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Why 6 GHz Is Critical to Public Safety and Industry
By Jamie Barnett

In the FCC’s proposed rulemaking to allow unlicensed use in the 6 GHz band, the commission noted that the 6 GHz band is used for a variety of critical services, including public-safety communications for first responder dispatch. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO) is one of many groups that protested the rulemaking, filing comments with the FCC stating, “APCO remains concerned that expanding unlicensed use in the 6 GHz band will cause harmful interference to public-safety operations. Fixed links are not designed to detect interference until after a communications link fails, putting safety of life and property at risk.”
Industry also has critical communications affecting the safety of life and property, such as RigNet’s 6 GHz microwave network in the Gulf of Mexico, providing 24,000 square miles of WiMAX coverage at sea. 
“This network is essential for preventing disasters on deep sea oil platforms by providing high throughput communications for the thousands of sensors on board these remote locations providing real-time analysis,” said Brendan Sullivan, RigNet chief technology officer (CTO) and chief information officer (CIO). “And when accidents do happen, fast, reliable communications is absolutely essential. Unlicensed use can cause crippling interference.”
RigNet argues that if unlicensed 6 GHz is in use, this particular spectrum becomes a wireless access point for multiple users on the platform that provides the backhaul for the network to perform.
“The microwave signals are running on the 6 GHz frequency, if someone puts up an antenna in the free-range area, and starts broadcasting, it will knock that network out,” said Sullivan.
Dr. Alexei Vederko, manager of global RF engineering for RigNet, provided scientific evidence of RigNet’s argument with a series of calculations that showed unacceptable interference because of the structure of the network and the probable positioning of the interference sources on the same platforms and in the main lobe.
The 6 GHz network is the most reliable broadband point-to-point communications network in the Gulf of Mexico. This signal is used to power the microwave connection currently available, and because it is a point-to-point microwave, any interference can disrupt the network in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the network for public-safety communications used by first responders, 9-1-1, wireless emergency alerts, emergency communications and other critical communications.
The 6 GHz network is being upgraded to Long Term Evolution (LTE), expanding the coverage to 45,000 square miles. The network is used by RigNet and its customers, but anyone with LTE roaming may access the network and pay roaming charges. With the upgrade to LTE, 9-1-1 calls, emergency communications, disaster preparedness, telemedicine and personnel evacuation will be greatly enhanced. But because unlicensed use would occur primarily on the same platforms that carry the network backhaul, the likelihood of interference with these communications is unacceptably high.
With LTE, new levels of public safety are available to the personnel working on oil platforms and oil field service vessels, as well as to any person in the Gulf of Mexico within the coverage of the network. The use of unlicensed 6 GHz can threaten public-safety communications. If communications is interrupted, persons throughout the area will be unable to use the network for at-sea firefighting, medical evacuation, suicide prevention, search and rescue (SAR), disaster preparedness, emergency and weather alerts.
Constant and highly reliable communications is essential in the Gulf of Mexico. At any given time, thousands of workers are on these platforms. Therefore, better ship-to-shore data exchanges can minimize communications failure that can lead to poor early detection and response in the event of an emergency.
“Following past incidents, the industry has increased its safety position, developing daily operational reports and this data to shore is necessary, and if a rig cannot do that, you have to shut the rig down,” said Sullivan. “This is why RigNet has the highest standards of critical comms available for offshore energy.”
The interesting thing about the at-sea network is the nature of where the interference will come from. Any interference here has the possibility to go further than it would on land. Unlike terrestrial networks, this at-sea network’s links are entirely dependent on the positioning of oil platforms. Because microwave links go up to 30 miles, 6 GHz works well across these distances, power levels and environmental factors in a way that other microwave frequencies do not.
In Vederko’s analysis, he reported that seawater is more reflective of RF energy than terrain, where there is more absorption and diffusion. At sea, even with some significant wave action and sea state, unlicensed use can be expected to cause more severe interference than on land.
“We are looking at past precedence,” said Sullivan. “Ensuring the availability of 6 GHz for use by the energy industry is essential to their operations.”
RigNet is very much in favor of the FCC finding additional spectrum for Wi-Fi and 5G, but it needs to be done in a way that avoids interruptions of public safety and other critical communications.
Jamie Barnett, RigNet’s senior vice president for government services, is a former chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.

