Jeff Johnson, CEOWestern Fire Chiefs Association

Background: What we’re using todayLand Mobile Radio (LMR) Devices

Ability to send and receive mission critical voice communications

Towers cover an average of 20-40 milesPhones have ability to connect with other

devices even when not within range of tower using “talk around” feature

Ability to transmit data over network is virtually impossible; extremely slow data speeds.

Background: What we’re using todayFragmented, Outdated and Overburdened

NetworkOver 55,000 public safety agencies operating

across 6 unique radio bands.High cost of achieving interoperability - billions of

dollars spent purchasing, programming and deploying electronic patching equipment under a governing protocol.

When a disaster hits, the ability to talk to the entire public safety community is paramount. The current system simply can’t continue to keep America safe.

Vision of a 21st Century Network: D BlockThe D Block is a 10 MHz sliver of spectrum in

the upper 700 MHz band immediately adjacent to public safety spectrum:

Vision of a 21st Century Network: D BlockThe D Block is the only unencumbered portion

of spectrum in the 700 MHz band remaining on a nationwide basis.

The allocation of D Block to Public Safety would create a 20 MHz swath of spectrum for public safety to deploy a modern public safety broadband network.

The build-out of the public safety broadband network would coincide with commercial build-outs utilizing the most modern wireless platform, LTE.

21st Century Network: LTE PlatformLTE stands for Long Term EvolutionLTE is the new platform for ALL major wireless

communication deploymentsPublic Safety has come out in support of

utilizing the LTE platform for their wireless broadband network

In a rare act, the FCC has taken a formal position in support of the LTE standard for the public safety broadband network

Globally, public safety organizations are also adopting LTE as the platform for their mission critical grade broadband networks.

21st Century Network: What will a 20 MHz LTE Network Provide?Network reliability and security Access to the latest commercial technologiesThe ability to leverage public/private

partnerships that will aid in the build-out of a nationwide broadband network

A network that is built out to geography, rather than a commercial network built to population

Priority access for first responders on their own network

21st Century Network: Making it a RealityThe vision is there, but there are still many

major hurdles to clear before the dream of a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network becomes a reality.

Congress ultimately holds the key to whether D Block will be allocated to public safety with adequate funding to build out the network.

As it stands today, the FCC has interpreted its congressional directive as a mandate to auction D Block to the highest commercial bidder

21st Century Network: Presidential Support

President Obama announced his support for D Block allocation to public safety when he unveiled his FY ‘12 budget that included language which would not only allocate D Block to public safety, but would authorize $10.6 billion of federal funds derived from other auction revenue to build out and maintain the public safety broadband network.

21st Century Network: Congressional Support

House Homeland Security Chair Peter King (NY3) & Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (MS2) recently co-sponsored HR 607: The bipartisan bill entitled the Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011 would allocate D Block to Public Safety and would provide funding to build out a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network. Co-sponsors include:

1. John Barrow [GA 12]2. Shelley Berkley [NV 1]3. Leonard Boswell [IA3]4. Vern Buchanan [FL13]5. Yvette Clarke [NY11]6. Chip Cravaack[MN8]7. Keith Ellison [MN5]8. Jim Gerlach[PA6]9. Michael Grimm [NY13]10. Jessie Jackson [IL2]11. Sheila Jackson Lee [TX18]12. Eddie Bernice Johnson [TX30]13. James Langevin [RI2]14. Tom Latham [IA4]15. David Loebsack [IA4]

16. Billy Long [MO7]17. Nita M. Lowey [NY 18]18. Carolyn McCarthy [NY4]19. John Mica [FL7]20. Michael Michaud [ME2]21. Candice Miller [MI10]22. Erik Paulsen [MN3]23. Dave Reichert [WA8]24. Laura Richardson [CA37]25. Michael Rogers [AL3]26. Heath Shuler [NC11]27. Bennie Thompson [MS2]28. Edolphus Towns [NY10]29. Rob Wittman [VA1]30. Donald Young [AK]

