The long arm of broadband 

By Glenn Bischoff (glenn.bischoff@penton.com)

There are some who believe that the public-safety broadband network is much more a law-enforcement play, and that the fire and emergency medical services won’t benefit nearly as much. I am certain that those people are wrong....

A new world requires new rules 

By Steven Devine

Public-safety leaders need to expand their perspectives and work with the regulatory community to ensure that any legacy rules still in place that may be burdensome to public-safety agencies are revisited as the sector travels down the path to an exciting broadband-centric future....

A mother like no other 

By Glenn Bischoff (glenn.bischoff@penton.com)

A loyal reader informed me that the frequency-hopping technology today known as spread spectrum — upon which cellular communications and other wireless technologies, such as CDMA, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, are based — was invented by the actress Hedy LaMarr....

Avoid getting into a box 

By Alan Tilles

Because some users perhaps are not properly installing trunked systems — therefore causing significant interference — this is a good time to review the FCC’s rules on VHF/UHF trunking....

Here's a little T-Band aid 

By Alan Tilles

Since there is not much meat in the bill on this issue, it is important to review what was included — and what was not included — and discuss what typically would happen at this point....

Finally, the right tools for the job (with related video) 

By Bob Schassler

That is the real power public-safety LTE broadband communications promise to deliver — better connectivity and virtually unlimited mission-critical data directly on a responder's handheld device, wherever and whenever it's needed....

Eyes on the road 

By Alan Tilles

The land-mobile-radio industry will need to help non-FCC agencies clearly understand the difference between LMR devices and mobile telephones....

Don't believe everything you hear 

By John Powell

Mark Twain's response to the widely circulated news reports of his death in May 1897 — "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" — serves as a great lead-in to one of the most troubling public-safety communications rumors of our time. Unfortunately, as ads for my favorite imported ultimate driving machine point out, "Perception is Reality."...

A very urgent communication (with related video) 

By Glenn Bischoff (glenn.bischoff@penton.com)

It would be one thing to wander aimlessly in search of a restaurant should the navigation application on my smartphone fail, and quite another if I were to develop Alzheimer’s and my alert/locator device fail because the GPS wasn’t working. ...

LTE: 2012 and beyond 

By Darren McQueen

There are several tipping points that ultimately will fuel LTE deployments, including viewing network carriers as connectivity partners and learning to leverage all assets in a balanced way....

If not now, when? 

By Jeff Johnson

The D Block must be reallocated and this network must be built, not only for the safety of our nation and the men and women who selflessly protect our country every day, but also for the economic benefits and jobs creation it will bring....

Don't believe narrowbanding delay rumor 

By Alan Tilles

By now, you may be aware of the bill introduced by Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) that would delay the current narrowbanding deadline by two years. The bill (H.R. 3430) is just two pages long, and only directs the FCC to delay the deadline — there is no explanation as to why....

Why RPCs are essential 

By Stephen Devine

Regional planning committees consist of volunteers from the first-responder community and are focused on ensuring that spectrum is available to those agencies that want to use it under the guidelines established by the RPCs....

Realism is needed 

By Alan Tilles

Numerous politicians across the country are assuming that they no longer need to fund public-safety LMR systems, because all communications are going to move to the new broadband system. There are several flaws with this position....

Thank you for your contributions 

By Robert H. Schwaninger Jr.

What is remarkable about the NALs is that they are for myriad violations. It used to be that the FCC would get serious about a particular issue, for example tower lighting, and would issue a host of NALs for that rule violation. Now, the FCC is looking at various areas for enforcement and is issuing NALs whenever and wherever evil is found....