The Mission-Critical Resource Center

On July 1, new legislation went into effect in the state of Florida that has major implications for public safety agencies. The legislation — HB 441 — introduces stringent requirements for public safety answering points (PSAPs) relating to radio and E911 communications.

In Summary:

• Public safety agencies are adopting drones at increasing rates to enhance emergency response operations.
• However, many public safety agencies run into roadblocks in leveraging this technology because public safety use cases generally are not considered in most state legislatures.
• This whitepaper discusses what agencies should consider as they stand up their drone programs.

In this whitepaper we explore the uses cases, the potential legal impacts of using drones, and the options public safety agencies should consider when implementing a drones program.

In Summary:

• First responders have long depended on traditional land mobile radio (LMR) systems that feature public safety-grade radios and infrastructure.
• While commercial networks are typically not ideal for public safety use, as they can become overloaded during an emergency, commercial push-to-talk (PTT) technology could benefit public safety.

In this whitepaper we explore the pros and cons of commercial PTT technology for public safety, including the improvements to commercial PTT capabilities and the cost-efficiencies the technology offers for agencies. 

In Summary:

• For years, public safety communications systems have operated as standalone systems that are used to serve the citizens of a single geographic area.
• As communities have grown, the need for improved communication between dispatchers and first responders, and across jurisdictional lines, has increased. 
• Agencies across the country have begun to consider regional models for their computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and other public safety systems in order to improve efficiency, share resources with other agencies and reduce costs.

In this whitepaper, we explore two models of regional CAD systems and explore the pros and cons of each one. 

In Summary:

• Public safety licensees in some of the nation's top metropolitan areas that currently operate in the T-Band will need to transition their land mobile radio (LMR) systems before 2023.
• The FCC will reallocate this spectrum via auction as part of the enactment of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.
• Agencies with LMR systems currently on the T-Band face considerable challenges in transition those systems in advance of the 2023 deadline.

This whitepaper discussed the challenges that agencies face during the transition from the T-Band, provides a transitional timeline and offers tips and information for making the transition.