In December, the FCC issued an order on reconsideration and a memorandum opinion and order that contemplates assigning Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS) spectrum held by Maritime Communications/Land Mobile (MCLM) to Choctaw Holdings. This is welcome news for the critical infrastructure industries (CII) entities that have been attempting in good faith to acquire MCLM’s spectrum for years.

Cheryl J. Greathouse, president of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, offers details on Project 43, FirstNet’s opt-out option, 9-1-1 indoor location accuracy, 4.9 GHz and more.

Tero Pesonen, chair of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association (TCCA) Critical Communications Broadband Group (CCBG), discusses the public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) broadband market.

While there was optimism that the approaching announcement of a national partner by FirstNet would turn the national public-safety broadband network into a reality, Rivada Mercury's pre-award protest of the request for proposals (RFP) and a changing presidential administration promise more uncertainty for public safety.

Although the concept of IoT is just beginning to surface as a household phrase, the concept isn’t new. It has been around for many decades, in what I will term the “internet of things that matter,” things such as remote controlling compressors that deliver natural gas to New York City, analyzing pressures and flows on an oil pipeline in real time to detect even small leaks, inter-linking circuit breakers at various substations to react quickly to prevent a fault from escalating to a larger area and others.

FirstNet announced last week it will not make its original Nov. 1 deadline for awarding its RFP, while a U.K. official said quality is more important than timing for the U.K. Emergency Services Network (ESN). With projects of this size and scope — and as the first in the world of their kind — it’s better to get them right than to meet unrealistic deadlines.

It wasn’t too many decades ago when trunking technology was introduced in the Part 90 bands. Because trunking systems need not distinguish between the users seeking access to the technology, the basis for retaining 20 or so disparate radio services where spectrum was allocated based on the type of business an applicant was engaged became instantly obsolete. Just in case any readers are too young to remember, there used to be actual separate radio service spectrum allocations for relay press, motion picture, motor carrier and even telephone maintenance business activities.

Because of threats to public safety, we need to take encryption seriously and start securing our radio systems — not just for “special” communications channels, but also for day-to-day operations. Network security is a recognized best practice in all other forms of communications, and radio systems are woefully behind the times in this regard.

Public-safety wireless technology and communications are changing and developing before our eyes, and it’s exciting. Here are five technology trends gleaned from industry events such as the recent Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder meeting.

Where do your 9-1-1 fees go? If you live in New Jersey or at least seven other states, not to 9-1-1, according to the latest FCC’s report to Congress on state collection and distribution of 9-1-1 fees. Find out what New Jersey is doing to combat the problem.