without further action, most markets would not reach such DTV penetration, broadcasters could continue broadcasting analog signals indefinitely, and public safety would not achieve real access to the promised spectrum throughout the country. Accordingly, the public safety community, supported by members of industry, took action to obtain a firm date by which the DTV transition would conclude and the spectrum would be cleared. Public safety organizations fought tenaciously to obtain a firm date to clear this much-needed spectrum, including efforts from the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Congressional Fire Services Institute, International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), Major County Sheriffs’ Association (MCSA), Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO), National League of Cities (NLC), the National Association of Counties (NaCO), the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), and others.

DTV Transition Date Set, with a Bonus of Public Safety Funding

In early February 2006, Congress passed and the President signed legislation to address the digital television (DTV) transition. The legislation, which was part of its 2006 budget reconciliation bill, set February 17, 2009, as the date certain for completion of the DTV transition. It also earmarked $990 million of the 700 MHz commercial spectrum auction proceeds toward a digital-to-analog converter box program, with a provision that allowed for the amount available to increase to $1.5 billion if Congress needed more money to fulfill the program. This has proven to be an important element of implementing the DTV transition. Also, $1 billion of the expected 700 MHz band auction revenue was earmarked for a grant program to help public safety agencies obtain and deploy interoperable communications systems. The resulting Public Safety Interoperability Communications (PSIC) grant program required each state, working with localities, to develop a statewide interoperability plan. In return, the PSIC program provides states and their localities with significant funding now being used to improve communications systems and train personnel. Subsequent legislation passed in early 2009 provided a short extension of the DTV transition date from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009 to allow additional time for the public to deploy converter boxes and be ready for the transition.

“A key benefit of the 700 MHz band spectrum for public safety telecommunications is that it will allow for new and expanded multiagency communications systems to promote interoperability among first responders in the field,” Alan Caldwell, IAFC, said when the original 2008 legislation creating a date certain passed. “While there are many causes and solutions to the interoperability problem, in many cases the most effective long-term solution is to consolidate agencies on the same radio system, or at least on systems in compatible frequency bands. It will help ease congestion in the 800 MHz and other public safety bands, and it will allow public safety to access advanced technologies including wide area mobile data applications that can furnish important on-the-scene data for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel with high-speed data and high-resolution video and still images.”

Prior to the passage of the original transition bill, Harlin McEwen, representing the IACP on NPSTC’s Governing Board, and then Vice Chair of NPSTC, noted that there was no longer any new spectrum available in the ten bands utilized by public safety. “The new spectrum [at 700 MHz] is the only area for expansion. When one considers the new and evolving requirements for homeland security, the need for greater regionalism and interoperability, plus the need to keep up with new technologies to ensure safe and adequate daily operations,” he said, at the time, “then the need for this new spectrum becomes apparent as the paramount communications issue.”

As with any long trip, there are both major milestones and smaller milestones to be remembered. The road to 700 MHz has included many accomplishments in addition to the major milestone of a clearing date on June 12, 2009. These have included development and adoption of rules of the road for use of the narrowband portion of the 700 MHz public safety spectrum (12 MHz), licensing narrowband channels to each state, significant progress on regional planning, and availability of interoperable equipment from multiple manufacturers which meet the current narrowband 700 MHz rules. As of June 3, 2009, 21 of the 55 regions have approved plans and 8 more have plans pending FCC approval.

We Have Arrived!

The newly available spectrum will support new 700 MHz interoperable narrowband systems and provide additional capacity for existing 800 MHz systems. While approximately 45 narrowband systems have already been deployed over the last few years in selected areas where TV incumbency is not an issue, the end of the DTV transition on June 12, 2009, now makes the spectrum available throughout the country.

What’s Next?

There has been a significant amount of work by the public safety community and the FCC over the past 3 years on making the broadband portion of the 700 MHz band spectrum available. Additional work on that issue is ongoing with the expectation that the process will ramp up even more once a new permanent chairman is in place at the FCC. Just recently, eight major public safety organizations agreed on important next steps to take with Congress and the FCC regarding the 700 MHz broadband initiative. Once the remaining issues on 700 MHz broadband are decided and those systems begin to be deployed, police, fire, and emergency medical agencies will also have new communications tools to deliver higher speed data and video information to and from their personnel in the field.

