A selection of podcasts produced by Urgent Communications of interest to the communication industry.

Podcast: Johnson on D Block rumors from the Hill 

To address the state of the D Block, Urgent Communications Associate Editor Mary Rose Roberts spoke with Chief Jeff Johnson (Ret.), one of public safety’s staunchest advocates for the nationwide public-safety broadband network. He also addresses the network's importance and why chiefs should join his lobbying campaign. ...

Podcast: Intrado: FCC takes a good first step with NG-911 proceeding 

Senior writer Donny Jackson talks with John Snapp, senior technical officer for Intrado, about the FCC's latest proposed rulemaking on next-generation 911....

Podcast: Joplin Fire Chief shares emergency-communications lessons from deadly tornado 

Fire Chief Mitch Randles share his experiences the day an EF-5 tornado hit Joplin, Mo., including operational and communications hindrances, as well as other lessons learned....

Podcast: FEMA's Penn discusses upcoming nationwide Emergency Alert System test 

FEMA's Damon Penn discusses mechanics of the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, how it will be used to distribute presidential alerts and what the message would look like....

Podcast: FEMA rep describes Joplin response, radio communications complications 

Carolyn Stonner, public-information specialist with FEMA Region VII, describes conditions on the ground, explains FEMA's role in the tornado response, and discusses radio communications complications, as the tornado destroyed infrastructure....

Podcast: Mock earthquake tests Virtual USA's information-sharing capabilities 

Jose Vazquez, director of fire-responder technologies for the DHS S&T, explains the mock earthquake exercise's goals, how Virtual USA was used and lessons learned, including the importance of using databases to capture and disseminate information....

Podcast: Chirhart discusses multiband radio pilot at New Orleans Jazz Fest 

Thomas Chirhart, program manager of the DHS S&T Multiband Radio Program, discusses the pilot to test the latest multiband radio technology, including its future and lessons learned thus far....

Podcast: PSAC Chair Jeff Johnson shares Obama's priorities for a public safety broadband network 

PSAC chairperson chief Jeff Johnson shares insider details about President Obama's announcement at Northern Michigan University that set forth the administration's priorities for a public-safety broadband network....

Podcast: IAFC's Johnson speaks on broadband plan 

Chief Jeff Johnson, president and chairman of the International Association of Fire Chiefs board, discusses communications in the fire service, specifically the national broadband plan for public-safety communications....

Podcast: Werner on Virtual USA 

Charles Werner discusses Virtual USA, an information-sharing initiative that aims to give the nation the ability to share information seamlessly across localities, states and regions....

Podcast: Werner on reliable radio communications 

Charles Werner discusses the reliability and challenges the fire service faces when it comes to radio communications....

Podcast: NIST's Dr. Kate Remley: Robotics as first response 

NIST's Kate Remley discusses how robotics measure up during search-and-rescue incidents, issues with interference and future trends....

Podcast: PSST Chairman Harlin McEwen on 700 MHz network requirements 

McEwen discusses recommendations to the FCC regarding the minimum requirements for a proposed 700 MHz wireless broadband network for public safety....

Podcast: Gen. Wesley Clark: On military communications, strategies 

Gen. Wesley Clark speaks about U.S. security and strategies, including how interoperable communications play a crucial role in the battlefield and on the home front....

Podcast: Continuity of operations for flu pandemics 

Glendale (Ariz.) Fire Department Chief Mark Burdick shares the details of his department's continuity of operations (COOP) plan....

Podcast: Mass-notification alerts improve situational awareness 

Adm. Thomas Fargo discusses emergency alert systems and how they are being used in the government sector....

Podcast: Trilliant talks up powering the smart grid 

Rob Conant, Trilliant's senior vice president of network products, discussed the smart-grid opportunity, the company's recent acquisition of SkyPilot Networks and its value proposition to the utility industry....

Podcast: Intergraph VP addresses issues facing call takers, 911 centers 

Steve Marz, vice president of Intergraph Corp., discusses the challenges faced by 911 call centers and how innovations by the wireless industry can help....

Podcast: Verizon's Zipperstein confident tax payers will fund new D-Block plan 

Verizon's Steve Zipperstein reveals the public-safety community's reaction, the technology implications and whether or not Congress will fund his D Block plan....

Podcast: Plant CML VP discusses future of 911 centers 

Jeff Wittek, vice president of corporate business development for Plant CML, talks about challenges facing call takers and 911 centers and the technological solutions provided by the industry....

Podcast: Facella on fire 

John Facella — a veteran firefighter and director of public-safety systems for Tyco Electronics Wireless Systems — talks about the state of radio communications in our nation's fire departments....

Podcast: In-building wireless coverage IWCE session sneak peek with Polaris Wireless' CEO Manlio Allegra 

Polaris Wireless' CEO Manlio Allegra will be amongst several panelists discussing in-building coverage at the "Location-Based Systems in Enterprise and Critical Infrastructure" session at the International Wireless Communications Exposition (IWCE) in Las Vegas. The session will offer case studies and discuss how public-safety benefits from location-based technologies....

Podcast: SkyTerra aims for large role in public-safety communications 

The mobile satellite services, or MSS, industry has entered a resurrection period as new regulations and satellite capabilities enable companies to offer ubiquitous voice and high-speed data services to government...

Kentucky Department for Public Health to administer medical talkgroups 

The Kentucky Department for Public Health will regionally manage national public health-oriented satellite talkgroups offered through SkyTerra Communications' SMART (satellite mutual-aid radio talkgroups) program. The talkgroups will provide a communication outlet that can be used specifically by regional, medical-based first responders, said Drew Chandler, IT and communications manager for the department's preparedness branch....

Fast-evolving satellite technology becoming a bigger tool in the toolbox 

In my last column, I wrote about SkyTerra Communication’s SMART mutual-aid radio talkgroups that were developed specifically for medical first-responders to communicate during nationwide emergencies. The company offers first responders and government agencies several SMART talkgroups supported by the company's satellite network and handsets. To learn more about its applications, I spoke with Jennifer Manner, vice president of regulatory affairs of SkyTerra, about the mutual-aid channels and the deployment of satellite-based communication systems during an emergency response. ...