NPSTC: The Collective Voice of Public Safety Telecommunications 1 Spectrum 20/20 Ottawa, ON, May 6,...

NPSTC: The Collective Voice of Public Safety Telecommunications

www.NPSTC.org1

Spectrum 20/20Spectrum 20/20 Ottawa, ON, May 6, 2008 Ottawa, ON, May 6, 2008

Public Safety Challenges: Public Safety Challenges:

Broadband Anyone?Broadband Anyone?

Sean O’HaraNational Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Technical Advisor

Business Area Manager – Analysis, Communications, and Collection Systems

Syracuse Research Corporation

[email protected]



www.NPSTC.org2

Heading off aHeading off aData DivergenceData Divergence

• As long ago as 2006, mobile broadband was starting to take a strong hold on the wireless subscriber community– BB data networks rolling out, coverage footprints grow

• Emergency responders began to see the utility of having high bandwidth mobile data connectivity– Most mobile data systems only provided a maximum of 32 kbps for their

data applications– The faster speeds offered by the commercial data technologies offered

the ability to transfer images, video, and other large files.

• BB started to take hold in the Public Safety Community– Washington DC began to roll out dedicated a 700 MHz BB network– San Diego County (and many others) started to utilize commercial

providers to offer BB data services to their users– New York City released an RFP for a dedicated BB network


www.NPSTC.org3

NPSTC takes ActionNPSTC takes Action

• The public safety community clearly communicated to the FCC its desire to utilize the 700-MHz spectrum to support broadband operations.

• After significant analyses and debate, NPSTC filed comments with the FCC in May 2006 requesting that the structure of the 700-MHz band public safety allocation be modified to allow for broadband aggregation of up to three 1.25-MHz channels.

• NPSTC then formed an Broadband Task Force (BBTF) to work out the details of how all of these technologies could be deployed without harmful interference. – This BBTF was chartered to work jointly with public safety and the

vendor community in the development of coexistence guidelines.– NPSTC and the BBTF concluded that the various technologies could

coexist as long as they were properly managed and coordinated.– Submitted a technical report with band configuration recommendations


www.NPSTC.org4

BB: EVDO

BB: UMTS/WCDMA/LTE/WiMax

WB: SAM

The Technology LandscapeThe Technology LandscapeBroadband Optimization Plan Proposal


www.NPSTC.org5

A New Concept is BornA New Concept is Born

• Rather than accept the widely-supported NPSTC recommendations, the FCC took bold steps to introduce a new framework for a National Broadband network whose spectrum assets would be managed by a single public safety broadband licensee (PSBL).

– D Block auction winner to work with PSBL to provide services

• This was an extremely contentious topic within the Community, and the responses were sharply divided

– Could it Hurt?

• Many concerned that economic viability dooms the network to failure, while crippling the ability to roll out dedicated local public safety BB services

• Concern that this would be seen a “solution to all problems”, and as such would take away resources from solving NB voice interoperability concerns

– Could it Help?

• Many felt that only a National Network could provide the economies of scale to provide service and coverage for public safety


www.NPSTC.org6

A Public Safety BB SoRA Public Safety BB SoR

• In last 2007 as the 800 MHz auction approached, there was a lot of uncertainty in the market regarding the expectations of the PSBL

– What were the requirements going to be to provide public safety services?

– More importantly, how much is this going to cost?

• NPSTC stepped in again, brought tremendous resources to bear, and worked with the community to generate a Statement of Requirements* for distribution to the D-Block Bidders.

– This at least provided a basis for what types of details need to be worked out in the Network Sharing Agreement (NSA) to be negotiated between the PSBL and D Block auction winner

– However, there was still uncertainty as to what the actual requirements for the network would be, as the NSA was to be developed post-auction

*Available at : http://www.npstc.org/statementOfRequirements.jsp


www.NPSTC.org7

The Auction: Reality CheckThe Auction: Reality Check• Everyone knows how the 700 MHz auctions turned out

• Some unfortunate facts we are now dealing with:

– Fact: Only a single bid was placed for the D-Block Spectrum, well below the minimum bid.