As public safety entities deploy either narrowband or broadband systems at 700 MHz, they should also be aware that the DTV transition does not apply to low power TV (LPTV) stations, TV translators, or to users of wireless microphones in the 700 MHz band. In June 2008, NPSTC recommended that the FCC initiate a rulemaking to prohibit certification, marketing, import, and use of wireless microphones in the 700 MHz band. The FCC issued a proposal addressing this issue in August 2009. NPSTC has been participating with other organizations in an effort to obtain FCC decisions on this issue.

Public safety agencies will need to notify LPTV and TV translator licensees of any 700 MHz operations they plan to deploy. The notifications would be targeted to LPTV and TV translator stations on conflicting channels within interference range of pending public safety deployments and would advise these licensees of the need to move to an alternative channel. Such notifications should be made approximately 9 months before the actual planned operation on the spectrum. NPSTC’s 700 MHz Advocacy Working Group studied this issue and released an informational paper, with a template letter and additional analysis and resources for addressing the risk of interference from LPTV and other secondary sources. To assist public safety agencies, the entire package is available at http://www.npstc.org/lowPowerTV.jsp.

While the road to obtain spectrum for public safety is often long and grueling, the light at the end of the tunnel is the improved communications that provide additional safety and security for public safety personnel and the public they serve. I can think of no more important conclusion to our trip.

Stu Overby is Vice Chair, NPSTC Spectrum Management Committee.

U.S./Canada Niagara Falls Meeting Focuses on a Unified Approach to Cross-Border Communications
By Terry LaValley

Editor’s Note: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) and Public Safety Canada co-hosted the inaugural U.S.-Canada Cross Border Interoperable Communications Workshop, held on May 13 - 15, 2009, in Niagara Falls, New York.

This event assembled a broad base of users and officials from all levels of government from both nations with an interest in cross-border communications along the U.S.-Canada border, including NPSTC’s associate member, the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG). Through topic-based panels and interactive breakout sessions, the workshop aimed to help users and officials to develop a common understanding of and a unified approach to U.S.-Canadian cross- border interoperability challenges. During the workshop, participants were to have the opportunity to provide direct input to senior U.S. and Canadian government officials regarding future action plans to address those cross-border interoperability challenges identified in the breakout sessions.

I attended this meeting expecting to present information about the challenges Vermont has faced when we attempted to secure spectrum within the U.S./Canadian border region for the development of an interoperable radio system and to hear about what others have experienced along the U.S./Canadian border. I also wanted to hear from a regulatory viewpoint what changes I could make to our processes that would increase our chances of securing channels.

On the first day of the conference, I listened to a panel discussion made up of members of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), Industry Canada (IC), and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). During this presentation the FCC indicated that approximately 85 percent of the applications submitted within the border regions are approved on their first attempt. This comment completely surprised me due to my recent experience when attempting to license the VHF/UHF national set-aside channels for interoperability within Vermont, which took more than a year and in which we were only partially successful. However, I began to question if this was only a Vermont /New England regional issue. During the course of the conference, it quickly became apparent that this issue was not isolated to New England. Challenges were heard from participants across the country and frustrations were expressed by most attendees present.

This exchange of frustrations and concerns was great, for this was the very reason I thought we were here. This was an excellent opportunity for practitioners and regulators to discuss firsthand the historical licensing challenges and present regulatory environment and the need for change. Changes that would facilitate successfully obtaining spectrum needed for the development of interoperable radio networks not only for U.S. practitioners but for our Canadian partners who rely on each other daily in the protection of life and property within the U.S. and Canada.

Discussions took place in reference to U.S. set-aside channels in the VHF and UHF bands and challenges associated with using this spectrum within the border regions. We also discussed issues surrounding the interoperability channels in the 800 MHz spectrum that were originally harmonized with Canada but are now changed due to rebanding. Conversations occurred in reference to using the 700 MHz spectrum for interoperability and the costs of development in rural areas that may impose insurmountable financial challenges.

We also talked about reality and acknowledged what has been happening at the local level where many first responders have developed ad hoc solutions in the interest of protecting lives and property of the citizens and protecting each other. Many of these solutions may not be officially sanctioned by the regulatory bodies, but that does not change the fact that they are in use on a daily basis and they meet the needs of the first responder.

