NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Summary IACP 2012 Annual Conference Pam Montanari, Interoperability Committee, Vice Chair San Diego, California | September 29-October 3, 2012

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 2 Technology Committee Update Video Quality in Public Safety (VQiPS) –Through the VQiPS initiative, public safety practitioners, Federal partners, manufacturers, and representatives of standards making bodies are working to improve the way in which video technologies serve the public safety community. –DHS S&T partnership with the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program and coordination through NPSTC formed an advisory group, Video Technology Advisory Group (VTAG), to assist with the program and combine video quality with future broadband and interoperability initiatives –Resources –VQIPS guide –Video recommendations tool

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 3 Technology Committee Update Intrinsically Safe Radio Standard –May 2012, NPSTC sent vote and comments on proposed FM approvals standard Majority of votes were negative or abstained 14 pages of comments from manufacturers and public safety –July 2012, Received letter and comments on revised standard 3640 and ballot to vote by 8/28/12 NPSTC cast a no vote –TIA is working on a standard that NPSTC supports because the power level remains the same as The original FM Approval standard however the name will have to change from “intrinsically safe” to something else.

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 4 Technology Committee Update Programming Compatibility –Address LMR programming incompatibility between Manufacturers software –Develop tool to import/export programming fields between radios Programming field spreadsheet (Requesting feedback by October 5)

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 5 Interoperability Committee Update Working on a white paper addressing emerging technologies and their impact on interoperability –Concern about P25 systems losing interoperability through the use of manufacturer proprietary optional features. Updating Channel Naming –Accommodate 700 MHz Air to Ground channels –Narrowbanding –Will use formal ANSI standards process

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 6 Spectrum Management Committee Update 4.9 GHz –Band allocated to Public Safety and used for high bandwidth, short distance communications –Currently no Frequency Coordination for licensing Based on FCC licensing data as of August 30, 2012: –2530 licenses in the band; 98 are municipal utilities/transit/NGOs –560 of those are permanent fixed licenses with 1706 sites licensed and 1278 of those notified as constructed –FCC released Fifth Further NPRM June 13, 2012; Comments due October 1, 2012 on key issues Coordination and regional planning Expanding eligibility Use as backhaul for the 700 MHz broadband network Aeronautical use Technical parameters

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 7 Spectrum Management Committee Update 4.9 GHz –NPSTC Comments to be filed on 10/1/2012 Describe current uses of the band Recommend that NPSTC develop a national plan, in collaboration with frequency advisory committees, and regional planning committees (RPCs) Multiple elements to be addressed in the plan –Use by commercial and critical infrastructure providers –Antenna requirements based on power and distance –Enhanced coordination process –How existing 4.9 licensees will update their license with actual specifics of their agency use –Who should maintain master database.

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 8 Spectrum Management Committee Update UHF/VHF Narrowbanding –FCC requires VHF/UHF operations to be Narrowbanded to 12.5 kHz or equivalent efficiency by 1/1/2013 –In July 2011, FCC issued Public Notice reminding licensees of deadline and setting forth criteria for any waiver requests –Recent News Affects Colleges, Universities and K-12 schools –Resources

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 9 Spectrum Management Committee Update 700 MHz –700 MHz Narrowband Clean up NPRM addresses several issues with current rules Should include extension of Narrowbanding Should include Air to Ground channels No projected date is known

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 10 Spectrum Management Committee Update 700 MHz –700 MHz Channel Buildout showings FCC rules require substantial showings on 700 MHz Narrowband designated state channels: –June 13, 2014 – The state must be providing or prepared to provide substantial service to 1/3 of the state’s population or territory. –June 13, 2019 – The state must be providing or prepared to provide substantial service to 2/3 of the state’s population or territory. The 700 MHz WG developed draft recommendations and a FAQ on how to develop these showings Based on Governing Board approval, the draft recommendation was provided to FCC on August 10, 2012 for informal review and feedback.

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 11 Spectrum Management Committee Update T Band –Legislation was recently passed by Congress which requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to move public safety operations in the United States out of the T-Band frequencies ( MHz) by the year –These channels are used in eleven metropolitan areas across the country to provide public safety communications Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, DC, Dallas, Miami, Houston –NPSTC Special Working Group Develop a report on impact to Public Safety operations and potential alternatives Survey – Deadline extended to October 5, 2012 –

NPSTC is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. 12 NPSTC Summary Resource CD’s Ongoing Efforts – Looking for volunteers Next Meeting will be at IWCE in Los Vegas