2010 A Good Year for PS Broadband;
Next year will be the turning point for Public Safety—I know it and I think those in Congress who are opposed to the reallocation of the D Block are becoming aware of it
Advocate Newsletter
Connect Public Safety Now Is NOT Your Friend
Since Connect Public Safety Now believes that commercial broadband is more important than a Public Safety nationwide broadband network, I have taken to calling it “Connect Public Safety—NOT!”
700-MHz Narrowband/Broadband Sharing–My Comments
The goal of the PSHSB should be to provide public safety with a roadmap for BOTH nationwide interoperable voice and data services. To that end, the narrowband spectrum must be reserved for narrowband voice services and the broadband portion of the public safety spectrum reserved for fully interoperable broadband services.
FCC Paper Proves Need for D Block Reallocation
The recent T-Mobile white paper on capacity that was submitted in an attempt to prove that 10 MHz of spectrum is enough for Public Safety, the authors used a spectral efficiency of 2.0 Bps/Hz. I stated in my response that this was too high and that 1.3 bps/Hz should have been used. The FCC itself validates my position that the T-Mobile white paper was based on inaccurate information.
Busy Times for Public Safety Communications Professionals
If anything, we need to redouble our efforts over the next year to make all of this a reality before we reach the tenth anniversary of 9/11.
A Busy Few Weeks
It is for these reasons and more I will demonstrate in the following response that the T-Mobile USA white paper actually supports the full allocation of the D Block to Public Safety. The bottom line is that the Public Safety community needs more contiguous spectrum, and the D Block is that spectrum.
Big Differences in Voice
The bottom line is that none of these [broadband] networks can or do provide access to direct device-to-device voice communications services without the use of a cell site.
Public Safety Needs Your Support Today!
In the Senate we are asking for co-sponsors and support of S. 3756, The Public Safety and Wireless Innovation Act of 2010, introduced by Senator John (Jay) Rockefeller, IV (D-WV). In the House, H.R. 5081 introduced by Representative King, now with 68 sponsors, is the bill to support.
What Are the Feds Up To Now?
The Executive Branch of the Federal Government, or to be more precise, the White House CTO’s office, is setting up a September 1, 2010 meeting. “The intent of the meeting…
Who Controls the Network?
It is clear to me that at the core of this debate is the issue of who will actually control the D Block and manage how it is allocated when there is available capacity.
Comments on FCC Chairman’s Response to Rep. Waxman’s Questions
Let me say, in advance, that the area of public safety communications and its requirements is one of the most misunderstood aspects of wireless communications in government
Mr. Seybold Goes to Washington
As time for the press conference drew near, the buzz around all of this activity was giving those attending a sense that perhaps Public Safety, with the help of Congress, could really reach its goal of acquiring the D Block and funding for network build-outs.
A Knowledge Gap
Those preparing to float this Public Notice don’t seem to understand several facts. First, broadband service for images, video, data, and other applications is desperately needed by the public safety community. HOWEVER, broadband services CANNOT replace all of the various requirements for voice systems
Incident Communications
This type of voice communications is not now available using cellular and wireless broadband networks, nor will it be well into the future. The devices we use to communicate over commercial voice and broadband networks are 100% reliant on being within range of a cell site.
FCC White Paper on Capacity
It is clear that those involved in preparing the FCC white paper on capacity tried to make the results fit the recommendations they already included in their National Broadband Report to Congress.