The tone of the participants was that cultural change is needed to influence leadership within the regulatory bodies to officially allow these solutions to exist, and these entities need to hear the voices of the first responders before decisions are made that impact these professionals. There was a need for better coordination and communication between the U.S. and Canadian spectrum managers. The NTIA, the FCC, State Department, IC, and other concerned parties need to discuss historical policies, processes, treaties, and agreements and evaluate these documents and possibly refresh them to reflect the needs of today. Good communications make for good, informed decisions. Many attendees viewed this gathering as a step in the right direction.

These historical problems have been discussed for many years and hopefully the time has come to move from conceptual possibilities to reality. A champion that is credible and influential is needed to lead the charge.

The voice and needs of public safety entities along the border needs to be heard by the regulators. One possible forum would be to invite a public safety representative to attend the Radio Technical Liaison Committee (RTLC) meetings. Coordination between the U.S. and Canada for the use of non-broadcast spectrum takes place under the auspices of the RTLC. The RTLC provides a forum for direct exchange of information between the technical experts of both countries with the aim of facilitating achievement of spectrum-sharing arrangements necessary for licensing of individual stations. RTLC meetings have been conducted between IC and FCC technical experts since the early 1980s, and occur approximately one to three times per year. These meetings involve substantial participation by the relevant operating Bureaus and Offices within the FCC and government agencies, most notably, the Department of State and NTIA.

The FCC and IC should be applauded for actively participating in the meetings. My impression: This is an excellent result and the message is being heard! During the closing plenary session the FCC and IC agreed to look at the following issues.

• A white paper will be developed to describe how IC and the FCC engineering models are used in spectrum management. Currently, both countries and the applicant all use different engineering models to manage and obtain spectrum. Without common parameters, it is virtually impossible to obtain the same results. These reports are used by the applicant to support their request for spectrum.
• Consideration will be given as to what the appropriate levels of interference should be for optimum spectrum sharing and efficiency.
• An agreement was reached in 1952 between the U.S. and Canada to allow use of radio channels within each other’s countries in the pursuit of official public safety business. This agreement needs to be reviewed to determine if it is still applicable.
• IC will conduct a study of VHF and UHF spectrum along the border to see if any spectrum can be identified for interoperability.
• Completed – Call signs will be added to the documents an applicant receives from the FCC notifying them an applications has been denied by IC for HIA (Harmful Interference Anticipated). This is important information for researching possible technical solutions

OEC, Public Safety Canada, and CITIG should be commended for bringing everyone together to resolve these issues. CITIG’s Director Lance Valcour told our group that we need to assume a “Yes we can” attitude and he is right. The right players were at the meeting and there are no excuses now. We know each other and should continue talking about solutions.

Terry LaValley, Chair, Northern Border Task Force is the Communications Program Manager Vermont Department of Public Safety.

Message from NPSTC’s Chair
By Ralph Haller

The DTV transition has finally occurred. June 12 is the magic date when all full service television stations shut off all analog transmission and now transmit only in digital format. At long last, this will free up the 700 MHz spectrum for public safety use. But, there are still many unanswered questions that may impede public safety from actually firing up transmitters. First, there is the issue of transitioning narrowband users who built out based on the old channel plan to the new channel plan. So far, this issue is unfunded, meaning little to no transitioning is taking place. Second, there is the issue of the public-private partnership and the D-Block auction. Although most assumed that the re-auction of the D-Block was on the fast track at the FCC, that does not appear to be the case. There remains an unresolved Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking relating to the D-Block auction and the details of the broadband build out. Third, regional planning is still in process in many regions. Licensing cannot begin in a region until the regional plan has received FCC approval. Finally, Low Power television (LPTV) stations and TV translators were not required to meet the June 12 date and will require individual attention to assure that they leave the 700 MHz band. So, we are making progress, but the task remains substantial.

NPSTC filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC to amend the rules relating to land mobile sharing of the 470 – 512 MHz band with television stations. The petition requested the FCC to update the rules to include protection criteria for digital television stations and expansion of permitted operational areas. The FCC asked for comments on the petition and all comments were favorable toward the petition, including those of the Association for Maximum Service Television, Inc., and the National Association of Broadcasters. The next step will be for the FCC to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to put forward some specific rule changes. With the support for the NPSTC petition, hopefully the FCC will issue the NPRM in the very near future.

The economy is certainly taking its toll on everyone, including NPSTC. NPSTC has had to reduce the number of face-to-face meetings this year, but considerable work is nevertheless in progress in the various Committees. We have also had good success with holding meetings by teleconference. Anyone with an interest in getting involved with any NPSTC issue is encouraged to visit our web site and review the action items for each Committee. If you are interested in public safety, you should be involved with NPSTC.

