COVERY STORY

Waiting for the aftershock

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson

In an era of instant news distribution, it is virtually impossible to avoid the topic of the rapid downward spiraling of the U.S. economy in what some experts are calling the nation's worst recession since the Great Depression....

FEATURES

A mixed bag

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Lynnette Luna

Dual-mode Wi-Fi services and femtocells, also known as home base stations, are expected to proliferate in a big way in the coming years...

The moment of truth

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Mary Rose Roberts

When president-elect Barack Obama accepted his new role during an election night speech in Grant Park, one of Chicago's largest public spaces, he spoke eloquently, and hundreds of thousands listened and cheered. And after the speech, the people and the politician went their separate ways quietly, without incident....

A black cloud over white spaces

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Jay M. Jacobsmeyer, P.E.

On Nov. 14, 2008, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O) that allows unlicensed broadband radio transmitters to operate on vacant television channels....

Lessons worth learning

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Merrill Douglas

When Dallas Lipp joined the Montgomery County (Md.) Fire and Rescue Service nearly 30 years ago, he received formal instruction on how to use an axe....

FIRST WORD

Why the rush?

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Glenn Bischoff, glenn.bischoff@penton.com

There seems to be a lot of angst in the public-safety sector over the FCC's decision not to address the 700 MHz D Block auction before the commission is reconstituted after the inauguration of Barack Obama. I wonder why....

DISPATCHES

Spectrum indecision

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson

Almost a year after the 700 MHz D Block was supposed to be auctioned to create a shared wireless broadband network for public safety, the future of the spectrum apparently will remain in limbo until a new FCC is constituted...

Tough times for Moto, Sprint

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson

Two of the biggest names in the U.S. wireless industry — Motorola and Sprint Nextel — last month saw their credit ratings downgraded to “junk” status by separate agencies...

N.Y. continues to hold off on statewide network

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson

Almost a month after completing a systems integration test on the first phase of the New York statewide wireless network being built by Tyco Electronics Wireless Systems (formerly M/A-COM), state officials had not decided whether the vendor will be allowed to take the next step in the project as of press time....

Key Dates in the N.Y. Statewide Wireless Network Testing

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM

Aug. 29: New York state CIO issues letter of default to Tyco Electronics M/A-COM; gives company 45 days to address 19 deficiencies in the first phase...

Missouri Deploys Satellite Network

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM

Spacenet partner Orbital Data Net recently deployed its Connexstar satellite network in Missouri to support emergency voice, video and broadband data...

Air Force Adopts Emergency Alert System

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM

AtHoc announced that the Air Force Materiel Command has selected the company's IWSAlerts solution as its command-wide standard for unified IP-based emergency...

ALANCO, NORTHROP PARTNER ON INMATE TRACKING SYSTEM

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM

Alanco Technologies announced that its TSI Prism subsidiary has been selected as a subcontractor by Northrop Grumman to provide RFID inmate tracking systems...

IAFF, USFA RELEASE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS GUIDE

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM

The International Association of Fire Fighters and the U.S. Fire Administration have released Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service. The...

CORRECTION

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM

In the November 2008 issue, Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid should not have been listed as a member of the Land Mobile Communications Council. Urgent Communications...

VIEW FROM THE TOP

Alice in rebanding land

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Robert H. Schwaninger Jr.

Lewis Carroll could not have written the scenario playing out in the depths of the rabbit hole that is rebanding. With public safety playing Alice, the characters that have come to the tea party are as weird and wonderful as any that a fantasy writer could imagine....

ON THE LINE

Sleep is overrated

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Mary Rose Roberts

Brian Patterson is on the 28th hour of his 24-hour shift. He's alert for what some may deem to be a sleep-deprived person. “You get used to it,” he said. “Before you know it, an hour of sleep is all you need.”...

GEAR

Prototype connects to cells, satellites

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Donny Jackson & Mary Rose Roberts

Embedded technology solutions developer Elektrobit Corp., known as EB, unveiled a satellite/terrestrial connectivity module that currently is in the research and design stage....

Handheld analyzer tests P25

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Mary Rose Roberts

Anritsu introduced the S412D LMR Master, a handheld test-and-measurement instrument for the installation, verification and servicing of Project 25, or P25, communications systems....

FINAL WORD

A tough task just got tougher

Jan 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Alan Tilles

The release of the Land Mobile Communications Council coordination guidelines for narrowband 150 and 450 MHz radio systems hopefully will bring some additional certainty regarding spectrum availability...