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IJIS Institute, DHS S&T, Google Host Event on Text-to-9-1-1 Translation

Last month, the IJIS Institute, the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) and Google hosted a Text-to-911 Translation TechFest at the Google campus in Kirkland, Washington.
The TechFest was designed to encourage nationwide efforts to improve technologies in support of public-safety communications and response. The event included participation from technologists, public-safety leaders, language service providers and trade associations such as the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT).
Sending texts to 9-1-1 to request help from public safety—fire, EMS or law enforcement—is becoming more common across the U.S. The TechFest brought together key thought leaders on this subject from multiple disciplines to help address concerns regarding use, implementation and public education around text to 9-1-1, particularly for people with limited English proficiency who are trying to communicate with public-safety officials. According to U.S. Census data more than 60 million people nationwide speak a language other than English in their home, and approximately 28 million people are identified as having limited English proficiency. Public-safety officials have found in many communities across the country that not long after implementing text to 9-1-1, public-safety emergency call centers begin to receive text communications in languages other than English, necessitating the need for translation.
The TechFest revealed that public safety officials currently depend on machine translation for handling non-English texts to 9-1-1 and sought to understand the efficacy of machine-translation software in support of life and safety calls for assistance. The project team also received a commissioned report to understand the accuracy of machine translation and through the event, demonstrated the use of human interpreters or interpreting services to augment machine translation of non-English texts to 9-1-1. As the project moves forward, the TechFest investigation of Language Service Provider (LSP) “coaching” of machine-translation will result in implementation guidance and recommendations for operational and technical issues stemming from the findings. At the national level, the lack of a nationwide program and clear funding stream to support next generation 9-1-1 efforts continues to result in a patchwork approach with implementation by jurisdiction, which creates challenges for adoption, standardization, and affordability.
Next steps for the project include additional collaboration between public-safety emergency call centers, industry technology providers and language service providers, to address affordability of a commercially-available, public safety grade solution for text-to-9-1-1 translation.
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Hamilton NG911 Joins iCERT

Dedicated to providing technological advancements in the emergency services industry, Hamilton NG911 has been involved with and presented to numerous government and industry organizations. The company has collaborated with standards organizations in developing industrywide standards for next-generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1) operations.
“We are pleased to join iCERT and are proud to align with their commitment to affecting policy and achieving widespread customer accessibility for emergency services,” said Toni Dunne, national account manager of Hamilton NG911. “Hamilton NG911 is committed to industrywide collaboration and education, which we believe is paramount to realizing the breadth of possibilities that NG 9-1-1 service brings.”
Since its founding in 2005, iCERT remains the exclusive provider-only trade association championing commercial response technology organizations.
“Each iCERT board member offers unique technology capabilities to advance public safety, just like Hamilton NG911,” said Kim Robert Scovill, iCERT executive director. “We look forward to Hamilton NG911’s leadership in our mission to advocate for more new funding and introduction of the newest and best technologies in the public-safety sector for first responders and the public.”
Hamilton NG911 provides NG 9-1-1 core services using a robust infrastructure and experience in mission-critical IT service and support solutions.
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Wireless Carriers Want Phased-In 3-Meter Z-Axis Accuracy, No Floor-Level Data