Director’s Column
By Marilyn Ward

What a busy time for the public safety community! If you had told me 10 years ago that millions of dollars would be made available for communications, I would have laughed. I remember in 2002, while at work at Orange County Public Safety Communications Division in Florida, talking with our nine county representatives on the Domestic Security Task Force about applying for communications grants. They laughed at me just 7 years ago saying that dollars for us were “few and far between!” Today we have gained a lot of attention to interoperability, and operability of public safety systems and there is so much money flowing, it has consumed our community trying to spend it wisely. Over the past few years, grants have been made to purchase equipment, however, today there are several which allow for planning and assistance to state and locals for administrative work. This is great news! Most of local communications managers do not have time or staff to do “other work” aside from their keeping up the day-to-day running of their systems. Hopefully, these grants will assist to support in the development of governance for regional sharing and interoperable systems.

Now that equipment has been purchased and deployed, governance and training should be addressed. We need to get mutual aid agreements completed, SOPs developed, and move the process to the next level. The National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) has a clear roadmap to assist us in developing a national strategy for interoperability. The Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) and the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC) through SAFECOM, have provided tools and templates for use by agencies that do not have staff to develop their own. We are further along than ever expected to accomplishing a nationwide systems of systems. With the input of local and state public safety and the coordination of the federal partners, we can all do this together.

NPSTC has been a proponent of coordination and consensus building for 12 years and we continue to be involved with the community to influence policy and regulatory bodies whose decisions impact public safety. These are tough economic times and everyone is struggling with cutbacks and limitations on travel. We are not an exception and, yet, we have been working to offer you many ways to provide your input into the process: through the NPSTC website, toll-free call-in numbers for meeting attendance and Committee work, newsletter articles, and meetings. In addition, we support the National Interoperability Information Exchange (NIIX) for use by the public safety community to house and share documents. We have Web-EX training for NIIX users and accessible support on a toll-free number. The NIIX program is supported by the SAFECOM partners for all levels of public safety users. Recently, the functionality for threaded discussions was activated on NIIX and it can be used to discuss topics of interest to your community. We encourage you to utilize all the tools available on NIIX.

The NPSTC meeting in June will be active on several fronts; we are going to discuss broadband requirements and several filings to the FCC, among other topics. Please call in and join in the discussions.

Spotlight on Member Organizations NASTD
By Paul Czarnecki, NASTD Technology Analyst

The National Association of State Technology Directors (NASTD) represents technology professionals from the 50 states and the private sector. Founded in 1978 and originally known as the National Association of State Telecommunications Directors, NASTD changed its name in 2007 to reflect the wider range of operational responsibilities its members have. NASTD promotes the effective use of telecommunications technology and services to improve the operation of state government.

State members provide and manage state government communications services and facilities for state agencies and other public entities, often including hospitals, prisons, colleges and universities. NASTD members also play a strategic role in planning and shaping state government communications infrastructures and policies. Corporate members provide communications technology, services and equipment to state government.

Getting Organized and Achieving National Visibility

In 1989, NASTD, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO), and a number of federal, county and city agencies, began to work cooperatively on Project 25 to develop digital radio standards by and for public safety wireless users.

NASTD expanded its membership to include other governmental departments or agencies with a responsibility for, or interest in, telecommunications, in 1998, transforming itself from an association of 50 state telecommunications directors to an association for "telecommunications and technology professionals in state government." Beginning in 2004, NASTD established formal relationships with SAFECOM in the Department of Homeland Security and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), although NASTD had representatives participating in NPSTC from its creation in 1997.

NASTD was a founding member of the TIA Project 25 steering committee, when NPSTC formed; it was a natural progression to participate. Being a member of NPSTC allows NASTD to participate in the formulation of guidelines that will have an eventual impact on every state, both financially and in deployment of communications resources that meet industry standards.

NASTD member R.D. Porter, Director of Information Security for the state of Missouri says, “NASTD brings a unique public perspective to NPSTC by representing states as a whole entity. While within each state there are various public safety groups with specific needs and desires, NASTD expresses the opinions that reflect the combination of all the individual groups and the more global aspect of utilization analysis.”

