Cover Story

Extinction event?

By Donny Jackson (donald.jackson@penton.com)

A groundswell has emerged in support of the notion that provisioning mission-critical voice to first responders over broadband networks is a fait accompli — and that the eventual end of land-mobile radio is a certainty....

Features

Power to the people

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

The explosion of smart devices and social networking has spawned an era of citizen engagement in government unlike ever before....

Don't bet against the house

By Doug Mohney

A look inside the (not-so) flashy world of casino video surveillance, where cameras methodically capture everyone's every move....

Hold that line

By Rick Van Schoik

Improving U.S.-Mexico border security and cross-border trade requires integrated communications and proportional investment....

Often overlooked, but vitally important

By Jay Jacobsmeyer, P.E.

Amateur radio operators are much more than hobbyists; they provide extremely important communications, especially during and after emergencies....

First Word

For public-safety voice, evolution is inevitable

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

Yes, someday, LMR will cease to exist. You can't stop progress. But history has shown that such an event might not be such a bad thing. Given enough time, something better always comes along....

View from the Top

Finding balance

By Rick Keith

Private LTE is a technology that promises to deliver the key services first responders have been wanting. But it doesn't have to be a choice between private and public networks. Indeed, in certain circumstances, there is a clear advantage to using both....

Final Word

Clamor no more

By Alan Tilles

In response to the industry's clamor for additional details on narrowbanding deadlines and consequences for non-compliance, the FCC released a public notice that provides definitive guidelines....

Dispatches

FDNY deploys data-based accountability system

By Mary Rose Roberts (maryrose.roberts@penton.com)

The system identifies the seven-digit number unique to a firefighter’s radio, translates it into a firefighter’s name and transmits the data to laptop computers mounted in fire commanders’ vehicles....

LTE over D Block spectrum used during D.C. event

By Donny Jackson

Federal park police were able to monitor a sophisticated video-surveillance system during the July 4 celebration on the National Mall by leveraging an Alcatel-Lucent LTE system operating on 700 MHz D Block spectrum....

Gear

Motorola unveils concept patrol car (with related photo and videos)

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

It features a push-to-talk button that's integrated into the steering wheel and eight video cameras that are strategically positioned. In the trunk is a mobile radio, a mobile workstation and a digital video recording system that is connected to all eight cameras and which is always on....