by AllThingsECC.com | Jun 3, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the most disruptive innovation in a generation. It is quickly becoming an essential component in many industries, including public safety.
A perfect example of this combination of technology-assistance and human decision-making is in Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), where call-takers serve as the public’s first point of contact in an emergency. PSAP call-takers and dispatchers must separate the signal from the noise, which is all the more difficult when a flood of information from frantic callers washes over them. When the clock is ticking, highlighting critical data points even a few seconds earlier can save lives, and assistive AI excels at such essential work…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jun 3, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
As chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I have a responsibility to ensure that actions Congress and the federal government take regarding our transportation networks contribute to, and do not detract from, public safety. That’s why I oppose the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to repurpose more than half of the 5.9 GHz radio frequency band, also known as the Safety Band.
Since 1999, the 5.9 GHz band has been reserved for dedicated short-range communications to enable vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. V2X communications, and the technologies they will enable — namely, connected vehicles — will make our transportation networks smarter, more efficient, dramatically reduce congestion, significantly increase throughput on existing infrastructure, and, most critically, make us safer. These technologies, in other words, have the potential to save lives but only if the frequencies they rely on continue to be available for V2X applications…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jun 3, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
There is certainly a lot happening in the field of wireless communications. Next week I will be commenting on the recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling on public-safety 4.9-GHz spectrum, but this week I want to back up and talk more about broadband for those in rural areas who do not have broadband and those who may have broadband available but not the financial resources to pay for broadband to their homes or elsewhere.
Rural Broadband
The infrastructure bill being discussed by Congress and the Executive Branch currently includes $65 billion for rural broadband deployment, which is down from the original $100 billion. It is not yet clear if this bill, as currently written, will capture the votes needed in both Houses of Congress and be signed by the President…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jun 1, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
FirstNet is much more than a wireless broadband network for first responders. It’s an entire ecosystem of solutions that includes FirstNet Certified™ and FirstNet Verified™ apps to help first responders do their important work. And the Mission Critical App Webinars give us some real-life examples of how agencies put them to use.
Through these webinars, Mission Critical Communications highlights the robust ecosystem of apps already helping public safety agencies automate, simplify, and digitize their difficult work. Mobility and security experts thoroughly evaluate every included solution…
by AllThingsECC.com | May 31, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
By Kenzie Capece, Senior Public Safety Advisor, First Responder Network Authority
Earlier this month, the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet Authority) Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) held its Spring Business Meeting to discuss the committee’s efforts in 2021 and its ongoing plans to support FirstNet’s growth and expansion. Discussions highlighted accomplishments and business updates in 2021, PSAC Strike Team efforts, and PSAC User Working Group updates.
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by AllThingsECC.com | May 31, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
Lawrence J. Spiwak
As the demand for mobile wireless services continues to explode, the search for underutilized spectrum that can be repurposed from low- to high-value commercial use never ends. For the most part, the Federal Communications Commission under the leadership of former Chairman Ajit Pai had a good track record in this regard, including successfully repurposing the 900 MHz band, navigating the byzantine complexities of the C-Band to get that auction off the ground, and converting the 5.9 MHz band for Wi-Fi use. But while kudos are certainly due, in fairness we need to recognize that the Pai Administration also had its missteps.
The opinion article appears in yalejreg.com dated May 27, 2021
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