Statement from the 800 MHz Transition Administrator
Today, June 26, 2008, is the 3-year anniversary and the date by which the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) indicated that the rebanding program would be completed. For licensees that were granted waivers of the deadline, we would like you to focus on the actions that are necessary to facilitate the successful completion of rebanding.
Posted June 27, 2008
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications Releases the 'National Response Framework (NRF)'
This National Response Framework (NRF)is a guide to how the Nation conducts all-hazards response. This document explains the common discipline and structures that have been exercised and matured at the local, tribal, State, and national levels over time. It describes key lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, focusing particularly on how the Federal Government is organized to support communities and States in catastrophic incidents. Most importantly, it builds upon the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which provides a consistent template for managing incidents.
Posted May 30, 2008
Sean O'Hara's presentation in Ottawa Canada at the Spectrum 20/20 conference discusses spectrum challenges and broadband uses in public safety.
Posted May 12, 2008
By this order, the Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), on delegated authority, establishes a reconfigured 800 MHz band plan in the U.S. - Canada border regions in order to accomplish the Commission's goals for band reconfiguration. We also establish a 30-month transition period for completion of rebanding in the U.S. - Canada border regions, which will commence 60 days after the effective date of this order.
Posted May 12, 2008
NPSTC presented a strategic initiatives presentation to the International Association of Chiefs of Police IACP, Law Enforcement Information Management training conference in Nashville to include information on Border initiatives, Low Power Television, Narrowband relocation and more.
Posted May 12, 2008
John Powell Presents at the Public Safety Communication Summit in DC
John Powell, NPSTC Interoperability Committee Chair and SDR Forum Board of Directors, presented at the Public Safety Communication Summit in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 2008. He addressed several topics on Interoperability, including Statewide Communications Interoperability Plans (SCIP), Broadband Interoperability, and Software Define Radios, to mention a few.
Posted April 30, 2008
Jack Daniel Presents at APCO's Western Conference
Jack Daniel presented the new NPSTC white paper and its appendices on in-building communications best practices at APCO's Western Conference that was held in Albuquerque, NM, on March 30-April 2.
Posted April 15, 2008
NPSTC's Executive Director Speaks at CITIG Interoperability Workshop
Marilyn Ward, NPSTC’s Executive Director, presented at CITIG’s Interoperability Workshop that was held in Ottawa, Ontario on March 27 and 28, 2008. Topics included Border Issues, In-Building Communications, and a Nationwide Broadband Network to mention a few.
Posted April 15, 2008
NPSTC Presents at IWCE
NPSTC held a panel presentation at IWCE 2008 on Thursday, February 28, 2008 discussing ‘Current Events and Activities in Public Safety Communications’. Topics included in-building coverage, broadband, vocoder issues (with sample audio), border issues, channel naming, and plain talk, just to mention a few.
Posted March 5, 2008
The FCC released the following public notices and the Band Plan regarding the 700 MHz Narrowband.
Posted January 22, 2008
2007 Documents (click here to view)
The Office of Emergency Communications released its bulletin Office of Emergency Communications Bulletin: Dec 2007 - Jan 2008
Posted January 18, 2007
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications Releases the ‘National Interoperability Field Operations Guide’
The National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG) is a collection of technical reference material for radio technicians responsible for radios that will be used in disaster response applications.
Posted November 13, 2007
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces an Extension of the Deadline for 700 MHz Regional Planning Committees to Amend 700 MHz Narrowband Plans from November 23, 2007 to January 31, 2008.
Posted November 13, 2007
The Office of Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC) launched a pilot project on September 25, 2007 in DC that will field-test the integration of new broadband technologies with existing emergency responder two-way radio systems.
Posted October 25, 2007
Public safety and homeland security Bureau announces The availability of revised channelization plans for the consolidated 700 MHz public safety narrowband spectrum.
Posted October 25, 2007
The Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee Meeting was held on July 18, 2007, and the presentations and final recommendations are now available.
Posted October 10, 2007
On September 24, 2007 the FCC released the Order on Reconsideration and changed the requirements for the Public Safety Broadband Licensee (PSBL) makeup that were contained in the Second Report and Order that was released on August 10, 2007.
Posted October 10, 2007
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a Fact Sheet regarding its newly launched Radio Over Wireless Broadband (ROW-B) Project.
Posted September 28, 2007
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a press release announcing its launch of Radio Over Wireless Broadband (ROW-B) project.
Posted September 28, 2007
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) representatives met with Chief Derek Poarch of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) on August 28, 2007 to discuss the FCC’s 700 MHz Second Report and Order and its impact on public safety agencies. During this discussion the FCC encourages all public safety agencies that have deployed or are in the process of deploying a 700 MHz system to file a waiver request ASAP.
Posted September 4, 2007