21st Century Network: Congressional SupportSenate Commerce Committee Chairman John “Jay Rockefeller IV (WV) reintroduced his bill, S. 28, the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act at the outset of the 112 th Congress. Co-sponsors include:

1. Michael Bennet[CO]2. Barbara Boxer [CA]3. Benjamin Cardin [MD]4. Al Franken [MN]5. Kirsten Gillibrand[NY]6. Thomas Harkin [IA]7. John Kerry [MA]8. Amy Klobuchar[MN]9. Frank Lautenberg [NJ]10. Bill Nelson [FL]11. Charles Schumer [NY]

21st Century Network: Congressional Support

In mid May, Senate Homeland Security Chairman Joe Lieberman and former Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain reintroduced S. 1040, the Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011, a piece of bipartisan legislation that would allocate D Block to public safety while deriving funding through the auctioning of pieces of spectrum between 1700 and 2100 MHz.

21st Century Network: Congressional SupportIn an effort to gain bipartisan Senate support for his

bill, Chairman Rockefeller and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) recently released a joint committee staff draft bill that would allocate the D Block to public safety while providing federal funding through the revenue derived from auctioning off other spectrum.

The draft bill is scheduled for committee markup on June 8th, where the bill is expected to be assigned a new bill number, the appropriately labeled S. 911.

It is believed that this bill, S. 911, will be the vehicle for public safety spectrum allocation in the Senate.

21st Century Network: Does Public Safety Require Broadband?Yes.

As the network is developed and new devices and applications become available, public safety’s demand for video and data services will substantially increase.

The demand for data services within the public safety community is expected to parallel the commercial world; therefore, it is an unrealistic assumption that 10-MHz of spectrum would be sufficient for the volume of data public safety’s agencies will need, both for day-to-day use and in emergency situations.

Can Public Safety Use a Commercial Network?Maybe –but not always and not for everything.

Commercial systems are not built to a public safety grade, and cannot be relied upon for everyday, mission-critical operations.

Commercial service providers are not willing to allow the required level of priority access, called Ruthless Preemption, which allows first responders to displace commercial customers during critical events and emergencies.

There may be times when certain types of threats require commercial systems to be turned off, yet public safety systems will still need to operate, such as in the presence of Remotely Controlled IEDs or RCIEDs.

How Will Public Safety Support the Network Build-Out? Some of the funding mechanisms include:

1. Lease excess network capacity not utilized by public safety to commercial providers or other users on a secondary basis

2. Proceeds from other spectrum auctions 3. Current Homeland Security, Justice, Transportation and other

Federal grants 4. Universal Service Funds (USF) 5. A nominal monthly fee that can be imposed on consumers of

commercial broadband services 6. Public safety agencies partner with private industry7. Funding will also come from state and local public safety

operational expenses

If the D Block is auctioned, the cost of the build out would rely solely on federal grand dollars.

How Much Will the Build-Out Cost, and Can Public Safety Afford It?We agree with the FCC’s National Broadband Plan

which states that the build-out of a 10 MHz network will cost between $6 to $10 billion over the next 5 years.

The cost of building out a 20 MHz network on contiguous spectrum would cost exactly the same, if not less.

Indeed, a March 2011 study released by the Phoenix Center, a non-profit think tank, states that allocation will save the US money, realizing at least $3.4B in deficit reduction, as compared to a commercial auction of the spectrum.

What Benefits Would a 20 MHz Public Safety Broadband Network Provide?The ability to leverage the commercial build-out

of LTE networks will allow public safety to capture the economies of scale, which will drive down the cost, not only for infrastructure, but for devices as well.

From an economic standpoint, creation of an entire new market for data-driven devices and applications would allow for greater competition, innovation and entrepreneurship.

The build-out and maintenance of the network will create thousands of jobs for Americans.

