Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System MPSCS … · Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communica-tions, discussed key tenets to achieving interoperability at all

Stay ConnectedFollow us on Twitter and sign up for

emails to stay up to date with MPSCS!

twitter.com/MPSCS@MPSCS

michigan.gov/MPSCSSign up for our email list!

Role of Technology in Public Safety GrowsFirms compete for business as new products, services enhance public safety

Brad Stoddard, MPSCS Director

Contents

1 Role of Technology in Public Safety Continues to Grow

Director Stoddard reflects on adapting to the rapid changes

2 Update Your Contact Info Stay informed about MPSCS

2 Advisory Committee Formed Panel will explore how new technologies will affect operations 3 New Law Boosts 9-1-1 Fee Gov. Rick Snyder has signed into law an increase in 9-1-1 funding3 MPSCS Radio Roundup Check this list for compatibility of radios, pagers, consoles4 Interoperability Conference Speakers address technology, team-building, leadership6 800MHz Fire Paging Growing

Two-year-old program boasts 4,311 pagers in use

6 Hayhurst, Kelley GiveConference Presentations May 23 sessions at NENA/APCO

7 Across MPSCSPete Langenfeld joins MPSCS as deputy director

8 System Snapshot The latest metrics, including a new category: Fire Pagers

8 Contact MPSCS

Contents

THE warmth of summer is upon us, and interest in the growth of

public safety technology is also heat-ing up across the nation. The contin-ued dialogue involving FirstNet and AT&T’s development and buildout plans, combined with strategies to help public safety adopt FirstNet, creates plenty of conversation, with mixed reactions. At the same time, Verizon continues promoting public safety interop-erability, regardless of which network pro-vides you with priority and preemption. It is a competitive market space for more than just the wireless providers, as other businesses see a strong market evolution par-alleling that of the In-ternet explosion in the late 1990s. It is a challenging time for public safe-ty, as sales and outreach personnel from every carrier are vying for your decision to choose their network.Yet what has been lost is the sim-ple fact that public safety may not have appropriate applications to take advantage of the needs of pri-ority and preemption. This leaves many companies offering up “push-to-talk” solutions for your cellphone. But keep in mind, public safety has not identified “push-to-talk” on cell-phones as a priority. More impor-tantly, that cellphone solution is not what you rely on day in, day out with the MPSCS. Land mobile radio is de-signed and constructed using highly reliable parameters, whereas cel-lular carrier networks are designed with return on investment models as the priority.Recently, I participated in the Pub-

lic Safety Communications Research (PSCR) annual stakeholders meeting in San Diego, where public safety technology advancements and ideas are at the forefront. It was like step-ping back into college, with a myr-iad of sessions focused on research teams sharing their efforts and de-scribing how their research can aid

public safety. These sessions are highly technical, and as an engineer I appreci-ated the presenters’ efforts to ignite my fellow techies in the audience with their insights, yet still woo public safety person-nel, who often have a different take-away from each session. There were so many amazing sessions,

substantiating the belief that the public safety communications and technology space is growing rapidly. Example: an unmanned aerial vehi-cle (UAV) capable of generating its own power to stay airborne in a fixed space for up to two hours. This single session and technology advancement was a key discussion topic through many lunches and breaks, and we all developed ideas that would eventu-ally spawn use-cases that will identi-fy usage across multiple disciplines. The entire space of UAV’s, from hob-byist to professional responder us-age, has grown dramatically. The number of capable products tends to grow daily. I am excited to see such change and so much capable technology for public safety, yet I am discouraged that some busi-nesses will say anything to create growth, even if it compromises pub-lic safety. n

Summer 2018 michigan.gov/mpscs

Volume 7 Issue 2SUMMER 2018

Michigan’s Public Safety Communications SystemMPSCS QUARTERLY

1Page

AS part of our ongoing effort to provide you with important MPSCS news and information, we’re

asking MPSCS email subscribers to re-view and update their email profiles.