Interoperability and the ability of state and local entities to share scarce resources are main concerns. Governance is also a concern, particularly regarding the coordination of efforts between federal, state and local authorities along with efficient deployment and utilization of state resources.

NASTD currently participates in NPSTC with a primary and secondary member to the council. They also have three members on the TIA Project 25 steering committee and and an internal Public Safety Wireless special interest group that shares information with all the members and provides a forum for questions or communications on an as-needed basis.

State information and communications technology professionals gather at several meetings annually to exchange information. Members can also participate in monthly conference calls for their respective regions or special interest groups relevant to their fields of interest.

NASTD state members have a wealth of knowledge about the business of state government information and communication technology. They can use the information found in the NASTD Web library and online discussion forums to advance the network technologies in their states. Members use the association as an informal consulting service, with queries on RFPs, new technologies, vendor services and general issues resulting in immediate responses through discussion lists, e-mail and phone calls.

“NASTD is many things, and among those, we’re a nationwide IT advisory resource available to you with a phone call, e-mail or discussion list question”, says Bernie O’Donnell, NASTD eastern region president and Director of Communications Services for the state of Connecticut. He continues, “The breadth and depth of knowledge and the level of responsiveness available to you is incredible.”

Jim Edman, Deputy CIO for South Dakota adds, “The cost of membership is miniscule when compared to the access opportunities presented. A single RFI or RFP, product evaluation, service expertise, sharing cost information or contractual details from another state will dwarf the annual membership costs.”

Corporate members emphasize the opportunities to interact and network with state telecommunications professionals on trends, directions, challenges and issues. Access to the membership database saves companies time and money when trying to identify the right contact for a particular state.

NASTD recently completed its first strategic plan, detailing the organization’s vision, mission, guiding principles and strategic goals. Current President Nancy Bochat, Telecommunications Manager for the state of Missouri, has labeled the plan “A living and breathing document that is flexible enough to change as NASTD and our environments stretch.”

One of NASTD’s goals identified in the strategic plan is “to reach out to other associations also serving our members and affiliates. ” Continued involvement with NPSTC is part of meeting this goal.

Regulatory Update
By Bette Rinehart

FCC Provides Licensing Guidance to Part 90 Applicants in the Canadian Border Regions

The FCC has released a Public Notice that contains guidance and links to websites to assist Part 90 applicants located close to the Canadian border with the goal of improving the overall Canadian approval rate for U.S. license applications.

The Public Notice provides a link to Industry Canada’s licensing database (http://spectrumdirect.ic.gc.ca/) on which U.S. applicants can search for incumbent co-channel or adjacent channel Canadian licensees who could be impacted. Most, but not all licensed stations in Canada can be found on that database. Searches can be conducted on individual frequencies or on entire frequency bands. If an incumbent Canadian licensee is discovered, the U.S. applicant should consider performing an engineering study to determine whether or not the proposed operations would cause interference to the Canadian incumbent. The interference analysis should use generally accepted engineering models and consider worst-case scenarios. Analysis can be based on terrain-sensitive models using terrain data consistent with data used in Canada (http://www.geobase.ca/geobase/en/data/cded/index.html). U.S. terrain data can be found at http://www.fcc.gov/oet/dtv/dtv_apps.html. The Public Notice also describes the procedure to ensure that the engineering studies are sent to Canada and the signal strength limits at which Industry Canada will typically reject a U.S. coordination request.

The text of the Public Notice is available at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1064A1.doc

AASHTO Files Petition for Rulemaking To Allow Part 90 VHF/UHF Licensees to Remove Emission Designators without Frequency Coordination

The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC asking that the frequency coordination rules in 90.175 be amended to allow licensees to remove an already-licensed wideband emission designator without receiving frequency coordination. AASHTO believes that permitting a licensee to remove a wideband (20, 16, or 15 kHz) emission designator without frequency coordination will facilitate compliance with the impending narrowbanding deadline of January 1, 2013. In its Petition, AASHTO continues to support frequency coordination for the addition or change of an emission designator citing that this is important for the integrity of the Commission’s database.

AASHTO has asked the FCC for expedited processing of its rulemaking request. The AASHTO petition is at:
http://downloads.transportation.org/NarrowbandEmissionPetition_051809.pdf.