What are Some Fire-Specific Applications That Would Run on the 20 MHz Network?Video could be used to provide instantaneous situational

awareness of major incidentsMajor fire and hazmat incidents could be monitored remotely

from a safe distance while providing real-time situational awareness to incident command and elected officials.

Building diagrams, hydrant locations, maps, highway information can all be downloaded from the network

Fire prevention inspection and code enforcement could all be performed and transmitted directly from the field. Photos and geospatial mapping could all be logged into the central (cloud) database, where access to the records for field referral or review of previous incidents would be controlled.

Real-time 3-D geospatial incident scene accountability would capture location of all assets and personnel.

The network could also support video teleconferencing to conduct daily briefings, training or live consultation during emergencies.

What are some EMS-Specific Applications to Run on the Network?Digital images of injuries Streaming EKG readings Portable ultrasound readings Results of field blood work On-site video of an accident can be streamed

to doctors awaiting in an ER room who may determine whether a patient requires an airlift (at a cost of $25,000 ), or can be transported via ambulance (at a cost of $400-6,000)

What is D Blocks’ Value?The D Block has an estimated commercial auction value of

between $1.2 and $3.2 billion. Several factors have contributed to its expected value: There are currently public safety requirements on the

spectrum –any commercial carrier who acquires the spectrum would have to provide ruthless preemption for public safety in the event of an emergency. Not surprisingly, this has greatly devalued the value of the spectrum.

In addition, if the FCC has contemplated blocking Verizon and AT&T from bidding on the D Block, the resulting lack of open competition would considerably deflate the number and value of the bids. To date, Sprint, T-Mobile, Clearwire and a few other business interests have shown the greatest interest in bidding for the D Block.

The White House and Obama Administration have offered $3.2 billion in FY2012 Budget assistance to offset the lost auction revenue.

Who Opposes the D Block Allocation to Public Safety?A narrow and diminishing coalition of

commercial carriers and business interests:Previously known as the Coalition for 4G in

America, the group re-launched a campaign in December, 2010 attempting to co-opt the public safety message by rebranding itself as the “Connect Public Safety Now” coalition.

Instead of allocating D Block to public safety, its goal was to ensure D Block was auctioned of to a limited group of potential commercial bidders with little-to-no public safety requirements or federal funding.

D Block Supporters Public Safety Associations: International

Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Congressional Fire Services Institute, National Sheriffs' Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, Major County Sheriffs' Association, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, International, National Emergency Management Association, International Association of Emergency Managers, Police Executive Research Forum, National Criminal Justice Association, National Association of Police Organizations, National Volunteer Fire Council, National Troopers' Coalition, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Association of Air Medical Services, Advocates for Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Nurses Association, National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, National Association of State Emergency Medical Service Officials, National Emergency Medical Services Management Association, International Municipal Signal Association, American Probation and Parole Association, InterAgencyBoard for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability

State and Local Government: National Governors Association, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, United States Conference of Mayors, Council of State Governments, International City/County Managers Association, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of Regional Councils, The National Association of State Chief Information Officers, State of New York, State of Nevada, State of Oregon, State of Iowa, State of Illinois, State of Maryland, State of Louisiana

Other National Associations:Communications Workers of America, American Public Works Association, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Alarm Industry Communications Committee, The National Association of State Technology Directors, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC)

Public Safety Industry: Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, EADS, Harris, Kenwood, Motorola, Northrop Grumman, Verizon, Raytheon, Rivada, Zetron, L.R. Kimball, Advanced Response Concepts Corporation, The Digital Decision, LLC, TASER International

How Can You Help?

Visit psafirst.org for more informationMake sure to call and write your Members of

CongressCapitol Hill switchboard –202/225-3121congress.org –enter your zip code

Remember to also thank existing bill sponsors. For support: Roger Wespe,

wesper@apcointl.org 888-272-6911 (mobile: 202-253-2535)