The concerns were part of reply comments filed in response to the FCC’s proposed March rules that side with public safety and would require a vertical (Z-axis) location accuracy metric of ±3 meters relative to the handset for 80 percent of indoor wireless 9-1-1 calls. The new rules will help first responders more accurately locate people who make wireless 9-1-1 calls from multistory buildings.
AT&T argued against requiring floor-level data and agreed with Google that the FCC use a timetable for increasingly demanding Z-axis call coverage and/or geographic coverage requirements. “Given the variances in building structural characteristics and terrain, AT&T continues to believe that imposition of a floor level data requirement is infeasible at this time,” AT&T said.
In its earlier comments, AT&T supported establishing a 3-meter Z-axis location metric. However in its reply comments, the carrier said: “Proven solutions that meet this metric are not currently available, and thus the commission should consider a phased-in approach for implementation, which will allow market innovation to continue while also providing first responders with actionable information in the near term. … Device-based solutions show promise in advancing the evolution to dispatchable location. AT&T anticipates leveraging these technologies, but additional development is needed.”
T-Mobile USA’s reply comments said a phased-in approach based on PSAP readiness would allow carriers to focus their Z-axis development efforts in those areas where PSAPs are able to accept and use Z-axis information.
T-Mobile USA’s reply comments also agreed with Verizon’s comments on geographic areas. “Verizon suggests that the commission should focus its compliance benchmarks on those areas with the most critical need for Z-axis information with 9-1-1 calls — specifically, urban and dense urban morphologies,” T-Mobile said in its reply comments. “T-Mobile encourages the commission to explore this proposal …”
CTIA said in reply comments that “the commission should recognize that there was broad support for setting a ± 3-meter Z-axis metric as an important target, but the record demonstrates that validating whether this metric is achievable in the near-term requires further testing.” The group also said the FCC should require providers to deliver Z-axis vertical location data as an altitude level and not as floor level information at this time.
“Finally, contrary to the arguments made by the Boulder Emergency Telephone Service Authority (BRETSA), the Texas 9-1-1 Alliance, the Texas Commission on State Emergency Communications, the Municipal Emergency Communication Districts Association, and others, a more targeted metric than 3 meters is not feasible at this time,” CTIA said.
Alternatively, public-safety groups that included the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) and the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) urged the FCC to adopt the 3-meter vertical metric and narrow the metric in five years.
“… The commission has no choice but to immediately adopt a 3-meter metric for vertical location accuracy and require wireless carriers to implement this requirement, or a dispatchable location solution, in the largest 25 cellular market areas (CMAs) by April 2021 and in the top 50 CMAs by April 2023,” the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) said in its comments.
NextNav and Polaris Wireless, two providers of location accuracy technology that participated in testing with CTIA, agreed a 3-meter Z-axis metric should be adopted right away.
In its reply comments, BRETSA, a 9-1-1 authority in Colorado, said the FCC should adopt a vertical location accuracy standard of 2 meters in urbanized markets and 3 meters in the rest of the country, which vertical location providers have demonstrated is achievable.
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International did not file reply comments. However, in its May comments, APCO called on the FCC to refrain from adopting a Z-axis metric and mandate instead that wireless providers deploy dispatchable location solutions only. APCO said that if the FCC retains the Z-axis approach, any metric adopted should include floor-level information.
For its part, Precision Broadband agreed with APCO that the proposed Z-axis metric of 3 meters must include a floor number. The company said the definition of dispatchable location should be changed from the current National Emergency Address Database (NEAD) to encompass other location databases.
Charley Simon, founder of Precision Broadband, said the company has demonstrated connecting its technology through interfaces with a rural internet service provider (ISP). When a mobile phone is connected to a broadband network with the Precision Broadband technology at the time a 9-1-1 call is made, the PSAP system would receive a dispatchable location — civic address, floor and unit — just like with a landline telephone, as well as a Z-axis barometric pressure provided altitude from another source such as Polaris Wireless, and an assisted-global navigation satellite system (GNSS) location point from a wireless carrier’s network. The 9-1-1 telecommunicator would have access to all readings, and either the PSAP technology or the PSAP telecommunicator would determine the best starting point for location.
The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) walked back some points of its original comments, saying its concerns about the NEAD should not be interpreted as a call for abandoning the program. In addition, NENA said it didn’t mean to suggest that a first responder should not be dispatched to a dispatchable location if that is best for operational needs. The association stood by its assertion that mobile providers deliver a location object (LO), formatted to be compatible with prevailing standards, to public-safety answering points (PSAPs).
Comments on the NEAD from NCTA, the Internet and Television Association, said resources may be better spent on alternative solutions that better boost location accuracy for 9-1-1 callers than the NEAD. NCTA said its members have challenges in working with CTIA to engage in testing of the database.
NCTA members have significant concerns about the NEAD’s effectiveness generally compared with more recent promising technologies, the cable industry’s ability to populate the NEAD with meaningful data, and the potential unintended negative effects on NCTA members’ customers, the group said in its reply comments.
All the reply comments are available here.
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Iowa County Contracts IXP for 9-1-1 Services for 5 Years