Enterprise Wireless Association (EWA) Files Petition for Rulemaking to Modify 800 MHz Frequency Assignment Rules

The Enterprise Wireless Association (EWA) has filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC asking to modify the 800 MHz frequency plan to create new, interstitial 12.5 kHz frequencies in between the existing 25 kHz channel centers.

The main points of EWA’s proposal follow:

• Permit licensing of interstitial 12.5 kHz bandwidth frequencies at full power if engineering studies show that no interference will be caused to incumbent 25 kHz licensees.
• The interstitial frequencies would be limited to 11 kHz occupied bandwidth
• The “regular” 800 MHz frequencies would remain 25 kHz. Proposal does not suggest creating a narrowband deadline for 800 MHz.
• Interstitial frequencies would be general category and assignable to any Part 90 eligible no matter what pool the adjacent frequency was assigned to. For example, a Public Safety eligible could apply for an interstitial frequency in the Industrial/Business Pool and vice versa.
• The NPSPAC frequencies and the ESMR frequencies are exempt from EWA’s proposal.

A copy of the EWA Petition is available at:
http://www.ita-relay.com/advocacy/EWA%20Petition%20800%20MHZ%20Revitalization.pdf

Public Safety Associations Agree to Ask Congress to Allocate the 700 MHz D Block to Pubic Safety

In late May several public safety associations met to discuss matters related to the development of a nationwide interoperable broadband network and substantially agreed to the following:

• Petition Congress to reallocate the D-Block to public safety creating a single 20 MHz block of broadband public spectrum.
• Support the approval of waiver requests for early build-out of 700 MHz broadband public safety spectrum.

The associations also substantially agreed on the need for sustainable funding for the Public Safety Spectrum Trust’s operations and on general approaches regarding licensing, roaming, levels of service, and technical requirements of the national network.

The associations participating in the meeting were hosted by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials - International (APCO), and included the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC), Major County Sheriffs’ Association (MCS), Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (MFCA), National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), and the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA).

The text of the News Release is available at:
http://www.apco911.org/new/news/nationwide_broadband_network.php

Region 24 (Missouri) Files Petition To Extend 700 MHz Spectrum Efficiency and State License Construction Deadlines Based on DTV Conversion Extension

Region 24 (Missouri) has filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC asking that the spectrum efficiency and state license construction build-out deadlines be extended for approximately 2 years, until June 12, 2019. Region 24 asks that the 5-year state build-out deadline (coverage to 1/3 of the state or population) be extended until June 12, 2014.

The FCC has not yet placed Region 24’s Petition on Public Notice but once it does, interested parties can file comments in support of the Petition.

Twenty-One 700 MHz Regional Plans Approved; Five More 700 MHz Plans Pending

Because their 700 MHz Regional Plan has been approved, public safety agencies in 21 Regions (shown in green in the map taken from the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau’s website) can file applications for 700 MHz narrowband frequencies. The only remaining hurdle for some of these Regions will be removed once the June 12 DTV Transition date has passed.

Region 9 (Florida) approved on April 20.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-874A1.doc

Region 16 (Kansas) approved on April 21.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-877A1.doc

Region 18 (Louisiana) approved on April 21.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-876A1.doc

Region 19 (New England) Plan Amendment approved on April 21.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-879A1.doc

Region 8 (New York Metro and Northern New Jersey) on May 4.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1009A1.doc

The FCC put eleven more 700 MHz Regional Plans on Public Notice in April and May:

Region 40 (North Texas/Dallas) Comments due April 23; Replies due May 4. Text of the Public Notice available at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-770A1.doc

Region 27 (Nevada) Comments due April 23; Replies due May 4. Text of the Public Notice available at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-771A1.doc

Region 55 (Western NY/Buffalo) Comments due April 23; Replies due May 4. Text of the Public Notice available at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-769A1.doc

Region 30 (Eastern New York State); Comments due May 26; Replies due June 3, 2009.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1006A1.doc

Region 10 (Georgia); Comments due May 28; Replies due June 8.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1038A1.doc

Region 12 (Idaho); Comments due May 28; Replies due June 8.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1039A1.doc

Region 33 (Ohio): Comments due June 1; Replies due June 11.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1048A1.doc

Region 54 (Southern Lake Michigan) Comments due June 3; Replies due June 15.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1069A1.doc

Region 39 (Tennessee) Plan Amendment: Comments due June 1; Replies due June 8.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1051A1.doc

Region 13 (Illinois): Comments due June 4; Replies due June 15.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1076A1.doc

Region 28 (E. PA/S. NJ): Comments due June 4; Replies due June 15.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1074A1.doc

In June, the FCC approved the following 700 MHz Regional Plans:

Region 27 (Nevada) on June 2.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1235A1.doc

Region 55 (W. New York) on June 2.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1237A1.doc

Region 40 (Texas-Dallas Area) on June 3.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-1241A1.doc

Bette Rinehart is Chair of the Editorial Review Working Group.

