The FCC’s public safety and homeland security bureau is about to rule on waiver requests from 23 public-safety jurisdictions seeking permission to build broadband LTE systems. That dedicated public safety spectrum on the 700 MHz band is licensed to the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST). Earlier this year, the FCC approved 21 similar waiver requests from public-safety jurisdictions.
The PSST is the Broadband Licensee for the 10 MHz of 700 MHz public safety nationwide broadband spectrum. First responders are currently trying to get another 10 MHz (the D-Block), that the FCC wants to auction off to commercial providers.
Bill Schrier, the chief technology officer of Seattle, explains Why Cops Don’t Just Use Cell Phones:
Police officers and firefighters carry $5000 radios. Local and state governments spend hundreds of millions of dollars to build public safety radio networks. Yet, today, cell phone networks seem to be everywhere, most people carry a mobile phone and many of us think paying $199 for an iPhone is expensive. Why can’t cops and firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT) use cell phones like everyone else? Here are a few reasons public safety officers need their own dedicated networks:
Priority. Cellular networks do not prioritize their users or traffic.
- Reliability. Seattle’s public safety radio network, part of the larger King County-wide 800 megahertz public safety radio network, handles more than 60,000 police, fire and emergency medical calls every day. It operated last year with 99.9994% reliability
- Disasters. Even small disasters cause cell phone networks to collapse. Cell phone service can abruptly cease in an area where EVERYONE is on their phone.
- Talk-around. A key feature of most government-operated networks is something called talk-around or simplex or “walkie-talkie” mode. In this mode, individual radios talk directly to each other, without using a radio or cell tower.
- Ruggedness. No firefighter in his/her right mind would fight a fire using a cell phone for communications. The heat, water and ruggedness of the environment would quickly destroy the device.
As Schrier says,
“City and County police and fire in the region have one network, each electric utility (e.g. Seattle City Light) have another network. Transportation departments have their own networks (e.g. Seattle Transportation and Washington State Transportation each have their own separate network). The Washington State Patrol has its own separate network. The State Department of Natural Resources has its own network. Fish and Wildlife has its own network. And federal government agencies (FBI, cutoms and immigration) have their own networks. This is patently stupid and expensive.
I think first responders ought to have the best communications system in the world. The commercial LTE cellular network is it. Here’s why:
Priority. Wireless Priority Service gives a call priority over all other users.
- Reliability. Cellular communications is always backed up by Cells on Light Trucks with thousands of techs on call.
- Disasters. When public service radio towers or networks are knocked out (such as in Katrina), it can take months to restore service.
- Talk-around. LTE-enabled public service radios will have push to talk.
- Ruggedness. Consumer cellphones are not rugged. That’s why D-Block radios cost more. Motorola can keep their exorbitant margins.
The 911 Commission has studied interoperability and first responder communications. They believe the FCC addresses First Responder needs best. Sharing the “D Block” with priority access to commercial LTE cellular has the following advantages:
- Ubquitious. Cellular is everywhere. Government LTE will be spotty. Volunteer fire departments can’t afford dozens of $5K radios or dedicated networks.
- Bandwidth. First Responders already have 12 MHz of dedicated broadband. If they want more they can use D-Block, then the entire national celllular infrastructure.
- Uniformity. Interagency rivalries will reduce access and interoperability.
- Utility. Two-way video chat, innovative apps, and broadband wireless mean civilians will be calling the shots unless first responders get with the program.
Different people have different opinions. I think the FCC and the 911 Commission have the right idea. Let commercial operators build out the D-Block. It’s the only practical solution that will provide ubiquitous broadband across the United States.
Related Dailywireless articles include; Riot in D Block, Twitter 911, FCC Okays 21 Public Service Nets, FCC: Stop Complaining about Interoperability, Police & Fire: No Broadband for You, The 700MHz Network: Who Pays?, The National Broadband Plan, National Broadband Plan Previewed, D-Block: It’s Done; Congress Pays, AT&T/TerreStar Ready Satphone Service, TerreStar Phones Home, Motorola + SkyTerra Team for 700 MHz/Sat Radios, Alvarion, Open Range To Build 17 State Net, San Diego State: Wildfire GIS to Go, Emergency Mapping, Cascadia Peril, Commentary: Future of Public Safety Communications, New York Cancels Statewide Wireless Network, New York’s $2B Statewide Network Close to Canceling, M/A-COM to NY: We’re Good, NY Gives Tyco 45 days to Fix Network, Battle for Oregon’s State-wide Radio Net, Oregon’s $500 Million Statewide Wireless Network.`
