https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
  • 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
    • Cookies Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • Microwave/RF
    • T&D World
    • 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
  • 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
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookies Policy
  • 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

Policy


Lots of work needed to make 700 MHz proposal a reality

Lots of work needed to make 700 MHz proposal a reality

Myriad technical, financial and operational challenges surround the proposed 700 MHz public-private partnership model that is designed to build and maintain a nationwide broadband network for public safety, but leaders within the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) remain supportive of the notion.
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 7th August 2008

KANSAS CITY—Myriad technical, financial and operational challenges surround the proposed 700 MHz public-private partnership model that is designed to build and maintain a nationwide broadband network for public safety, but leaders within the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) remain supportive of the notion.

Craig Jorgenson, APCO’s representative on the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) board, and Robert Gurss, APCO’s director of legal and government affairs, both said media reports that APCO has considered relinquishing its spot on the PSST board are untrue.

“It’s always an option, but I’ve never been in a meeting where that’s been said,” Jorgenson said after participating on a panel discussing the matter yesterday.

Both Jorgenson and APCO have been critical of PSST operations in the past, with Jorgenson citing a lack of “transparency” within the PSST, and APCO asking the FCC to reconstitute the PSST board or replace it as the public-safety broadband licensee.

While such differences exist, Jorgenson said he is confident that the PSST leadership “wants [public-safety agencies] to be happy.” In addition, Jorgenson acknowledged that the PSST is in a difficult position of needing to perform outreach to potential public-safety users of the network and preparing to execute other responsibilities with no source of revenue other than a $4 million loan from advisor Cyren Call—a relationship that has been a lightning rod of controversy in the nation’s capital.

“The licensee was given the license and no money to do the work—the commission didn’t give them any money and Congress didn’t give them any money,” Jorgenson said, quickly noting that the FCC does not have the power to appropriate funds. “They said, ‘Oh, by the way, go do this.’ That’s kind of a silly way to do business.”

Several representatives of public-safety agencies—the potential users of the proposed broadband network—expressed the desire to have input into system, something Jorgenson has reiterated is necessary.

PSST Chairman Harlin McEwen, who was not a member of the panel but attended the session, said he believes the PSST would like to do more outreach with local public-safety agencies, but a lack of funds makes that difficult. In addition, he said it is questionable how beneficial such outreach would be when so many fundamental aspects of the arrangement are unknown.

“Everything that was said is important, and we understand that,” McEwen said after yesterday’s panel discussion. “But, it’s a little like putting the cart before the horse. … It doesn’t make sense for us to try to get into the weeds of how [public-safety user] agreements would be structured when we don’t have D Block partner and there’s no guarantee that the network will ever exist.

“Right now, I’m focused on trying to get rules developed that will work, ensuring that we have a successful auction and negotiating an agreement with the D Block winner.”

From a technical perspective, APCO has submitted recommended changes to the FCC regarding the rules governing the commercial D Block, which failed to attract a successful bidder earlier this year.

To create a greater financial incentive for a commercial operator to bid on the 10 MHz D Block—to be coupled with public safety’s 10 MHz swath of broadband spectrum to provide the foundation of the network—APCO suggests that public-safety users have pre-emptive rights on no more than 50% of the network’s capacity instead of the 100% proposed during the first failed auction attempt.

“This may seem like a concession,” Sean O’Hara of Syracuse Research said during the panel discussion. “But, if this [network] is not built, we’re not going to get to use more than that 10 MHz anyway.”

O’Hara said it also is important to manage usage of the network efficiently, to ensure that capacity is available to public safety when needed and to maximize the business opportunity for a commercial partner. Among other things, O’Hara said that network data rates should be dependent on the device used, offering the example that large image files typically can be compressed if they are going to be view on the small screen of a handheld device.

Derek Poarch, chief of the FCC’s public safety and homeland security bureau, on Monday said addressing the 700 MHz broadband issue for public safety is a priority for the agency but declined to speculate on whether the commission would issue rules on the matter this year.

Tags: Call Center/Command content Policy Public Safety Wireless Networks

Most Recent


  • T-Mobile's CEO explains the company's new private 5G strategy
    T-Mobile on Monday took the wraps off its new private wireless networking offerings, and the company’s CEO spoke about it at length during an investor event. “CIOs everywhere are interested in this topic right now,” T-Mobile’s Mike Sievert said Monday at the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference. “And they’re interested in it for a reason. […]
  • Hytera, Motorola Solutions refile appeal, cross-appeal in civil case
    As expected, Hytera Communications again has appealed a $543.7 million judgment against it to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, while Motorola Solutions this week filed for second time a cross appeal in the case that was initiated more than four years ago. There was little surprise in the filings, because both Hytera and Motorola […]
  • Amid shifting workplace expectations, local government employers must adapt
    Constrained by inflexible budgets, local government employers can’t compete with the lucrative salaries offered in the private sector. And while recruitment has always been a challenge for public employers, the last two years have been especially difficult. From January 2020 to the same month this year, government organizations lost around 600,000 jobs—more than manufacturing, wholesale […]
  • The private-wireless networking opportunity shouldn't stay too private
    Everyone is excited about the market for private wireless networking. And that’s no surprise: It affords all the companies that cut their teeth building big, public 4G and 5G networks the chance to leverage that work into the enterprise space – where margins might be much more attractive. Moreover, it could ultimately grow into a […]

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

  • New Orleans-area 911 center inks multiyear APEX deal with Carbyne to replace call-handling system
  • Lots of work needed to make 700 MHz proposal a reality
    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

Commentary


LTE and liability: Why the fire service must move forward with digital incident command

  • 2
6th May 2022

Partnership and collaboration must be the foundation for emergency communications

18th April 2022

FirstNet success means no hypothetical ‘shots’ need to be fired, Swenson says

22nd February 2022
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

T-Mobile’s CEO explains the company’s new private 5G strategy dlvr.it/SQyzhc

24th May 2022
UrgentComm

Hytera, Motorola Solutions refile appeal, cross-appeal in civil case dlvr.it/SQxNX1

24th May 2022
UrgentComm

Amid shifting workplace expectations, local government employers must adapt dlvr.it/SQwVVs

23rd May 2022
UrgentComm

The private-wireless networking opportunity shouldn’t stay too private dlvr.it/SQw7MT

23rd May 2022
UrgentComm

Europe’s first driverless-car test completed dlvr.it/SQvqyY

23rd May 2022
UrgentComm

FCC approves order to modernize priority-service rules dlvr.it/SQmSN0

20th May 2022
UrgentComm

Meet smart city goals cost-effectively dlvr.it/SQmPkr

20th May 2022
UrgentComm

Security for microwave links dlvr.it/SQmNwX

20th May 2022

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
  • Microwave/RF
  • T&D World
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 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.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X