Bill Munn   By Michelle Zilis, Associate/Web Editor   Although many of the details about the transition to next-generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1) are unclear, one thing is certain — NG 9-1-1 will be a major and traumatic change, and managers and directors should be conducting long-range planning for the transition,

  By Wesley Wright   The FCC’s 2013 narrowbanding deadline is quickly approaching, and applicants for FCC radio licenses are already feeling the effects. In December, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau received a substantial number of applications for new and modified private land mobile licenses in the VHF (150 –

By Vincent Siragusa   As public-safety and homeland-security threats have evolved over the years, so too has the need for adequate technology infrastructure and communications equipment to enable first responders to address those risks. For communications projects, this preparedness comes at a high cost that demands time commitments, spectrum space,

Following are comments we’ve received from readers about recent online and print news and articles. If you’d like to comment on an article, e-mail edit@RRMediaGroup.com .   In response to “ Missouri Makes Interoperability Top Priority Through Grant Process ” from Jan. 18   Editor:   As a supplier of

  By Harlin R. McEwen   Our law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel must have access to modern and reliable communications capabilities, including high-speed data and video, to communicate with each other and with federal officials across agencies and jurisdictions during emergencies. A hardened broadband network designed to meet public-safety

Photo courtesy NJTA   By Michelle Zilis, Assistant/Web Editor   Although public safety endorsed Long Term Evolution (LTE) as its future technology of choice, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) opted to deploy WiMAX technology for a statewide deployment along the two main highways — the New Jersey Turnpike and

  By Sandra Wendelken, Editor   Steve O’Conor took over as president of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) earlier this year. He has 36 years of experience and is the assistant emergency communications manager for the West Palm Beach (Fla.) Police Department, managing the daily operations of the emergency

Woonsub Kim, Samsung executive vice president and general manager telecommunications systems business, and Pascale Sourisse, senior vice president of Thales, at the contract signing. Photo courtesy Thales.   By Sandra Wendelken, Editor   Traditional professional mobile radio (PMR) manufacturers and cellular infrastructure vendors have announced a spate of partnerships during

By C. Douglas Jarrett   In 2006, wireless carriers bid almost $14 billion or more for the AWS spectrum, which includes half of the 2.1 GHz band. The wireless community is now well into the fourth year of the 2.1 GHz relocation process. Verizon Wireless, one of the largest AWS-1

  By Michelle Zilis, Assistant/Web Editor     Thirteen states — Arizona, California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin — reported that 9-1-1 collected funds are or could be used to support other programs in a FCC report submitted to Congress. In 2008,