Many business enterprises currently licensed to operate land-mobile-radio (LMR) networks on T-Band spectrum (470-512 MHz) are taking the first step this week toward making the first significant updates to their systems in almost nine years, when the FCC froze the band in anticipation of an auction that recently was scrapped… READ MORE
by Karl Wilmes, Police Chief (Ret)
Public safety spectrum serves the mission critical communications needs of first responders charged with the protection of life and property, such as police, fire fighters and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers. The challenges facing public safety, specifically law enforcement in the 21st century are numerous. Therefore, the ruling by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for state-based licensing for public safety operations in the 4.9 GHz band is extremely disappointing and has the potential to be life threatening…
There is a lot going on during these early days of 2021. Broadband companies that did not bid on the FirstNet Request for Proposal are seeing how successful FirstNet is and want to change the rules late in the game; initial MegaRange™ drive tests are underway and a webinar is in the making; z-axis location technology is available; and now public-safety agencies are able to own or lease their own mini-emergency Band-14 cell sites.
Network Interoperability—Yet Again?
It seems every time FirstNet (Built with AT&T) releases updates or announces advances, other networks once again bring up broadband interoperability. Recently, FirstNet announced more network growth, new agencies, new subscribers, more Band-14 cell sites, and the addition of z-axis location that enables public-safety personnel to be located to within feet on the exact floor of a building…
Public safety agencies operating in partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, also known as FirstNet, now have access to new capabilities to communicate and enhance their response to emergencies.
In January, AT&T, which is building out FirstNet, the nation’s interoperable public safety broadband communications network, unveiled new technological features for the network. They include a new feature to enhance the geolocation of first responders inside buildings, high-powered wireless equipment designed to boost the range of devices in rural and remote settings, and a new push-to-talk communication solution…
Despite access to more than $600 billion in grants made available by the federal government and private sector each year, public safety agencies have struggled to make use of that funding, according to a new report from the law enforcement consulting firm Lexipol and the wireless network equipment company Cradlepoint. And those issues persisted into the COVID-19 pandemic, the report’s authors found, even after the passage of billions of dollars in emergency aid…
The Public Safety Broadband technology Association (PSBTA) This proud to announce the PSBTA FirstNet™ Virtual Regional Forums. These forums are a series of virtual regionalized presentations with panelists from the FirstNet Authority, both national and local team members with FirstNet built with AT&T, ecosystem developers, and a townhall with our board members. The forums are custom-built to connect you with the leaders in the FirstNet ecosystem.
Click here for more registration details!
Events will be held on the following dates for these regions:
Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
Thursday, February 25, 2021 – 9:00 am PT/ 10:00 am MT/ 11:00 am CT/ 12:00 pm ET
Washington and Oregon
Thursday, March 11, 2021 – 10:00 am PT/ 11:00 am MT/ 12:00 pm CT/ 1:00 pm ET
Nevada, So. California, and Arizona
Thursday, March 18, 2021 – 10:00 am PT/ 11:00 am MT/ 12:00 pm CT/ 1:00 pm ET
Colorado
Thursday, April 15, 2021 – 9:00 am PT/ 10:00 am MT/ 11:00 am CT/ 12:00 pm ET
Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa
Thursday, April 8, 2021 – 8:00 am PT/9:00 am MT/ 10:00 am CT/ 11:00 am ET
N. Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota
Thursday, April 29, 202 – 8:00 am PT/9:00 am MT/ 10:00 am CT/ 11:00 am ET
Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Massachusetts
Thursday, May 20, 2021 – 7:00 am PT/8:00 am MT/ 9:00 am CT/ 10:00 am ET
Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina
Thursday June 10, 2021 – 8:00 am PT/9:00 am MT/ 10:00 am CT/ 11:00 am ET