Utilizing IXP’s managed care solution is expected to bring cost savings and enhanced safety to Webster County. IXP’s management will also enable the county to transition to a medical dispatching system, which involves dispatchers gathering critical information for EMS personnel, along with providing medical direction to callers in some cases.
The center will be staffed by 12 supervisors, call-takers and dispatchers who are recruited from the local workforce. IXP said its managed services model achieves cost savings for municipalities by alleviating the burden on local governments due to long-term unfunded pensions and other benefits liabilities.
IXP manages emergency communications centers for Princeton, East Windsor, Lawrence Township and Hightstown in New Jersey; Johns Creek, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Brookhaven in Georgia; Danbury, Connecticut; and Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority.
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Oklahoma 9-1-1 Association Selects Consultant for NG 9-1-1 Implementation

MCP will work alongside 9-1-1 ACOG leadership and engaged local stakeholders to develop a strategic plan that is compatible with its public-safety answering point (PSAP) needs. With 21 PSAPs spread throughout the 9-1-1 ACOG region, MCP will work with 9-1-1 ACOG staff and PSAP stakeholders to facilitate the development of a set of requirements that best fit its unique technical and operational needs and then oversee a procurement and implementation.
“We are excited about our new partnership with MCP as we strive to effectively implement NG 9-1-1 and believe that MCP’s technical and professional guidance will help us sustain our leadership role in providing the most advanced 9-1-1 services in the state of Oklahoma,” said Mark W. Sweeney, ACOG executive director.
MCP will provide additional procurement support for 9-1-1 ACOG’s call-handling equipment (CHE) solution assessments, helping to develop the CHE technical and functional requirements that support the replacement of the current systems in a seamless transition.
Formed in 1988 to implement, administer and coordinate the operation of regional enhanced 9-1-1service, 9-1-1 ACOG provides its services to nearly 50 communities in central Oklahoma.
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NENA Hires Heinze as 9-1-1, PSAP Operations Director

Heinze has spent the majority of her nearly three-decade career in 9-1-1 focused on public-safety answering point (PSAP) operational issues. In her new role, she will identify how the ongoing technological evolution will impact 9-1-1 and next-generation (NG 9-1-1) services and operations, as well as how new technologies and new leadership, workforce management and wellness best practices can enhance 9-1-1-center operations.
Additionally, she will design and implement projects related to current, emerging and prospective issues affecting 9-1-1 operations within the 9-1-1-authority and PSAP communities, including the development of standards and the management of the association’s dispatcher-focused programs.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join NENA during this time of transition for the 9-1-1 community,” said Heinze. “I’ve had the privilege of serving NENA in volunteer-leadership positions, and my experience has allowed me to become well versed in NENA’s standards development processes. I look forward to working alongside NENA staff, volunteers and members to provide 9-1-1 professionals with the tools they need to best serve the public.”
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Wright Named Executive Director of NG911 Institute

Wright, a partner at Keller and Heckman, will continue serving clients for the Washington, D.C.-based law firm. Wright regularly counsels corporate clients on matters before the FCC and state public utilities commissions, including compliance with rules related to 9-1-1 reliability and call handling, telecommunications service provider regulations, state tariff requirements, customer proprietary network information (CPNI), the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), private wireless licensing, and other related obligations. Wright also represents trade associations and corporate clients on policy matters before the FCC and has advocated policy positions on the 9-1-1 reliability rules, network outage reporting requirements, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Connect America Fund (CAF) and other rulemaking proceedings.
Slattery, also an attorney in the telecommunications practice at Keller and Heckman, counsels corporate clients and trade associations on matters before the FCC and state public utilities commissions, including compliance with 9-1-1 rules and telecommunications service provider regulations.
As Executive Director of the NG911 Institute, Wright will work closely with the Institute’s board to continue promoting public awareness of next-generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1) and emergency communications issues. He will support the organization by providing outreach, education and support to the Congressional Caucus on NG 9-1-1 and emergency communications issues.
“The N-911 Institute Board is pleased to have Mr. Wright join the Institute as its new executive director,” said Joseph Marx, chairman of the board. “Wesley’s vast experience and enthusiasm will be a great benefit to the Institute and the public-safety community.”
The NG911 Institute supports the mission of the Congressional NG 9-1-1 Caucus to promote public awareness of NG 9-1-1 and emergency communications issues and serves the caucus as a clearinghouse of information on NG 9-1-1 and emergency communications issues.
Former executive director Patrick Halley was named senior vice president, advocacy and regulatory affairs for USTelecom in January.
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Michigan County Signs $47M P25 Contract with Statewide System Interface