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) has created this timeline to assist public safety in better understanding the chain of events required in the 700 MHz Second Report and Order.
Posted September 4, 2007
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) representatives met with Chief Derek Poarch of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) on August 28, 2007 to discuss the FCC’s 700 MHz Second Report and Order and its impact on public safety agencies. During this discussion the FCC encourages all public safety agencies that have deployed or are in the process of deploying a 700 MHz system to file a waiver request ASAP.
Posted September 4, 2007
Emergency Response Leaders Develop Proposal for Nationwide Plan for Interoperable Communications
On June 14th, 2007, the Office for Interoperability and Compatibility within the Department of Homeland Security hosted the Emergency Response Council (ERC), a group of practitioners from all emergency response disciplines from across the country, for their summer meeting in Denver, Colorado. At this meeting, the ERC developed critical components they believe should be included in any Nationwide Plan for Interoperable Communications to successfully strengthen interoperability across the country. These components included a set of 12 guiding principles
for interoperability and 22 action steps within four major initiatives: leadership and coordination, system design and interconnects, standards and certification, and standardization and accreditation. This ERC developed plan provides clear input on the most important actions that all levels of government need to take to achieve interoperability on a nationwide basis. A culmination of months of hard work by ERC members, this plan further defines the active partnership needed between the emergency response community and all levels of government.
This summer, practitioner action teams, consisting of ERC members and other nominated practitioners, will detail how this plan will be implemented. These action teams will report their recommendations to the Executive Committee (EC) in September; the EC is the governing body of the ERC. The EC will provide direction on next steps to the emergency response community as well as provide input to the Federal Government on the leadership and resources needed to further nationwide interoperability efforts.
Posted August 29, 2007
NPSTC gave a
presentation
at IWCE to brief the Public Safety Communications Community on the latest news and activities that have been taking place.
Posted April 13, 2007
SAFECOM and NPSTC hosted a Statewide Planning Workshop that was held March 21-23, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA.
The purpose of the Statewide Planning workshop was to provide State Interoperability Coordinators with the relevant guidance and tools to assist them in
developing statewide interoperability plans. Several resources are now available on the
SAFECOM website
to further assist the State Interoperability Coordinators with their plans.
Posted April 13, 2007
Richard DeMello Public Safety Communications Award
NPSTC presents one annual award to an individual in public safety communications who has demonstrated the highest levels of personal and professional conduct and performance in the local, state and national public safety communications arena. Nominations from the technical and operational segments of the community will be accepted. The final decision will be made at the NPSTC meeting on June 13, 2007 in Denver, Colorado by the NPSTC Governing Board, after reviewing the nomination.
Please fill out this
Nomination Packet
and submit to info@npstc.org prior to June 1, 2007 to nominate this year's recipient of the Richard DeMello Public Safety Communications Award to be presented this fall in New York during the Radio Club of America’s annual banquet November 16, 2007.
Posted March 12, 2007
SAFECOM is sponsoring a Statewide Planning Workshop hosted by the National Governors Association (NGA) and National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC). The Workshop will be held March 21-23, 2007 in Los Angeles. All 50 states, U.S. Territories and D.C are invited to participate. Each governor will be invited to designate a five-member team which includes state and local practitioners and policy makers. The Workshop will provide technical assistance on statewide planning and addressing the
statewide plan criteria.
We wanted to alert you that the letter of
invitation to Governors
was mailed late, last week with an
application form
and a copy of the Statewide Planning Criteria. These documents are attached for your reference.
While the Workshop is by invitation only (Governors’ Team Leads will select attendees), we would like to alert the emergency responder community to its existence and provide assistance to Governors in responding to the invitation. Those interested in attending the Workshop should contact their Governors’ offices directly. For questions or concerns, please contact Erin Lee at NGA (elee@nga.org) or 202-624-5392.
Posted January 19, 2007
2006 Documents and older (click here to view)
Protocol Between The Department Of State Of The United States Of America And The Secretariat Of Communications And Transportation Of The United Mexican States Concerning The Allotment And Use Of The 698-806 MHz Band For Terrestrial Non-Broadcasting Radio Communication Services Along The Common Border.
protocol
Posted November 16, 2006
Spectrum Management - Root - 700 MHz Border Area Band Plan Don Root’s evaluation of the 700 MHz Public Safety Band in the US-Mexico Border Area under the new
International 698-806 MHz Protocol. (Note: The channels highlighted and in Strike-out text are the Mexico Primary allocations.)
Posted November 16, 2006
9-1-1 and the next Generation
Posted November 1, 2006
Radio Communication and Border Issues
Posted November 1, 2006
NIST released a fascinating study this month that may indicate that "Firefighter Radios May Fail During High-Temp Fires..."
Click on this link for more
Posted October 23, 2006
Presentation to IAFC September 2006
- Current Issues In Public Safety Communications - What You Need To Know!
Added September 25, 2006
Results of the Eighth Meeting of the U.S.-Mexico High Level Consultative Commission on Telecommunications, Washington, DC, July 17, 2006
-
Joint Statement

