On March 1, 2011, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC's) Governing Board unanimously voted to support the concept of a nationwide broadband architecture for public safety instead of the network of networks approach.  At an ex parte discussion held by the FCC for invited representatives of public safety, NPSTC made the strong case for a flexible, reliable, and vibrant nationwide broadband architecture, presenting high‐level conceptual drawings to help illustrate the difference between the network of networks approach and the financial, technical, and practical advantages of a nationwide network architecture.

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NPSTC is very concerned about the potential implementation of FM Approvals Standard 3610-2010 [FM's standards numbering classification for the standard to be revised, ANSI/ISA 60079-11] due to the negative technical and financial impact on public safety users of LMR that require the intrinsically safe certification.

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DHS Assistant Secretary Greg Schaffer testifies before the House Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response.  Below is a copy of Assistant Secretary Schaffer's testimony.  In addition, his testimony, along with a video of the hearing, committee statements, and other witness testimony, is available at http://homeland.house.gov/hearings/index.asp?ID=266.

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The FCC has granted conditional approval of 21 petitions filed by cities, counties and states that sought waivers to move forward with the construction of regional or statewide interoperable wireless broadband networks in the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum.  The Commission required these broadband networks to be deployed under a common interoperability framework in coordination with the FCC's Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC).  This common framework will ensure that all networks being deployed are technically compatible and fully interoperable.

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FCC grants conditional approval of 21 petitions by cities, counties and states to build interoperable broadband networks for America's first responders.

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This FCC Order summarizes the Waiver requirements of the Commission for currently authorized "early deployers" of 700 MHz broadband services. For any other entity considering the submission of a waiver, the document is intended to be helpful by providing a summary of requirements. The document is compiled on the basis of processes required to bring a broadband 700 MHz system on-the-air.

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Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today established its new Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC) under the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB).  ERIC’s primary mission is to lead the development of a technical and operational framework that will support and foster nationwide operability and interoperability in wireless broadband communications for America’s first responders.

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The Federal Communications Commission released a comprehensive white paper study that builds on the National Broadband Plan recommendations to create an economically viable, technically sound, and robust interoperable public safety wireless broadband network across America.

Wireless consultant Andrew Seybold takes issue with many of the FCC's assumptions, calculations, and recommendations in a point-by-point white paper analyzing the FCC assumptions. He believes that the FCC white paper is based on flawed network assumptions and design and, therefore, the financial calculations are also flawed.

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The 700 MHz Regional Public Safety Regional Planning Committee (RPC) Region 55 (New York-Buffalo) will open an application window regarding Section 9 from May 1 to May 31 to accept applications from public safety agencies who may have found the channel(s) they believe will meet the required protection criteria in the plan for General Use channels in the 769 to 775 MHz and 799 to 805 MHz frequency bands.

Prediction contour studies must be submitted in accordance with Section 9 "Interference-Protection Criteria and System-Design Specifications" of the plan.  The attached Guidelines identify areas in Section 9 that need further clarification.  The entire plan can be reviewed and downloaded at: http://www.nys-rpc.org/region_55/documents-55/RPC_55_700MHz_Plan_v2.pdf.

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NPSTC filed a Petition for Rule Making to allow aircraft voice operation on certain interoperability channels.  The petition requests the Commission to either amend Part 90.531(b)(7) to allow the use of certain interoperability channels separately from the channels listed in 90.531(b)(1)(iii) or clarify that the channels listed in Part 90.531(b)(7) can be operated separately as 12.5 kHz wide channels for secondary trunking or air to ground voice use in compliance with Part 90.548.  NPSTC recommends that transmissions in 700 MHz be limited to two (2) watts as found in Part 90.541(d).

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The Bureau seeks comment on both the recommendations of the PSST and the BBTF Report, and in particular those elements of the BBTF Report that address the technical aspects of the operation and interoperation of the regional networks the BBTF contemplates.  Reply comments due 04/06/2010.  PSHSB contact: Jeff Cohen at (202) 418-0799.

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Sited from the press release, Chief Harlin McEwen, Chairman of the PSST, said, "Our highest calling is to act responsibly on behalf of Public Safety while providing sufficient information to potential D block auction bidders. The PSST realizes that this network must work for all parties or it won’t work for any."

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NPSTC submitted a position paper/press release regarding the 700 MHz Position Summary.

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NPSTC submitted a position paper/press release regarding the International Trade Commission ruling on EV-DO Technology and NPSTC’s view that this will have serious effect on Public Safety.

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Wanda McCarley, on behalf of APCO and NPSTC, testified at the United States Senate Committee On Commerce, Science And Transportation Hearing on "The 700 MHz Auction: Public Safety and Competition Issues" on June 14, 2007.

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NPSTC submitted a position paper to the FCC regarding the Principles Surrounding the 700 MHz Band on April 17, 2007.

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Cyren Call Communications Corporation released a critique of the Criterion Economics paper which reflects numerous false statements and is a good review of the history of public safety communications and why we are different from commercial communications.

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The Executive Director of NPSTC, Marilyn Ward, testified before a Congressional Subcommittee today, March 8, 2007, on the impact of the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T Directorate) on our nation’s public safety communications. Ms. Ward addressed the principal communication technological needs of the first responder community, noting that the public safety community is concerned by the considerable reduction in the 2007 budget and that the newly created Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) has been left unfunded.

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Senator John McCain speaks out for Public Safety and the need for additional Spectrum. He stated, on February 8, 2007, that he will be working on new legislation "to provide more spectrum to public safety for an interoperable national broadband network."

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The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council Position Paper regarding Spectrum Allocation for Public Safety Broadband was released December 12, 2006. NPSTC strongly supports all efforts to commit more spectrum resources for public safety.

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The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council submitted an Ex Parte letter to Ms. Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary to the Federal Communications Commission. This letter presents the views of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) regarding the report of the 700 MHz Technical Working Group (TWG) that has been submitted in this proceeding. The TWG examined issues surrounding the proposal of current 700 MHz guard band licensees to restructure the public safety and guard band segments of the 700 MHz band...

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International Association of Chiefs of Police’s (IACP) position on a National Public Safety Broadband Network resolution.

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International Association of Fire Chiefs’ (IAFC) position on a National Public Safety Broadband Network resolution.

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National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials’ (NASEMSO) position on a National Public Safety Broadband Network Resolution 06-05.

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