Video City of Richardson (Texas): Steve Graves describes transition from LMR to enhanced PTT offering 19th August 2016 Steve Graves, chief information officer for the city of Richardson, Texas, describes the operational and financial benefits achieved by having general-government employees leverage a carrier-based push-to-talk (PTT) service. Public-safety users also plan to use the carrier PTT technology to supplement communications on the existing P25 system.
News Swenson, Johnson, Takei reappointed to the FirstNet board 18th August 2016 FirstNet Chairwoman Sue Swenson, Vice Chairman Jeff Johnson and board member Teri Tekai have been reappointed to serve additional three-year terms on the board of FirstNet, according to an announcement today from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.
News FirstNet names eight recipients in $26.8 million grant program to relocate 700 MHz narrowband systems 18th August 2016 FirstNet announces that eight public-safety entities will receive a total of $26.8 million to fund the relocation of their narrowband systems to different 700 MHz frequencies, clearing the airwaves for FirstNet’s nationwide public-safety broadband network that is scheduled to be built during the next several years.
Video PSAC: Chairman Harlin McEwen highlights key points of local-control report to FirstNet 18th August 2016 Harlin McEwen, chairman of the Public-Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC), says he believes that public-safety agencies will be able to have an adequate level of local control on the proposed FirstNet nationwide broadband system for first responders. The PSAC recently submitted its local-control report to FirstNet.
Commentary When your hands are full, new technology may let your eyes carry the load 17th August 2016 Public-safety personnel in the field want the information that broadband applications can deliver, but they often need to keep their heads up and their hands free, precluding the use of typical consumer devices. Motorola Solutions’ proof-of-concept virtual-reality demonstration featuring Eyefluence technology may provide the seed of a solution to this problem.
Commentary APCO says what many in public safety believe, calling story about FirstNet ‘inaccurate’ and ‘inflammatory’ 11th August 2016 Is FirstNet obsolete before being built? APCO certainly doesn’t think so.
Commentary FirstNet flying under the radar but ready to soar 9th August 2016 While most August headlines are focused on the political arena during this election year, let’s not forget that an important public-safety initiative is quietly moving forward. This week, FirstNet will get another important staff member: Bill Schrier, chief technology officer of the Seattle police department.
Commentary Here is a suggested process to help states make FirstNet opt-in/opt-out decision 5th August 2016 Many state officials have been talking about the opt-out option for years, but how would the decision-making and logistics work? Consultant Dominick Arcuri provides a detailed outline of the steps involved for a state pursuing the opt-out alternative.
News Decision on LMR-to-LTE migration for mission-critical voice should be made by public safety, Seybold says 28th July 2016 Public safety’s mission-critical voice communications someday may be transmitted over FirstNet’s nationwide LTE system, but elected officials and government administrators should not retire land-mobile-radio (LMR) networks until first responders express confidence in the LTE-based offering, according to leading wireless-communications consultant Andrew Seybold.
Commentary RFP competition should improve chances that FirstNet vision can become a reality for public safety 26th July 2016 It may have been the worst-kept secret in the public-safety communications industry, but AT&T announcement that it is leading a FirstNet bidding team means that the RFP process has at least three competitors, which should be good news for public safety.
Latest 3GPP standards-development work includes new classes of HPUE, progress on mission-critical services 22nd April 2024
Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority? 2 24th March 2024