-
Directory Of Bilateral Issues

-
Letter to Mr. Jorge Alvarez Hoth the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes

-
Letter to Sr. John M.R. Kneuer the Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and lnformation Department of Commerce and Administrador of National
Telecommunications and Information Administration

-
Protocol Between The Department Of State Of The United States Of America And The Secretariat Of Communications And Transportation Of The United Mexican
States Concerning The Allotment And Use Of The 138-144 Mhz Band For Terrestrial Non-Broadcasting Radiocommunication Services Along The Common Border

Letter to Ambassador Gross dated July 11, 2006
Added July 21, 2006
Canada 4.9 Rules
Added July 17, 2006
DHS Today - July 05, 2006 
DHS Today - June 26, 2006 
DHS Today - June 19, 2006 
The Phase 2 NPR Final Report
Added July 14, 2006
The Phase 2 NPR Fact Sheet
Added July 14, 2006
The Phase 2 NPR Initial Conclusions
Added July 14, 2006
SDR Forum News
Added May 30, 2006
Baseline Overview
A description of the SAFECOM Interoperability Baseline Survey
Added May 26, 2006
Press Release
A DHS announcement regarding the SAFECOM Interoperability Baseline Survey
Added May 26, 2006
Baseline FAQ
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding the SAFECOM Interoperability Baseline Survey
Added May 26, 2006
NPSTC’s Panel Presentation at IWCE May 18, 2006
Added May 22, 2006
In-Building Communication Information Needed
Added April 4, 2006
RCR Wireless News
Added February 17, 2006
FCC Hurricane Katrina Review Panel January 2006
Added February 2, 2006
"Broadband Public Safety Possibilities in 700 MHz - Dave Buchanan" - January 19, 2006
Added January 20, 2006
USA Today - Davidson "Compatible Radio Systems Would Cost Billions" - December 29, 2005
Added January 4, 2006
4.9 GHz PS Broadband Spectrum Overview of Technical Rules and Licensing - revised December 12, 2005 Rinehart and Eierman, Motorola
Added December 19, 2005
Powell: SDR Implications for Public Protection and Disaster Relief - Dec 2005
Added December 2, 2005
Region 6 - Northern California Repacking Report
Added October 11, 2005
Interoperability New Articles September 2005
Added October 3rd, 2005
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Article Repository 
Lists all the articles that have been in any NPSTC newsletter or e-bulletin by topic and gives a hyperlink to the document where the article is found.
NPSTC Technical Briefs
Electronic Newsletter
-
July 2008,
Vol 5, Issue 4
-
May 2008,
Vol 4, Issue 4
-
April 2008,
Vol 4, Issue 3
- March 2008, Vol 4, Issue 2
- January 2008,Vol 4, Issue 1
- November 2007, Vol 3, Issue 6
- October 2007, Vol 3, Issue 5
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- June 2007, Vol 3, Issue 3
- April 2007, Vol 2, Issue 2
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- December 2006, Vol 1, Issue 5
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NPSTC Newsletters
-
June 2008,
Vol 8, Issue 2
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March 2008,
Vol 8, Issue 1
- December 2007, Vol 7, Issue 4
- September 2007, Vol 7, Issue 3
- June 2007, Vol 7, Issue 2
- March 2007, Vol 7, Issue 1
- December 2006, Vol 6, Issue 5
- September 2006, Vol 6, Issue 4
- June 2006, Vol 6, Issue 3
- March 2006, Vol 6, Issue 2
- January 2006, Vol 6, Issue 1
- September 2005, Vol 5, Issue 3
- May 2005, Vol 5, Issue 2
- March 2005, Vol 5, Issue 1
- December 2004, Vol 4, Issue 2

- September 2004, Vol 4, Issue 1

- August 2003, Vol 2, Issue 2

- April 2003, Vol 2, Issue 1

- November 2002, Vol 1, Issue 4

- June 2002, Vol 1, Issue 3

- March 2002, Vol 1, Issue 2

- August 2001, Vol 1, Issue 1

NPSTC Quarterly Reports
NPSTC Annual Reports
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