The process takes less than five min-utes and ensures that our mailing lists are up to date. By keeping your con-tact information current, you will re-ceive timely notifications about events in your service area and surrounding counties.

Follow the directions below to up-date your profile:

1. On michigan.gov/mpscs, click on the envelope under “Stay Connected.”

2. Enter your email address* and an-swer the Spam Block question. Click Submit. *Use the address you received

Update Your Email Profile; Stay Informed With MPSCS LISTSERVin the notification from MPSCS.

3. Under Subscription Topics, select “Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System” and click Submit.

4. Answer the four questions listed. Click Submit.

5.The next screen will notify you that you have successfully sub-scribed to Michigan DTMB.

6. Click Finish. You’re done!

If you haven’t subscribed to our LISTSERV, you can do so by click-ing on the envelope under “Stay Connected” on the MPSCS website.

If you have questions, please con-tact us at [email protected] or call 517-284-4100. n

MPSCS has formed the Public Safety Application Advisory Committee (PSAAC), which will work

with vendors to meet future needs as the system grows.The panel consists of eight members from state gov-ernment and academia who will meet once every two months, according to committee member Jeffrey Mc-Dole, Director of Technology and Infrastructure Protec-tion at the University of Michigan.McDole said the committee formalizes a venue in which

members can represent their organizations’ interests, collaborate with the private sector and engage in “ac-tive problem solving” going forward.The initiative is proactive, providing one voice to advo-cate for the most suitable software applications being integrated into the MPSCS system. “We drive what we want vendor products to do based on a set of consistent needs and principles,” McDole said.Additionally, committee members can explore how new technologies will affect their operations, offer input on training and development plans, review current and projected cost models, and work to ensure a smooth transition to the new technologies.In addition to McDole, PSAAC consists of three MPSCS employees (Peter Langenfeld, Dan Robinson and Dar-ren Whitman); two from the Michigan State Police (Dan Wibert and Juiwana Pickett); and two from the Depart-ment of Natural Resources (Rob Olney and Jen Wolf). In 2012, MPSCS introduced a statewide suite of public safety applications (PSA). Used by local and state first responders, the PSA apps complement the MPSCS ra-dio system, helping first responders do their jobs more effectively, with greater safety and improved outcomes.

MPSCS Forms Public Safety Advisory Committee

Summer 2018michigan.gov/mpscs2Page



Joining MPSCS? Already a member and need to bring some new equipment onto the system? Not sure whether something is compat-ible? We have you covered!

To see the list of compatible equip-ment, click on this link:

https://bit.ly/2qNWYTG

Then click on the PDF la-beled “Radios and Dis-patch Consoles Approved for use on the MPSCS” to view and/or download the document.

MPSCS performs compre-hensive testing of mobile

radios, portable radios, consoles and paging receiv-ers. Only radios that meet established MPSCS tech-

nical and operational standards are eligible for use on the system.

Radio Roundup | A list of MPSCS-eligible radios, pagers and consoles

Check our website for information on which radios, pagers and consoles work on the MPSCS system.

sures adequate funding for NG911, which will im-prove public safety by allowing people to share all relevant data – voice, text, photo, or video – when

they contact a 9-1-1 call center.”

As a result, first responders will be better able to locate and re-spond to individuals in need of immediate help in life-threatening situations. The ability to use text messages, photos and video will greatly benefit those who are vi-sually impaired or hard of hearing, Stoddard noted.

NG911 will mesh with First Re-sponder Network Authority (First-

Net), which was created to establish, operate, and maintain a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network. It will also incorporate GPS and GIS technology, and vehicular systems such as On-Star and SiriusXM Radio. n

Governor Signs Legislation Boosting Funding for 9-1-1 Services

IN anticipation of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911), Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation increasing

the basic fee cellphone owners pay to help support 9-1-1 services, from 19 to 25 cents for each phone num-ber in use. Coun-ties may continue to collect a fee of up to 42 cents without voter ap-proval.

