As I was writing some comments on social media the other day I had to go back and look at the legislation that brought us FirstNet and the requirement that FirstNet be built using commercial standards. That entire section was very purposeful at the time and today it has worked out to the benefit of public safety. We have seen that public safety can now get public safety grade devices at reasonable prices. We see applications being developed at record speeds and innovation happening unlike anything ever seen by public safety.
One segment of that innovation is related to HPUE or High-Power User Equipment. HPUE is part of the secret sauce of the FirstNet Network. Many users don’t realize that the power outputs of spectrum usage is regulated by the FCC and is critical to the range of the user devices. Back in the old days a public safety handheld might have a power output of 7 watts…
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released a Public Notice last week announcing that it will begin accepting 900 MHz broadband segment applications. In May 2020, the FCC realigned the 900 MHz band to make available six megahertz of low-band spectrum for the development of critical wireless broadband technologies and services, while reserving the remaining four megahertz of spectrum for continued narrowband operations.
4.9 GHZ Band Stay Draft Order Circulated
Last week, a draft order was circulated among the FCC Commissioners that would stay the 4.9 GHZ Band Order that it adopted in September 2020. In the Order, the Commission adopted rules permitting expanded use of 50 megahertz of mid-band spectrum in the 4.9 GHZ band, allowing one statewide band licensee per state to lease some or all of its spectrum rights to third parties… READ MORE
Public safety agencies are seeking ways to reliably grant mission-critical information access to authorized users while also ensuring security and data integrity. Technical pilot projects sponsored by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency demonstrated cross-domain federated identity, credential and access management for secure information sharing for first responders in Texas and Tennessee.
The ability to dynamically manage access to information systems whether it involves data about drug overdoses, sensitive federal threats, criminal justice information, geographical information system (GIS) mapping, or physical access to a crime scene or response perimeter, is central to today’s public safety information technology environment. Identity, credential and access management (ICAM) is responsible for the governance, policies and technologies needed to make this happen…
SAN DIEGO (April 30, 2021) – Rescu, an emergency alert app that connects people directly to certified emergency dispatchers, launches today throughout the United States in partnership with over 30,000 local emergency agencies. Rescu is the first and only Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) in a non-hardware platform.
Unlike 9-1-1, the Rescu app does not require speaking to a dispatcher. With Rescu, users can communicate non-verbally to an emergency dispatcher. This means a user can silently send for help in Rescu’s mobile app interface if an intruder enters their home or a user can request an ambulance in the event of a medical emergency that hinders their ability to speak. Rescu is the most efficient way to get emergency help during an emergency…
We recently spoke with Bruce about how technology has changed incident management and how FirstNet will support the continued advancement of tools and resources for public safety.
By First Responder Network Authority
Bruce Fitzgerald joined the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) after more than 15 years in public safety and crisis management. He began his career at the Maine Emergency Management Agency where he served in several roles including homeland security grant coordinator and the State Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director…
One thing we learned as a child was to call 911 if there’s an emergency. If you’ve ever had to make the call, you know it can be nerve-racking. With approximately 240 million 911 calls made each year, there’s pressing demand for call centers to be ready to handle any situation at any time. One Austin startup is working to enhance 911 call centers across America by providing them with data and analytics.
RapidDeploy develops cloud-based emergency response dispatching and analytics platforms that shorten the total response time and improves safety for emergency personnel. Founded in 2013, RapidDeploy uses location mapping and real-time data from smartphones, smartwatches, home security systems, vehicles and traffic cameras to facilitate rapid and informed responses to calls…
Learn about current efforts to continue to protect the 4.9 GHz Band for public safety as well as recent filings, key decisions impacting these efforts, and how you can support PSSA’s initiative to protect the 4.9 GHz band for public safety.
