APCO 2014: Day 2

FirstNet users will have access to AT&T’s 5G services that are set to be available nationwide by the middle of next year, but the 700 MHz Band 14 spectrum will continue to leverage 4G LTE for years to protect public-safety device investments and key functionality, according to the leader of AT&T’s FirstNet team. Chris Sambar, […]

Originally slated to be a three-year project that would be completed more than a decade ago, the 800 MHz rebanding initiative is nearing completion and could be done next year, according to information from an FCC official and a recent FCC filing from Sprint, which has funded the massive rebanding effort. Michael Wilhelm, chief of […]

Next-generation 911 (NG911) systems should let 911 centers handle all forms of multimedia—voice, text, data, photos and video—and interoperate with other NG911 systems, but public-safety jurisdictions have to specify these characteristics in their procurements or risk facing disappointment and extra costs, according to APCO officials. Jeff Cohen, APCO’s chief counsel and director of government relations, […]

Public-safety users have been able to subscribe to FirstNet for only two years, but the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) is making a significant impact on the operations of several first-responder agencies, providing cost-effective data and deployable support immediately and a mission-critical voice option in the future. John Cueto, police chief for the Town of […]