The funding will help pay for lo-cal systems to upgrade their technology so it is capable of receiving text, video and other digital media.

“Technology has dramatically changed how we com-municate, but 9-1-1 centers have not kept up,” said MPSCS Director Brad Stoddard. “This legislation en-

michigan.gov/mpscs 3PageSummer 2018



Conference attendees listen as Ronald Hewitt of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security discusses the Incident Command System. Below, Ralph Liddle of MPSCS joins two Michigan State Police troopers as part of a panel dis-cussion on the Mackinac Bridge Walk. Bryce Tracy, Mack-inac Island 9-1-1 coordinator, leads the discussion.

230 Attend Statewide Interoperability ConferenceINTEROPERABILITY in a broad sense — including

language and human interaction as well as technol-ogy — was the focus of the 2018 Statewide Interoper-able Communications Conference, Feb. 20-23 at Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City.

Keynote speakers presented on behalf of various disci-plines in the public and private sectors. MPSCS Director Brad Stoddard opened the conference by reminding attendees that interoperability leads to greater collab-oration, improves response efforts, and helps compen-sate for funding cutbacks. Social media’s growing role in public safety agencies’ outreach and communication efforts supports interoperability, he said.

Stoddard urged those in attendance to exchange busi-ness cards and get to know each other, because laying that groundwork helps streamline response efforts in the event of an emergency. “Share information and de-velop contacts now, while things are calm,” he said.

Ronald Hewitt, director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communica-tions, discussed key tenets to achieving interoperability at all governmental levels, including adherence to the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and bolstering support of Communications Unit (COMU) and Communications Leader (COML) responders.

Other keynote speakers included Bryce Tracy, Mackinac Island 9-1-1 coordinator, and Ray Hasil, Mason-Oceana County 9-1-1 director, who spoke of the essential role volunteers play in emergency management. They em-phasized the importance of training, and said recognition should be given for the achievements of COMU units and the amateur radio community.

State Fire Marshal Kevin Sehlmeyer said managers must evaluate employees’ strengths and weaknesses in order to form the most cohesive and effective teams. Sehlmeyer, former deputy fire chief of Grand Rapids, added that a clear chain of command and consistency from management are crucial to team morale.

Ron Stremlow, a retired teacher and current volleyball coach at Forest Area Community Schools, discussed how the values of successful coaching translate into building effective pub-lic safety teams. These include communica-tion, trust, respect and integrity. Stremlow is a Michigan Interscholas-tic Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame inductee. Continued on Page 5

Summer 2018michigan.gov/mpscs4Page



Speakers Cover Various Aspects of InteroperabilityContinued from Page 4Mackinac County Emergency Manager Mike Kasper described the planning and ex-ecution of the 2017 Annual Bridge Walk. Security steps included clos-ing the Mackinac Bridge to most traffic, expanding the Unified Command, and enlisting the U.S. Coast Guard to check and escort vessels. Organizers also kept close tabs on employees and volunteers. “We credentialed everybody,” Kasper said. “Nobody slips through the cracks.”

Harriet Miller-Brown, State 9-1-1 administrator with Michigan State Police, described the game-changing technology of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG911), which will permit users to send text messages, video, pictures, enhanced location information and other data to 9-1-1 call centers.

Darren Whitman of MPSCS Public Safety Enterprise Services Unit joined Jeffrey McDole of the Universi-ty of Michigan’s Division of Public Safety and Security, presenting on the benefits of Computer Aided Dispatch-ing (CAD). Incorporating GIS, GPS and other technolo-gies, CAD opti-mizes resource a l l o c a t i o n , decreases re-sponse times, and helps offi-cers make better decisions, thus improving their safety and leading to better outcomes.

James Leyerle of OnStar discussed Project 43, launched by APCO International to help public safe-ty professionals and government officials prepare for evolving broadband communications technologies that will affect 9-1-1 call centers and emergency responders. More sophisticated communications technology will re-quire new funding models and regulations, as well as greater capacity for data storage, he said.

