Public Safety 700-MHz Demonstration Network

SPRING 2012 STAKEHOLDER MEETING

MAR 6 – 7, 2012 (Broomfield, CO) — The PSCR program hosted its third face-to-face stakeholders’ meeting for the PSBB Demonstration Network. The meeting, which had over 350 attendees, brought together representatives from public safety, Federal agencies, industry, and academia.

We were fortunate to have keynote speakers Anna Gomez, Dr. David Boyd, and Tom Power. Gomez and Boyd spoke to the importance of state and local representatives on the 15-member First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) board to ensure its process includes a local voice. FirstNet is a result of legislation signed (bill here) February 22, 2012, which secures the 700-MHz D Block spectrum for public safety first responders and $7 billion in funding to help pay for a nationwide broadband network.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Play Hide   Show 01_ballroom Over 350 meeting participants filled two ballrooms for the Spring 2012 Stakeholder Meeting. 02_dereck_orr PSCR Program Manager, Dereck Orr opened the meeting introducing the keynote speakers. 03_anna_gomez Keynote speaker Anna Gomez, Deputy Administrator, NTIA, said, "Local input is a must," (into the FirstNet board). 04_dr_david_boyd Regarding FirstNet, Keynote speaker Dr. David Boyd, director of DHS Science and Technology Directorate, said, "The Feds are the least important players. We're the facilitators." 05_jeff_bratcher PSCR Technical Manager, Jeff Bratcher provided an overview of the PSCR program. 06_emil_olbrich PSCR Lead Project Engineer, Emil Olbrich explained the methodology behind demonstration network test results. 07_lte_cell_on_wheels Weather on the first of the two meeting days offered a clear backdrop for the demo network's mobile cell. 08_dr_robert_stafford PSCR engineer, Dr. Robert Stafford explained the infrastructure behind demonstration network test results. 09_nada_golmie Nada Golmie, PSCR/NIST Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), introduced her team's modeling and simulation of a nationwide public safety broadband (PSBB) network. 20_richard_rouil Richard Rouil, PSCR/NIST ITL, describes work modeling and simulating a nationwide PSBB network. 12_ron_carey PSCR Technician, Ron Carey makes spectrum analyzer adjustments for the signals received from the mobile cell. 10_cook_redding_brouwer From left, PSCR engineers, Jon Cook and Chris Redding discuss with Wim Brouwer of Alcatel-Lucent the signals received from the mobile cell on wheels. 11_dj_atkinson PSCR engineer, DJ Atkinson discussed audio quality research along with Wim Brouwer, Alcatel-Lucent, Jim Hasset, NYPD, and Steve Devine, Missouri Department of Public Safety. 12_andy_thiessen PSCR engineer, Andy Thiessen discussed public safety broadband requirements and standards. 13_andy_seybold Andy Seybold, of Andrew Seybold, Inc., discussing public safety broadband requirements and standards. 14_bill_schrier Bill Schrier, City of Seattle, discussing public safety broadband requirements and standards. 15_roy_mcclellon Roy McClellan, of Cassidian Communications, discussing public safety broadband requirements and standards. 16_tom_hengefeld Tom Hengeveld, of Harris, discussing public safety broadband requirements and standards. 17_tom_sorley Tom Sorley, City of Houston, discussing public safety broadband requirements and standards. 18_jayant_kulkarni Jayant Kulkarni, of Award Solutions, spoke about new features in LTE releases and impacts on testing. 19_tony_opferman Tony Opferman, of Rohde & Schwarz, speaking about new features in LTE releases and impacts on testing. 21_lte_cell_on_wheels Weather on the second of the two meeting days brought cold and wind for the mobile cell. 22_lte_cell_on_wheels Meeting participants view the eNodeB on the mobile cell. 23_stephen_bowker Stephen Bowker, of Aircom International, discussed indicators for managing LTE network performance. 24_david_sperling David Sperling, of Smith Micro Software, discussed device management of LTE user equipment. 25_priyen_doshi Priyen Doshi, of Motive, discussing device management of LTE user equipment.

Meeting participants learned about progress in PSCR’s PSBB Demonstration Network testing, including:

• Phase 1 test results and lessons learned
• Current Study Item findings
• Recent public safety broadband requirements gathering and standards development activities
• Preliminary voice over broadband audio quality testing findings and future plans
• Nationwide broadband modeling and simulation efforts and results being conducted by NIST

» Meeting agenda and slide decks

Related PSCR press items:

“State and Local Input Essential to Nationwide Network Success, Say Federal Officials,” MissionCritical Communications.

“Remarks of Deputy Assistant Secretary Gomez at PSCR Demonstration Network Stakeholders Meeting,” NTIA.

“Supporting our First Responders’ Communications Needs,” NTIA Blog.

“PSA Celebrates Broadband-Network Victory,” Urgent Communications.

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