https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • IWCE 2022 Winter Showcase
    • IWCE 2023 Pre-event Guide
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • IWCE 2023 Pre-event Guide
    • IWCE 2022 Winter Showcase
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

content


A new day is dawning

A new day is dawning

Almost everyone has a cell phone. It started with the businessperson when was the last time that you saw a pay telephone in an airport? Then the small
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 1st August 2006

Almost everyone has a cell phone. It started with the businessperson — when was the last time that you saw a pay telephone in an airport? Then the small dispatch user was targeted, taking from land mobile systems the traditional base-and-two user. As cell phone prices dropped, it no longer made sense for most users to hang onto their pagers. Once that group was saturated, soccer moms were targeted and then their children, to the point where schools nationwide have been forced to enact rules prohibiting cell phone use.

Given the current state of market saturation, wireless carriers now are focusing their attentions on increasing airtime usage for all, which has led to cell phones that do much more. GPS tracking, music downloads, Web surfing, e-mail, and text messaging all have raked in the dollars by driving up airtime.

The latest and greatest application is mobile video. Of course, video is a bandwidth hog, which explains why the cellular industry now covets 700 MHz spectrum when a few years ago it was recommending that public-safety users be moved to the band as an alternative to 800 MHz reconfiguration.

There is, however, one last relatively untapped market for the wireless carriers to target: public safety. Yes, most public-safety users carry a cell phone, but usually it’s only for backup or personal purposes, and now the push will come to provide additional public-safety services on the cellular network. It’s a compelling argument. Public-safety agencies would gain access to a completely interoperable system without having to worry about funding. There would be no more arguments about channel allocations, no more multiyear delays while the FCC referees disputes over regional plans.

Hurricane Katrina highlighted the need for interoperable communications systems that can survive mega-disasters. The bean counters see in the cellular operators an easy solution, while politicians see contributions from major supporters. Public safety’s need for reliability and redundancy could be met by mandating a certain grade of service from the cellular providers and/or the construction of additional towers. It can be done, provided more spectrum can be obtained by cellular operators — and the 700 MHz band looks awfully good.

Industry professionals must be prepared for these discussions and must also try not to be parochial about them. Recently, I had a discussion with an ambulance company in a large metropolitan area that wanted to vacate its shared 450 MHz channels and find clear channels in the band. I suggested that it might try purchasing from one or more of the winning bidders some of the Part 22 channels that were auctioned. The company was appalled the FCC hasn’t held a bunch of spectrum in this band for decades, waiting for it to use the spectrum, for free. Those days are long gone.


Alan Tilles is counsel to numerous entities in the private radio, Internet and entertainment industries. He is a partner in the law firm of Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy & Ecker and can be reached at [email protected].

Tags: content Policy

Most Recent


  • LA-RICS celebrates final acceptance of P25 system built by Motorola Solutions
    The Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) announced its final acceptance of its much-anticipated Project 25 (P25) radio system built by Motorola Solutions during a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted last month. LA-RICS Executive Director Scott Edson (pictured above, cutting the ribbon) said the Los Angeles region has “moved into the 21st Century, when it comes […]
  • Five takeaways from the House FCC oversight hearing
    The House Energy & Commerce Committee held an FCC oversight hearing on Thursday, with a “Biden broadband takeover” theme, focusing largely on Republican concerns with the FCC’s efforts to reinstate Title II and enact digital discrimination rules. The hearing also covered the FCC’s lapsed spectrum authority and the Biden administration’s spectrum policy, as well as funding shortfalls […]
  • Sorond named NextNav's CEO to pursue location services, 5G
    Mariam Sorond, a wireless executive who previously worked at companies including VMware, CableLabs and Dish Network, will take over the CEO role at NextNav, the company announced. “Having devoted my career to advancing and commercializing innovation in technology, I am thrilled to continue this journey at the helm of NextNav,” Sorond said in a release. “I […]
  • Cyberattack on Pennsylvania Water Authority disrupts OT gear
    This past weekend, the Aliquippa Municipal Water Authority, located in Pittsburgh, experienced a cyberattack after one of its booster stations was hacked by an Iranian-backed cyber group.  The threat group, known as Cyber Av3ngers, hacked a system known as Unitronics, which has components that are Israeli-owned. The technology that monitors water pressure at the station […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • A new day is dawning
    Newscan: Feds recover millions from pipeline ransom hackers, hint at U.S. Internet tactic
  • Cyber is the new Cold War, and AI is the arms race
  • Private wireless networks in the US start going public
  • Microsoft patches 6 zero-day vulnerabilities under active attack

Commentary


Things to know about IWCE 2024: The basics 

5th December 2023

Land mobile radio (LMR) systems are just as vulnerable to cyberattacks as any other networks used in the public-safety sector. Here’s what to do about it.

  • 1
7th November 2023

September 3GPP Plenary meetings feature Release 18 progress, Release 19 beginnings

13th October 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.