Outreach News - 2/18/2011

1. A number of articles relative to 700 MHz public safety broadband are available for your review. Please click on the links below.

Spectrum auction to fund public safety broadband network GCN.com The Obama administration now wants to use the D Block for the public safety network and sell more of spectrum along the 700 MHz wavelength – predicted to bring in around $27.8 billion to the federal government – to be used to help build the public ... http://gcn.com/articles/2011/02/17/national-public-safety-network-spectrum-auction.aspx

Rockefeller: D Block–reallocation legislation 'highest priority' Urgent Communications Passage of legislation that would reallocate the 700 MHz D Block and provide federal funding for the deployment and maintenance of public-safety LTE networks nationwide is a top priority, influential Sen. Jay Rockefeller
http://urgentcomm.com/policy_and_law/news/rockefeller-highest-priority-20110217

Spectrum Shifts Create Fresh Opportunities Microwaves & RF In an ex-parte submission, the Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) is urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to permit utilities to partner with public safety to share 700 MHz of public safety broadband spectrum. http://www.mwrf.com/Articles/ArticleID/23334/23334.html

2. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES AGENDA FOR INTEROPERABILITY FORUM TO GARNER INPUT ON TECHNICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE NATIONWIDE INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY MOBILE BROADBAND NETWORK. (Dkt No 06-229 ). PSHSB .
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-304749A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-304749A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-304749A1.txt

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES AGENDA FOR INTEROPERABILITY FORUM TO GARNER INPUT ON TECHNICAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE NATIONWIDE INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY MOBILE BROADBAND NETWORK

On Friday, March 4, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Public Safety Homeland Security Bureau’s (PSHSB) Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC) will host a forum to garner input on the technical framework for the nationwide public safety mobile broadband network to ensure nationwide interoperability. This network must be technically compatible and fully interoperable from the first day of network deployment in order to serve as the nationwide broadband network envisioned for America’s first responders. The forum will be held in the Commission Meeting Room at FCC Headquarters, located at 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW-C305, Washington, DC 20554.

AGENDA
Interoperability Forum: A Discussion on Creating and Implementing the
Technical Framework for the
Nationwide Interoperable Public Safety Mobile Broadband Network

9:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks: James Arden Barnett, Jr., Rear Admiral (Ret.), Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau

9:10 a.m. Guest Speaker: Bill Carrow, President, Association of Public Safety Communications Officials—International (APCO)

9:15 a.m. Panel 1: How to ensure nationwide interoperability for public safety broadband utilizing LTE 4G Technology (Moderator, Behzad Ghaffari, Systems Engineering Chief, ERIC, PSHSB)

The FCC has determined that LTE is the technology that will best provide a baseline for required interoperability and operability for public safety broadband communications. This technology enjoys commercial deployments, worldwide 3GPP standards, and a wide ecosystem of devices and network equipment. While the technology builds on a nationwide architecture to deploy the network of networks for public safety, issues impacting interoperability need to be addressed.

Panel 1

• Dr. Kenneth Budka—Senior Director, Advanced Mission Critical Communications, Bell Labs, Alcatel-Lucent
• Brian Daly—Director Core & Government/Regulatory Standards, AT&T Mobility Services LLC
• Dr. Dennis Martinez—Chief Technology Officer, Harris RF Communications Group
• Emil Olbrich—Electronics Engineer, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST)

10:30 a.m. Break

10:40 a.m. Panel 2: Solutions for the deployment of Radio Access Network equipment to achieve nationwide Operability and Interoperability (Moderator, Pat Amodio, RF Engineering Chief, ERIC, PSHSB)

To ensure nationwide Interoperability, a minimum level of Operability must be established. Without a minimum level of Operability, public safety user devices may not be supported and nationwide Interoperability will not be accomplished. This panel addresses the deployment of Radio Access Network in Public Safety Broadband networks nationwide, in order to facilitate interoperability and a minimum level of performance for public safety users.

Panel 2

• Jeff Anderson—Wireless Broadband System Architect. Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Mark Funka—Director, Network System Performance, Verizon Wireless
• Mark McDiarmid—Vice President, Radio Network Engineering, T-Mobile
• Allan Sadowski—Information Technology Manager; North Carolina State Highway Patrol
• John Santo—Executive Director, Wireless Systems Program Office, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol

12:00 p.m. Lunch Break

1:00 p.m. Introductory Remarks for the Afternoon Session: Amy Levine, Special Counsel to
FCC Chairman Genachowski

1:10 p.m. Panel 3: Core Network, Security and Services (Moderator, Professor Henning Schulzrinne, Columbia University & Engineering Fellow, FCC)

As the nationwide interoperable broadband network is built for public safety, a set of security features will help to meet public safety expectations for a reliable and secure communication. Additional nationwide core services such as authentication or application support may be considered with various implementation scenarios. Sharing resources between the broadband network and the emerging NG911 system may offer opportunities for additional functionality and cost savings.

Panel 3

• Walter Magnussen—Director, Telecommunications, Texas A&M University
• Byron J. Neal—Chief Network Architect, Syniverse
• John Powell—Interoperability Chair, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC)
• Jack Suess—Vice President of Information Technology & Chief Information Officer, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC); Chair, InCommon Steering Committee

2:15 p.m. Break

2:30 p.m. Federal and secondary use of the public safety broadband network: An overview (Erika E. Olsen, Special Counsel, PSHSB)

2:45 p.m. Panel 4: Where we go from here (Moderator: Jennifer A. Manner, Deputy Chief, PSHSB)

How do we ensure the network that is deployed takes advantage of the cost efficiencies of the commercial technology market? How do we ensure the network is spectrally efficient? How do we ensure the network evolves continually so that public safety is not left with outdated networks as in years past?

Panel 4

• Dennis Roberson—Vice Provost for Corporate Relations and Strategic Initiatives, and Computer Science Research Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology; President and CEO of Roberson and Associates, LLC
• Bill Schrier—Chief Technology Officer, City of Seattle
• Edmond J. Thomas—Technology Policy Advisor, Wiltshire & Grannis
• Bill Price—Director Broadband Programs, Division of Telecommunications, State of Florida

3:30 p.m. Adjourn

The workshop will be open to the public; however, registration will be limited to the seating available. Those individuals who are interested in attending the forum may pre-register on-line at http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/event-registration.html. Those who pre-register 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 202-418-0703 regarding pre-registration. The deadline for pre-registration is Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

3. PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ANNOUNCES THAT THE 12-MONTH TRANSITION PERIOD FOR 800 MHZ BAND RECONFIGURATION IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (REGION 48) WILL COMMENCE ON MARCH 21, 2011. (DA No. 11-316). (Dkt No 02-55 ) Bureau Establishes Implementation Plan and Application Freeze Dates. PSHSB .
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-316A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-316A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-316A1.txt

4. IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS IN THE 800 MHZ BAND/NEW 800 MHZ BAND PLAN FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. Adopted a revised 800 MHz band plan for the U.S. Virgin Islands in order to accomplish the Commission's goals for 800 MHz band reconfiguration. (Dkt No. 02-55 ). Action by: Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. Adopted: 02/18/2011 by R&O. (DA No. 11-315). PSHSB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-315A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-315A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-315A1.txt

5. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES AGENDA FOR WORKSHOP ON THE 4.9 GHZ BAND: SPECTRUM DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY FOR BROADBAND USE. (Dkt No 06-229 07-100 ). PSHSB
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-304719A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-304719A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-304719A1.txt

6. FCC'S PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU REQUESTS VERIZON TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT FUTURE BLOCKING OF 911 CALLS.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-304751A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-304751A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-304751A1.txt