FEMA Offers Technical Assistance to Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grantees

For states and territories beginning their PSIC projects, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate has assembled an array of coordinated grantee assistance. From project management templates to system engineering reports, FEMA is ready to help grantees effectively implement their PSIC Investments.

Please note that this assistance is not the same as the Office of Emergency Communication’s (OEC) technical assistance that is delivered through the Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (ICTAP). However, the PSIC Grant Program is coordinating with OEC ICTAP to identify any PSIC-related technical assistance requested through ICTAP that may be fulfilled through PSIC Grantee Assistance.

PSIC assistance requests must be submitted by the State Administrative Agency, including support for sub-grantees. For more information on how to apply, visit FEMA’s website. Grantee assistance includes the following.

Since We Last Met…

IWCE – NPSTC Hosts Brainstorming Session and Raffles “Rooty”

In March 2009, NPSTC, welcomed attendees of the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) to a “meet and greet,” an open meeting to exchange ideas and concerns, discuss current public safety telecommunications issues, and provide further information on NPSTC to those interested in learning more about the Council and its member organizations.

NPSTC also hosted an exhibit booth, provided by the conference venue and staffed with volunteers from the Governing Board; presented a panel, titled ”Current Events within the Public Safety Communications Community” on March 18; and provided a National Interoperability Information eXchange (NIIX) training session to assist newly registered users and those seeking a refresher course.

Laana & Lun Brite, Brite Style Construction, Inc., visitors to the NPSTC booth, pictured below, were the proud winners of Rooty, the NPSTC mascot.

NIIX Adds Threaded Discussions

NIIX now has 90 communities with almost 1,700 users taking advantage of this free secure website for working on documents and storing them. On May 11, 2009, the National Interoperability Information Exchange (NIIX) added the ability for NIIX users to respond to one another through threaded discussions. A threaded discussion is an electronic discussion that groups messages in a hierarchy by topic. Threaded discussions typically allow users to reply to a particular posting within a topic's thread.

Training sessions on how to enhance your community’s ability to share and create documents through the added functionality of threaded discussions can be arranged by emailing support@niix.org or calling 1-866-807-4755.

NIIX has grown in usage and functionality in two short years.

NPSTC Comments on Proposed NTIA Guidelines to PSIC Funding

NPSTC submitted Comments to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in response to the environmental guidelines proposed by NTIA that would adversely affect certain recipients of the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) funding. NPSTC believes the proposed approach is unnecessarily duplicative of established processes the FCC already has in place that apply to communications facilities, including those that will be funded by the PSIC Grant Program.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires any program that receives federal funds must demonstrate that their projects will have no significant detrimental impact to natural and human environments, including those of a cultural nature. The PSIC grant program has a technical support team available to assist agencies in complying with NEPA.

Bill Introduced to Extend the Interoperable Emergency Grants to 2012

On March 31, 2009, Anh Cao (R. LA) introduced H.R. 1819, to amend the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 to extend the interoperable emergency communications grant program through fiscal year 2012. See http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1819/show for bill details. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It appears the bill has only one sponsor. Letters from interested parties to their respective members will improve the likelihood of rapid passage.

OEC Celebrates Second Anniversary

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) celebrated its second anniversary and its important achievement last year with the release of the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP). With this vision as a guide, OEC has made significant strides in the area of coordination and collaboration the past year.

Through the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center (ECPC), and the establishment of the Statewide Interoperability Coordinators Council (SWICC), and the Metropolitan Area Working Group, OEC fostered valuable information exchange and relationship building. OEC supported the coordination of a successful shared infrastructure demonstration project in Wyoming, which will serve as a best practice for future federal-state coordination efforts. OEC has worked with the international community to address unique interoperable emergency communications challenges on the Northern and Southern borders.

OEC also improved the focus and effectiveness of federal emergency communications grants, with the release of the SAFECOM Recommended Guidance for Federal Grant Programs, which aligns federal grant funding with the goals and objectives of the NECP.

