News Briefs–Wednesday, April 5, 2006
APCO celebrates leaders in public safety communications
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International will hold its Second Annual Public Safety Communications Leadership in Policy Awards Dinner on April 12, 2006, in Washington, D.C. The dinner will celebrate policy leaders within the public safety communications community who have worked to create, advocate and promote public safety communications policy. Featured award winners include Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin for Leadership in Advancing Communications Policy and Reps. Jane Harman (D – Calif.) and Curt Weldon (R – Pa.) for Leadership in Legislative Service, among others.
Visit APCO for additional information.
Va. County makes significant steps in rebanding process
CTA Communications announced that its client, Roanoke County, Va., has a fully executed Planning Funding Agreement approved by the Federal Communications Commission’s Transition Administrator for rebanding frequencies in its 800 MHz trunked radio system. The county is one of the first to reach this milestone in the rebanding process, according to CTA. Sprint/Nextel funds will be used to finalize plans for the relocation of Roanoke County’s frequencies in its four-site, 23-channel, trunked, simulcast system located within the lower 120 channels of the band.
VoIP interface connects users with or without trunk lines
Clear-Com launched its Voice over Internet Communications Equipment frame for extending intercom facilities to remote sites while providing Internet telephony for all users on a digital matrix system. The product’s 1-RU, four-way VoIP interface frame connects remote users with or without trunk lines over IP LANs, WANs or the Internet. It uses audio CODECs to provide low-latency, audio digitization in user-selectable formats from 3.5KHz to 16KHz, according to the company.
Health system adopts wireless utility for increased accessibility
Carilion Health System will install InnerWireless’ medical-grade Wireless Utility in three of its 10 nonprofit, health-care facilities. The product offers 802.11 coverage for existing clinical applications, handheld devices and PDAs. It can support the use of multiple wireless services, applications and devices, including Wi-Fi and PCS/cellular.
The health system plans to use the utility to improve two-way radio communication for its security personnel, enable VoIP phone use and pursue RF location solution options for asset tracking, according to InnerWireless.