– Fact: Many of the National service providers likely met their needs through the auction (AT&T, Verizon), or though the use of other bands (such as Sprint’s 2GHz spectrum acquisition through 800 MHz rebanding)

– Fact: The D-Block/PSBL concept is probably only economically viable for someone who already has a national footprint

• This is not a the best position for PS to be in


www.NPSTC.org8

Contemplation TimeContemplation Time• Now is a good time for some careful contemplation

• FCC:

– How can this approach be reformulated to make best use of the spectrum?

• Public Safety

– How can we find a balance between wants and needs?

– How can we get something that is achievable?

• Commercial Ventures

– The 10 MHz of prime 700 MHz spectrum is worth a lot of money (~ $10B), is there anything that can be developed that can serve public safety and still provide a reasonable ROE?

• I have worked work with a lot of public safety folks, both managers and end users, and from my experience we need to take a look at requirements, services, and operability/interoperability



www.NPSTC.org9

My Perspective (not NPSTC’s):My Perspective (not NPSTC’s): ServicesServices

• Data is not voice

– It is a mistake to treat data as voice, it often serves an entirely difference purpose as voice, has difference UI characteristics, and uses different applications, with differing requirements

• In most cases, data is not as “mission critical” as voice

– Ask first responders to chose between voice and data if you do not believe me.

– What you can do and how you do it is highly augmented by data capabilities (database queries, telemedicine, etc)

– Data helps you do a better job to serve the public

• Data may never replace voice

– Almost all data applications require to take your eyes off of what you are doing.

– Even the most sophisticated data consumers (the armed forces) still need voice



www.NPSTC.org10

My Perspective (not NPSTC’s):My Perspective (not NPSTC’s):

RequirementsRequirements

• Data Requirements are not ubiquitous

– Requirements are not the same everywhere

– Traffic light control, meter reading, and other public service applications are the not same as bomb squad robot video and control

• Data Requirements are relative

– If you have nothing, then anything is better

– Many (and perhaps most) first responders do not even have narrowband data available to them right now

• Data Requirements are not the same as voice

– Voice messages requires minimal latency, and have a short “lifetime”

– Data messages often can be queued and delivered as soon as possible, and have a much longer “lifetime”



www.NPSTC.org11

My Perspective (not NPSTC’s):My Perspective (not NPSTC’s):

Operability/InteroperabilityOperability/Interoperability• Voice and Data interoperability are not the same

– Different requirements and different implementations

– Many data benefits are applications of operability - not interoperability.

• The need/requirements for data interoperability is very ill-defined right now, and as such the best way to achieve them are uncertain

– There have been major efforts by many folks to look at this, but divergent conclusions

• Politics and parochial interests have hindered the furthering of voice interoperability, and they might be worse for data

– Voice is a piece of cake compared to sharing data, which is more akin to sharing and/or opening up access to IT networks.

• Applications needs to be as interoperable as the data itself

– Top down approach developed standardized applications, and can offer band and technology agnostic interoperability as soon as a common IP platform is reached

– Bottom up approaches offer technology and band specific solutions, but still cannot work until the top of the stack is reached



www.NPSTC.org12

What is Next?What is Next?• Public safety needs to look at where it is going to use data and

especially BB data in their operations

– Capabilities and timelines

• Public safety needs to understand what is going to be mission critical, and what is not

– Mission critical applications require a hardened highly available network

• Public safety needs to understand what their data interoperability needs are, and start to look at all the ways that they can be met.

– From application layer to PHY(s)

• We need to build a bridge to a fiscally achievable destination

– And during all phases of construction, we need to be able to be somewhere better than we were.

• This is a huge complex effort

– NPSTC will continue to work hand in hand to help guide PS as this plays out

NPSTC: The Collective Voice of Public Safety Telecommunications 1 Spectrum 20/20 Ottawa, ON, May 6,...

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