The Safer Buildings Coalition (SBC) Wireless Tech and Policy Summit, held in Washington, D.C. on May 24, brought together experts and practitioners to discuss the state of public safety communications (PSC) in the U.S. Chief Alan Perdue, SBC Executive Director, opened the conference with a welcome to all attendees. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr addressed the conference in a video interview with John Foley, SBC Managing Director.
In a fireside chat with SBC Founder Seth Buechley, Jim Bugel, AT&T President-FirstNet & Public Safety highlighted the advantage of FirstNet’s dedicated Band 14 (700 MHz) LTE network in enabling first responders (police, fire, EMS) to share voice, data and video communications in ways not possible with legacy LMR two-way voice-only radios. Bugel expects FirstNet to reach 5.0 million subscribers before year-end, up from 4.7 million reported for 1Q23.
On a panel discussing broadband infrastructure funding, Jonathan Adelstein with DigitalBridge Group, acknowledged the unprecedented federal funding for broadband projects but emphasized that the funding allocation criteria must remain technology neutral without a bias towards fiber. PSC relies on wireless, especially in rural areas. “There’s no fiber behind the fire truck,” he said. Telecom lawyer David Bronston of Phillips Lytle addressed the challenges of obtaining permits and licenses to deploy PSC wireless infrastructure. “The equipment has to go somewhere on somebody’s property,” Bronston said.
A lively debate followed on a panel that weighed the merits of flexible use of 4.9 GHz and 6 GHz bands in view of wireless industry calls to make underutilized spectrum in those bands available for commercial use. First responder proponents argued that PSC requires dedicated frequencies without call prioritization especially for in-building applications. CBRS shared spectrum or leased spectrum models have limitations, whereas a FirstNet-like dedicated model appears to be best suited to meet the growing demand for innovative PSC applications.
Another panel discussed the availability of new PSC devices and handsets with integrated multiband operation including direct mode calling, high-powered user equipment, hybrid LMR/LTE handsets, satellite to-mobile and Sidelink device-to-device connectivity. John Kuzin of Qualcomm said Sidelink technology still functions when cellular networks are inoperable and can be integrated into all devices, but the PSC community must tell the FCC what it expects.
A school safety and wireless communications panel talked about the key role that in-building wireless plays in keeping schools safe. Mike Richey of Guilford County NC Schools pointed out that a high percentage of 911 calls from schools are for domestic issues besides emergency incidents.
Another panel discussed the transmission risks posed by noise and interference between PSC and cellular networks. The panel suggested that the FCC may need to update rules for consumer and industrial devices operating in close proximity to prevent and mitigate interference.
In-building PSC coverage is imperative. That topic was top of mind for a panel that discussed ways to eliminate dead zones inside buildings considering regulatory compliance, building owner concerns, and using certified installers while working in tandem with cellular service. Chief Michael Baltrotsky, Montgomery County, MD Fire & Rescue, said, “Regardless of occupancy, first responders will go in. Their only tools are communications devices – radios and cell phones. They just have to work, but they don’t. If I can’t communicate, I may not take the risk. The tools have to work – that changes the risk assessment.”
Foley wrapped up the conference emphasizing the first responder community must be able to use wireless technology in ways that keep people safe. SBC continues to advocate for adopting common PSC standards backed by legislation that supports those standards.
He also announced the availability of SBC’s newly released publication, “The Complete ERCES Handbook,” which the organization says is the industry’s most comprehensive reference on Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems. The Handbook includes material to help candidates prepare for the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies IB-PSC Certification. Click here for more information.
By John Celentano, Inside Towers Business Editor
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