News FirstNet users will have access to 5G, but Band 14 will remain on 4G LTE for years, AT&T’s FirstNet lead says 11th September 2019 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, […]
News 800 MHz rebanding work nears completion, could be finished in less than a year, according to FCC official 10th September 2019 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 […]
Audio Dick Mirgon talks about NG911 funding legislation, new website focused on Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) 6th September 2019 Dick Mirgon, a public-safety-communications consultant and former APCO president, talks about the need for public-safety unity to transform next-generation 911 (NG911) legislation into a law with billions of dollars in capital funding to upgrade 911 centers–or Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs)–nationwide. Mirgon also discusses his “All Things ECC” website that launched last month.
News APCO officials stress need for NG911 interoperability 4th September 2019 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, […]
News FirstNet making an impact early in three communities, speakers say 28th August 2019 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 […]
Product EMS: Kevin McGinnis describes broadband effect on rural-patient treatment, impact of new ET3 model 28th August 2019 Kevin McGinnis, former FirstNet Authority board member, member of the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) and program manager for the National Association of State EMS Officials, explains how the development of broadband services like FirstNet and the Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) payment model being piloted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid […]
Video L3Harris: Don Griffis showcases integration of XL-200 radio with SCBA mask from MSA 26th August 2019 Don Griffis, product manager at L3Harris, explains the benefits of the company’s XL-200 portable radio being integrated with an SCBA mask from MSA to deliver clearer audio communications in a fireground scenario. Griffis spoke with IWCE’s Urgent Communications Editor Donny Jackson during the APCO 2019 event in Baltimore.
Video Nokia: Fabricio Velez talks about benefits of IMS-based proposal for NG911 23rd August 2019 Fabricio Velez of Nokia outlines the advantages that public-safety answering points (PSAPs) can realize by implementing a next-generation 911 (NG911) system that leverages the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) infrastructure that is a common element of most modern broadband systems. Velez spoke with IWCE’s Urgent Communications Editor Donny Jackson during the APCO 2019 event in […]
Video Hexagon: Jessica Enewold demonstrates capabilities of company’s analytics solution 23rd August 2019 Jessica Enewold of Hexagon explains how the company’s analytics solution prepares and processes large amounts of data into information that can help public safety make real-time decisions and compile reports that identify relevant trends. Enewold spoke with IWCE’s Urgent Communications Editor Donny Jackson during the APCO 2019 event in Baltimore.
Video Motorola Solutions: Bethany Simon outlines key features of KVL 5000 20th August 2019 Bethany Simon, a Motorola Solutions product manager, describes features of the KVL 5000, which lets radio personnel load encryption keys into secure communications products, such as P25 radios. Simon spoke with IWCE’s Urgent Communications Editor Donny Jackson during the APCO 2019 event in Baltimore.
Latest 3GPP standards-development work includes new classes of HPUE, progress on mission-critical services 1 22nd April 2024
Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority? 3 24th March 2024
Video Check out key takeaways from Disaster Management Symposium webinars, register to view archives Video: Opening of the Expo Hall on day three of IWCE 2023 Lynk CEO Charles Miller: The sky’s the limit