September 2008 Issue

Cover Story

A Good Deed Gone Bad

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Lynnette Luna

When the Federal Communications Commission crafted rules for enhanced 911 services for mobile phones in 1996, it also required wireless carriers, for safety reasons, to transmit all wireless 911 calls...

Features

Talking points

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson

In recent years, the public-safety community's interest in broadband technologies has increased tremendously, as first-responder agencies have realized the benefits of leveraging high-speed networks...

Tunnel vision

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By James Careless

Virtual private networks, or VPNs, provide the security of private networks without the cost by using encryption to disguise data...

Using cavity filters to mitigate RF interference

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Harold Kinley

Last month, we discussed various types of RF-resonant cavities. This month the discussion focuses on the actual use of these cavities to mitigate RF interference....

Not to worry

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Merrill Douglas

This summer, staff at five public-safety answering points (PSAPs) across the U.S. got a taste of the future of 911 communications....

Interoperability on the fly

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Nathan Hiester

Twelve hours before presidential candidate Barack Obama was scheduled to speak at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, public-safety officials asked the nearby Beavercreek Township Fire Department to provide communications support for the event....

First Word

Where deals get done

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Glenn Bischoff, glenn.bischoff@penton.com

In this issue, senior writer Donny Jackson reports on the decision made by the Public Safety Spectrum Trust board of directors to pursue regional licensees for the commercial D Block spectrum that will be paired with public-safety spectrum in the 700 MHz band ...

Dispatches

N.Y. network doesn't make grade

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson

Tyco Electronics M/A-COM appeared to be in jeopardy of losing the largest public-safety LMR contract in the history of the U.S. on the eve of a scheduled decision on the project....

PSST alters D Block strategy, agreement

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson

Public Safety Spectrum Trust will pursue regional commercial partners and has altered its financial relationship with adviser Cyren Call Communications....

Project 25 Standard Moves Foward

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Glenn Bischoff

The APCO Project 25 Interface Committee, or APIC, has sent the physical-layer proposal for the second phase of the standard...

MSV secures financing, adds interoperable talk

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson

Mobile Satellite Ventures has secured financing to launch its next-generation satellites and possibly pursue a merger with Inmarsat...

FCC: Rebanding should be done in 2009

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson

Public-safety agencies expecting the FCC to grant them additional time beyond July 1, 2009, to complete 800 MHz rebanding should think again...

Dispatches

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM

Harlin McEwen, currently chairman of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust, recently was awarded the IJIS Institute's Robert P. Shumate National Public Safety and Justice Contributor to Excellence Award...

Correction

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM

In the July 2008 Spotlight, the name of the Intraplex NetXpress from Harris was misspelled. Urgent Communications regrets the error....

Gear

Multiple choices in multiband radio

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson & Glenn Bischoff

Two new devices were announced at last month's Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials annual conference in Kansas City, Mo., while a third already has been upgraded....

Solacom unveils 911 software suite

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Mary Rose Roberts

Solacom Technologies unveiled its Guardian software suite that supports conventional and voice-over-IP call handling as well as next-generation 911 applications...

Final Word

An uncertain environment

Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson

On the surface, the notion of civilians being able to communicate with 911 centers via any technology — voice, video, pictures or data — sounds like a great idea...