Outreach News - 2/24/2011
1. Public safety and homeland security bureau announces PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER OF THE FOURTH FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING IN PS DOCKET 06-229
On February 24, 2011, a summary of the Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Fourth Further Notice) in PS Docket 06-229, adopted by the Commission on January 25, 2011, as FCC 11-6, was published in the Federal Register. The comment date for the Fourth Further Notice is April 11, 2011, and the reply comment date is May 10, 2011. The full text of the Fourth Further Notice is attached.
For further information contact Jennifer Manner, Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau at (202) – 418 – 3619 or jennifer.manner@fcc.gov.
2. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES AGENDA FOR WORKSHOP ON THE 4.9 GHz BAND: SPECTRUM DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY FOR BROADBAND USE
The 4940–4990 MHz (4.9 GHz) licensing rules adopted in 2003 by the Commission allow public safety licensees to operate base and mobile units (including portable and handheld units) and operate temporary (1 year or less) fixed stations anywhere within the area authorized by the license. Permissible operations include Unattended and Continuous Operation, Voice, Data, and Video operations, while Aeronautical Mobile Operations are prohibited. Permanent fixed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint stations in the band are permitted, but must be licensed individually on a site-by-site basis. Public Safety currently uses this band for wireless broadband access for Police, Fire, Emergency services, wireless traffic observation, and MESH backhaul, among other uses. The 50 megahertz of spectrum in the 4.9 GHz band is the largest spectrum allocation for public safety broadband services.
On Friday, February 25, 2011, the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) will hold a workshop, “4.9 GHz Band: Spectrum Dedicated to Public Safety for Broadband Use.” This event will focus on how public safety can increase utilization of this spectrum. The workshop will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305).
AGENDA
The 4.9 GHz Band: Spectrum Dedicated to Public Safety For Broadband Use:
A Discussion of Important Uses and Ways to Increase Utilization
9:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks: James Arden Barnett, Jr. Admiral (ret.), Chief, PSHSB
9:15 a.m. Panel 1: How the 4.9 GHz Band currently supports public safety today (Moderator: Pat Amodio, Chief, Radio Frequency Engineering, ERIC, PSHSB)
Many Public Safety agencies have identified specific mission critical applications, day-to-day fixed use, and unique solutions using the 4.9 GHz band. The panel will address current 4.9 GHz deployments by Public Safety in the United States today. This will include system implementation, configuration, performance, types of uses, and applications running over the 4.9 GHz network.
Panel 1
• Bill Brown—Radio Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, Chair of AASHTO Special Committee on Wireless Communications and Technology
• Stephen Devine—Interoperability Program Manager, Missouri Department of Public Safety
• Mark Jules—Chief Executive Officer, Avrio RMS Group
• Martin Levetin—Senior VP Sales and Marketing, Strix Systems
• Scott Wilder—Director of Technology, Brookline (MA) Police Department
• Lt. Mark Wilkins—Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS)
11:00a.m. Panel 2: What can be done to increase use of the 4.9 GHz Band (Moderator: Jennifer A. Manner, Deputy Chief, PSHSB)
Since 2003, many 4.9 GHz systems have been deployed and studies produced, both in favor of and against widespread Public Safety use in this band. In order to collaborate in the use of the 4.9 GHz Spectrum, areas such as prior coordination, operating on non-interference basis, and other technical aspects may need to be enhanced. The panel will address possible enhancements of the 4.9 GHz band related to policy, rules, and regulations in order to increase utilization of the 4.9 GHz band by public safety.
Panel 2
• David Buchanan—Chair, Spectrum Committee, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC)
• Brett Kilbourne—Deputy General Counsel, Utilities Telecom Council
• Nancy Merritt—Senior Policy Advisor, Department of Justice
• Pam Montanari—Radio Systems Manager, Pinellas County, Florida
• Joe Ross—Senior Partner, Televate, LLC
• Edmond J. Thomas—Telecommunications Policy Advisor, Wiltshire & Grannis, LLP
12:15 p.m. Closing: Julie Knapp, Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology, FCC
The workshop will be open to the public; however, admittance will be limited to the seating available. Individuals interested in attending this event must pre-register on-line at http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/event-registration2.html, where they will be asked to provide their name, title, organization affiliation, and contact information. Individuals may also contact Deandrea Wilson at Deandrea.Wilson@fcc.gov or via phone at 202-418-0703 regarding pre-registration. The deadline for pre-registration is Wednesday, February 23, 2011.
Interested parties may file comments using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies.[1] Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of the proceeding, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking numbers. All filings concerning this Public Notice should refer to PS Docket No. 06-229 and WP Docket No. 07-100. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.
Paper filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Parties are strongly encouraged to file comments electronically using the Commission’s ECFS.
• Effective December 28, 2009, all hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. PLEASE NOTE: The Commission’s former filing location at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE is permanently closed.
• Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
• U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554.
Parties shall also serve one copy with the Commission’s copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com.
Documents in PS Docket No. 06-229 and WP Docket No. 07-100 will be available for public inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th St. S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. The documents may also be purchased from BCPI, telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563, TTY (202) 488-5562, e-mail fcc@bcpiweb.com.
To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).
This matter shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules.[2] Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one- or two-sentence description of the views and arguments presented generally is required.[3] Other requirements pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules.[4]
Audio/video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC's web page at www.fcc.gov/live. The FCC’s webcast is free to the public. Those who watch the live video stream of the event may email event-related questions to livequestions@fcc.gov. Depending on the volume of questions and time constraints, the panel moderators will work to respond to as many questions as possible during the workshop.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Please include a description of the accommodation you will need. Individuals making such requests must include their contact information should FCC staff need to contact them for more information. Requests should be made as early as possible. Please send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).
For additional information about the meeting, please contact Susan McLean at (202) 418-7868 or by email: Susan.McLean@fcc.gov.
3. Broadband issues in the news. Please see the attached links for public safety information.
http://urgentcomm.com/networks_and_systems/news/lte-equipment-questions-20110223/
http://mccmag.com/newsArticle.cfm?news_id=6714
posted by RCC Consultants @ 2:03 PM
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