Joe Sawasky and Jim Gilbert of Merit Network, a non-profit research and education organization governed by 12 Michigan universities, described a project in con-

junction with Microsoft Corp. to bring Internet access to underserved rural areas. TV white spaces – unused

broadcasting channels in the UHF or VHF spec-trum – are used to bring broadband Internet connectivity.

Ray Hasil, Mason-Oceana 911 director; and John Imeson, deputy director, Eaton Coun-ty Dispatch, discussed AUXCOMM (Auxilia-ry Emergency Communications), which they

said “provides a seat at the Incident Command System table” for amateur radio groups such as

ARRL, RACES and REACT — all integral to public safety and homeland security.

Also during the confer-ence, Stoddard presented Kent County Undersheriff Michelle LaJoye Young with the 2018 Interoper-ability Person of the Year award. LaJoye-Young, daughter of the former Shiawassee County Sher-iff, started her career as a corrections officer with

the Kent County Sher-iff’s Department in 1989. She rose through the ranks, being named undersheriff in 2015.

The next Statewide In-teroperability Conference is Feb. 19-22, 2019, also at Great Wolf Lodge. Keep an eye out for updates as the event gets closer!n

MPSCS Director Brad Stod-dard presents the 2018 In-teroperability Person of the Year Award to Kent County Undersheriff Michelle La-Joye-Young.

...Speakers discussed interoperability from various perspectives ...

F U N FAC T SWhen MPSCS built 178 towers between 1995 and 2002, it installed nearly 200 miles of transmission lines, over 200 miles of guy wires, and nearly 180 miles of 1/0 gauge copper ground wire. In 2002, MPSCS had 120 guyed towers, 54 self-supporting towers, 2 monopoles, 2 rooftop towers, and one tower co-location.

Summer 2018 Page 5



michigan.gov/mpscs

MICHIGAN’S Public Safety Communications System began offering its 800 MHz fire paging solution in

March 2016. After two years, the service is catching on, as many local fire departments are finding it to be a cost-effec-tive way to improve operation-al efficiency.

When local agencies convert from existing analog paging to the MPSCS digital P25 net-work, they no longer bear the cost and responsibilities of maintaining a separate paging system. There is a one-time, $1,500 set-up fee per page group.

The easy-to-use G4 digital pagers offer numerous advantages including clearer audio, improved range and reliability; a simplified dis-

patcher process, reduced time to send critical messages; and customizable paging groups for enhanced interop-erability.

As of May 2018, the number of pagers in use on MPSCS had grown to over 4,311, with 1,458 in testing. Fire, EMS, the Department of Natural Resources, and several key government officials are using the pagers.

The need for this standardized system was brought about in part by the Federal Communications Commis-sion’s narrow band mandate, effective in 2013.

Continued expansion of the Fire Paging solution is an important element of the MPSCS mission of pro-viding public safety agencies of all disciplines a stan-dards-based, statewide communication system focused on enhanced efficiency and reliability.

For more information about the MPSCS fire paging solution and G4 digital pagers, contact Al Mellon (517) 284-4072; [email protected]

More First Responders Moving to MPSCS 800 MHz Fire Paging

Two MPSCS employees gave presentations at the re-cent joint NENA / APCO 9-1-1 conference on Mackinac Island. Enterprise Services Manager David Hayhurst presented on “Radio Systems 101 & 102 for the 9-1-1 Dispatcher.” The presentation explained how agencies can best use the different types of radio systems to suit their needs as technology evolves.Jeff Kelley, a departmental analyst with the Template Design Unit, presented on “MCC 7500 Dispatch Con-soles for the 9-1-1 Dispatcher.” Kelley covered features and functions of this widely used Motorola console. Both presentations took place on May 23.MPSCS also set up its exhibit in the vendors’ section of the conference center at Mission Point Resort, staffed by Director Brad Stoddard, Support Services Manager Dan Robinson, and Communications & Outreach Spe-cialist Jennyl Simon.The conference was sponsored by the Michigan chap-ters of the National Emergency Number Association and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials.n

