Narrowbanding and Public Safety Communications

Introduction and Overview

Jay SextonGeorgia Tech Research Institute

IntroductionsIntroductions

What equipment is used on every call by every public

safety responder?

What equipment is used on every call by every public

safety responder?

Radio

GTRI & GT Corporate - 324Jan2011

Basic Radio 101First: There are 5 Bands of the Radio Frequency Spectrum that are used by radios in GA. Radios for one cannot usually talk to radios for another. Which do you have?

Direct (Simplex)

Direct (or Simplex or Talkaround) Everyone is on

one frequency One radio

transmits, the other radios receive

Radio

Radio

Repeated

Repeaters Improve field unit to dispatch and off-scene

units Uses two frequencies: one for transmit, one

to receive

Radio RadioRepeater

Conventional vs. Trunked

Conventional Most common system type One “channel” (frequency or pair) per use (e.g.

police, fire, etc.) Simple and inexpensive Spectrally inefficient

Trunked Most common in large urban areas Channels are “pooled” and used in talkgroups Complex and expensive Spectrally efficient

What is Narrowbanding?

Why is it important?

What is Narrowbanding?

Why is it important?

What is Narrowbanding?

NOT rebanding! FCC mandate Affects VHF and UHF radio systems

Most systems in Georgia Changes the way frequencies are used Equipment must be reconfigured or

replaced Deadline: December 31, 2012

Wideband vs. Narrowband

Narrowbanding Impact

Good Increase number of available frequencies System growth instead of replacement

Bad May have to replace pre-1996 equipment All equipment must be reconfigured Unfunded mandate – agencies bear costs Radio coverage will be reduced (up to 40%) DEADLINE: December 31, 2012

Coverage Loss

Coverage loss (up to 40%) Most current systems only cover most

(maybe 90-95%) of a county Post-narrowbanding coverage could

be 60% of a county Depends on current coverage and

topography Three main options to address

coverage loss

12

Coverage Loss –Three Options

Live with the coverage loss Most economical May compromise public safety

Install new antenna sites More costly May require relicensing

Install new digital system

Digital Systems –Pros and Cons

Pros Increased coverage Additional features (e.g. geolocation, over-

the-air programming, basic data, prioritization)

Can protect you from future “ultra”-narrowbanding

Cons More costly (probably) Hinders interoperability (no one universal

standard)

Interoperability Problems

During transition Narrowband Signal to a Wideband Radio

Quiet or ignored audio Wideband Signal to a Narrowband Radio

Loud and distorted audio Narrowband signals may be missed

After transition Digital systems possibly not compatible with

analog systems or each other

Agencies Effected

Law enforcement Fire EMS Boards of Education (including school

buses) Public Works / Utilities Departments of Transportation Others

16

Recommended Next Steps

GTRI & GT Corporate - 1724Jan2011

Talk about budgets early! Inventory current equipment

Portables and mobiles Base stations and repeaters Radio caches Gateway radios Pagers

Perform coverage tests

Recommended Next Steps (cont’d)

GTRI & GT Corporate - 1824Jan2011

Talk with neighbors Shared channels (may require MOUs) Sharing a system (would require MOUs)

Change FCC licenses Administrative change if narrowbanding only Other changes require coordination

Plan ahead!

NarrowbandingSummary

All VHF, UHF Radio Systems must narrowband by December 31, 2012

Planning and coordination are crucial ALL equipment must be reconfigured or

replaced Coverage loss must be addressed NOTE: Systems must ultimately go to

6.25KHz bandwidth (no date set)

NarrowbandingWebsites

FCC Narrowbanding page - Briefs, Tech Topics, FAQs http://www.fcc.gov/narrowbanding

OEC/ICTAP Public Safety Technology Assistance Tools http://publicsafetytools.info Narrowband Status, Frequency Mapping,

CASM

Helpful Documents from Today

Hard copy Narrowbanding Guide – March 2011 Narrowbanding Guide Letter Template FCC Narrowbanding Update July 2011

Electronic copy How-to Funding Guide How-to Guide for Lifecycle Planning Narrowband License Status Tool Narrowbanding 101 Narrowbanding VCOMM FCC Instructions

Narrowbanding

questions?

Narrowbanding

questions?

OTHER STATEWIDE RADIO EFFORTS

Georgia Interoperability Network (GIN)

Statewide gateway system Connects mobile radio systems and dispatch

centers from multiple agencies and jurisdictions Six-year project Funded by federal grants and state funds, with

additional local investments Serving 159 counties, hundreds of cities, and some

state agencies Provides interoperability with surrounding states Currently includes two mobile communications

trailers

Importance of the GIN

Georgia’s first statewide interoperability project

Local governments and state agencies driving system design

Cooperation model serves as a model for larger initiatives

Communication Assets Survey and Mapping (CASM)

CASM = Communication Assets Survey and Mapping

Created by US Navy (SPAWAR) for DHS Online inventory of communications

assets in a region or state Provides analysis of compatibility and

interoperability

Why CASM?

Locally Collect communications data in one place Create Tactical Comms Interoperability Plans (TICP) Help with strategic investment of funds

Regionally Encourage and enable interoperability on a day-to-day

and incident basis

Encourage partnerships for new systems

Statewide Help to direct communications funds

Training

Web-based (efficient delivery) GIN Overview Video GIN Operators Course GIN Supervisors Course Other future classes (e.g. Radio 101)

Classroom (advanced training) Communications Unit Leader (COML) Communications Unit Technician (COMT) Telecommunicator Emergency Response

Taskforce (TERT)

Helpful Websites

http://www.gainterop.com

Open to the public

Repository of information

http://www.niix.org

Restricted access

Information sharing, discussion, calendar,

etc.

Questions?Questions?