OEC is in the process of supporting 50 Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (SCIP) Implementation Workshops, and has over 230 technical assistance requests from 54 states and territories. To date, OEC has trained over 750 Communications Unit Leaders (COMLs) and plans to have 1,000 trained by the end of 2009.

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) and Amateur Radio – A Valuable Partnership

Amateur radio operators (often called “hams”) have a long and valued relationship with public safety, particularly during emergencies. During Hurricane Katrina, amateur radio was often the only way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer hams traveled south to save lives and property. When emergencies happen, ham radio operators are often the first to provide critical information and communications.

Formalizing the Partnership with Public Safety

Over 10 years ago, ARRL was one of the original members of a new organization called the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC). NPSTC is an “organization of organizations” dedicated to providing a common voice on issues affecting public safety wireless telecommunications. ARRL’s membership in NPSTC formally recognizes the relationship between the amateur radio community and public safety.

“The quickest way to turn a crisis into a full-blown disaster is to lose communications,” says Dennis Dura, K2DCD, Manager, Emergency Preparedness & Response. The ARRL’s emergency communication program, Amateur Radio Emergency Service, ARES®, provides communications for other response organizations in a crisis so that they can achieve their goals of rescue and recovery. “We’re not first responders,” says Dura. “Instead, hams are usually ”the people behind the curtain“ who make the heroes look good. By swiftly and accurately passing both voice and digital communications, the ARES® hams pride themselves on their ability to create ways to get information through when other systems fail, are overloaded, or simply no longer exist. This is both our tradition and our calling. It is no wonder then that the ARRL and its ARES® program is part of NPSTC and is prepared to aid our partners in a crisis. ”

Marilyn Ward, NPSTC’s Executive Director, and former Communications Manager for Orange County, Florida, remembers bringing ham operators into the Emergency Operations Center (EOCs) and into the Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) in 2004 to assist during four hurricanes. “Ham radio operators have proven critical in public safety operations when systems have failed. We were fortunate in Orange County in that none of our equipment failed; however, we were prepared for the worst.”

The beneficial relationship between the ham operators and the states does not go unnoticed. “As I have assisted states develop federally mandated statewide interoperability plans,” Ms. Ward says, “the relationship between the ham operators and the states that encourage their participation in the EOCs and in planning has been officially noted in those statewide plans.”

ARRL’s role in NPSTC

ARRL has participated in NPSTC by providing specific contributions on matters important to the amateur radio community through the activities of the Amateur Radio Working Group, part of the Technology Committee. In the past, the Amateur Radio Working Group has brought various issues to the table including the broadband over power lines (BPL) issue. In 2006, they reported to the member organizations of NPSTC that a comprehensive evaluation concluded that BPL could interfere with public safety and other licensed radio services.

In 2007, the Amateur Radio Working Group began to research a white paper examining the relationship between amateur radio and public safety. Based on precedents established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and International Telecommunications Union (ITU) rulings, Paul Rinaldo, ARRL’s representative at the time asked that the Working Group be assigned an ongoing task to review existing interoperation between public safety and amateur stations in emergencies, including technical, operational, regulatory, and training considerations, and explore common concerns, such as interference sources.

Quoting ITU Radio Regulations Article 25, Mr. Rinaldo confirmed that, “Amateur services, amateur stations may be used for transmitting international communications on behalf of third parties only in case of emergencies or disaster relief. An administration may determine the applicability of this provision to amateur stations under its jurisdiction.”

He further noted that the FCC’s Part 97 Subpart E “Providing Emergency Communications, adds emphasis to using amateur radios in an emergency, where it states that, ”When normal communication systems are overloaded, damaged or disrupted because a disaster has occurred, or is likely to occur, in an area where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC, an amateur station may make transmissions necessary to meet essential communication needs and facilitate relief actions.”

Last year, the Amateur Radio Working Group offered a bonus to the communications community, many of whom are ham operators. Tom Abernethy, Chair of the Working Group facilitated ham radio testing at NPSTC’s quarterly meetings. “We provided three certified examiners to monitor the NPSTC Meeting Volunteer Examiner (VE) session, to allow interested NPSTC participants to either become a licensed ham operator or upgrade their current licenses,” says Abernethy. NPSTC’s Amateur Radio Working Group offered Technician, General, and Amateur Extra written exams.