Hayhurst, Kelley Give Presentations at NENA/APCO 9-1-1 Conference

FIRE 555LAW 329PUBLIC SAFETY 262HEALTH 238FEDERAL 51SCHOOL 45ROAD COMMISSION 35VENDOR 33EMS 28STATE 26TRIBAL 24TRANSPORTATION 17MISCELLANEOUS 57(Numbers current as of May 2018)

MPSCS AGENCY BREAKDOWN

michigan.gov/mpscs Summer 2018


Page 6


PETE Langenfeld joined MPSCS in February as an additional deputy director.

He will be responsible for the Public Safety Enterprise Services Unit (PSESU) and the Business Services and Communications & Outreach areas within MPSCS. THE PSESU team implements and supports integrated public safety ap-plications and technologies such as Computer Aided Dispatch, NetMo-tion, Automatic Resource Locator, Automatic Vehicle Locator and mo-bile computing applications for MP-SCS users statewide.His oversight of the Business Services team involves managing the functional business engine of MPSCS, including the key areas of project manage-ment, purchasing and billing. The team also manages

business logistics for public safety co-locations at both state-owned and commercially-owned tower sites.Additionally, Pete is responsible for management and administration of the MPSCS Enterprise Asset Manage-ment System and WAVE, a push-to-talk platform that connects radio, cellular phones and WiFi that Michi-gan’s first responders can use to communicate with each other.A 25-year State of Michigan employee, Pete previously served as manager of the Digital Analysis and Identifi-cation Section within the Biometrics and Identification Division of Michigan State Police. In that capacity, he and his team developed the Michigan State Police facial recognition program.Married and the father of three, Pete resides in Grand Ledge. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University.n

Pete Langenfeld Joins MPSCS as Deputy Director

michigan.gov/mpscs 7PageSummer 2018



ABOUT THE SYSTEM MPSCS’s cutting edge network provides interoperable statewide coverage for over 90,000 radios used by Mich-igan’s first responder community. MPSCS serves over 1,600 agencies at all levels: State, local, federal, tribal & private public safety agencies all rely on MPSCS for critical public safety communication services. We pro-vide world class infrastructure, expertise and 24/7/365 support to public safety agencies within Michigan.

Contact MPSCSBrad Stoddard | [email protected]

Theron Shinew | DEPUTY [email protected]

Peter Langenfeld | DEPUTY [email protected]

Tom Black | COMMUNICATIONS & [email protected]

David Hayhurst | ENTERPRISE [email protected]

Buzz Leach | BUSINESS [email protected]

Ralph Liddle | NCC [email protected]

Dan Robinson | SUPPORT SERVICES [email protected]

Mark Sandberg | ENGINEERING [email protected]

Randy Williams | PUBLIC SAFETY ENTERPRISE SERVICES [email protected]

NCC Phone TOLL FREE: 1-888-554-4622 | LOCAL: 517-333-5050

MPSCS AddressMichigan’s Public Safety Communications SystemState Police Headquarters7150 Harris Dr. Dimondale, MI 48821

MPSCS Quarterly is produced by MPSCS Commu-nications and Outreach. For questions, corrections, or story ideas contact Tom Black, Communications Representative at [email protected].

90,113RADIOS

4,311FIRE PAGERS LIVE

618 MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL EVENTS

1,700PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES Includes State, Local, Federal, Tribal & Private Public Safety

253TOWER SITESIncludes 64 sites locally owned but integrated into MPSCS

729-1-1 DISPATCH CENTERSSupporting 399 console positions

9.4 million PUSH-TO-TALKS PER MONTH

System SnapshotNumbers current as of May 2018

1,458 pagers pending

Summer 2018michigan.gov/mpscsPage 8



Documents

Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System MPSCS … · Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communica-tions, discussed key tenets to achieving interoperability at all