The project will replace more than 3,500 portable radios and about 2,000 radios in emergency vehicles with Motorola Solutions two-way radios. The radios are equipped with Wi-Fi and support wireless programming. The contract includes replacing 76 radio consoles at the 20 Oakland County 9-1-1 public-safety answering points (PSAPs) with new Motorola Solutions dispatch consoles. These consoles will be integrated with the existing CallWorks 9-1-1 call-taking platform.
Implementing the network will take up to three years. During the next six months, the entities will design the 31-site simulcast system to submit to MPSCS for review. The system will be built with multiple layers of redundancy to withstand large-scale emergencies such as tornadoes or floods. The design includes 31 sites, 12 700/800 MHz channels, and P25 Phases 1 and 2 compliance.
Oakland County’s Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System (CLEMIS), which uses computer technology for criminal justice and public-safety applications, will use the company’s radio management system to maintain and update the fleet of radios through a central database. The new network will also provide Oakland County’s public-safety departments countywide paging of firefighters with new 700/800 MHz pagers.
“This new partnership with Motorola Solutions will launch Oakland County into a whole new level of emergency communications,” said Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard. “Technology is constantly changing, and this investment will give our first responders the tools they need to serve our residents. Once again, Oakland County will set a standard for other counties to follow and emulate.”
Oakland County’s contract with Motorola Solutions requires 1% grade of service which means 99 out of 100 times the two-way radio system will be fully available to a first responder. Also, the contract requires the new radio system to cover 97 percent of the county outdoors and 95 percent of the county in buildings.
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Missouri County Deploys Avtec Consoles with NEXEDGE Radio System

The new communications system includes 10 Avtec dispatch console positions and two additional console positions that are configured for operation as a backup dispatch center or for mobile operation. The system also includes radio interfaces including a direct IP integration to the county’s JVCKENWOOD NEXEDGE multisite trunked radio system and interfaces to about 20 other radio systems via Avtec radio gateways. An application programming interface (API) integrates with the county’s CAD system to provide dispatchers with the information needed to quickly and reliably make decisions.
Jasper County Emergency Services Executive Director April Ford said dispatchers have been using the same radio consoles to coordinate with first responders for 12 years.
“Our old system was antiquated and lacked the ability to easily adapt as our business practices changed,” said Ford. “Migrating from a hardware-based system to a software-based console solution provides us with communications that are crystal clear, which helps improve officer safety and reduce response times.”
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Shelby County Implements In-Building 9-1-1 Location Technology

Shelby County buildings are multifloor, multidepartmental offices with key-lock, proximity or biometric access. In many instances, first responders would face an emergency call from a building with eight to 12 floors of 9,000-20,000 square feet each, and multiple rooms, small offices and cubicle areas. They would be forced to navigate this maze with no information as to floor plan, office numbers, service closets and hazardous areas, among other obstacles and route challenges.
Avaya introduced 911 Secure to the county as a proof-of-concept exercise, initially targeting three floors of the main administration building. Avaya IX Workplace with 911 Secure’s SENTRY uses new integration capabilities with the RapidSOS Clearinghouse. Through RapidSOS, first responders can access a building address, the specific endpoint location from which a call was placed, and other critical details such as the square footage of the property, detailed floor plans and which entrance is best to use — all within seconds.
“During the preliminary testing phase, we were immediately impressed with the system’s ability to recognize when an endpoint was relocated from one subnet to another; it was virtually instantaneous, and we could immediately see that one of our issues — endpoint portability — would be resolved,” said Jeff Yallope, manager customer support and telecommunications, Shelby County. “The 911 Secure capability to clearly identify locations by subnet is having a significant and beneficial impact on our network design standards. We now insist on using best practices for all ongoing network moves, adds and changes and are working retroactively to remedy some areas in preparation for a 911 Secure implementation.”
Shelby County plans to expand a complete rollout of 911 Secure’s SENTRY solution to cover the entire main administration building and the remaining seven or eight multilevel county buildings in the downtown Memphis area in the near future.
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