Last week, NPSTC’s Broadband Working Group (BBWG) announced the publication of Defining Public Safety Grade Systems and Facilities. The definition is of critical importance to public safety agencies and to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) which has been charged with building a nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN).

Hardening of sites to prevent failure is one of the most critical elements in the construction of a reliable and resilient communications system. The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials – International (APCO’s) Broadband Committee, through a working group, researched and wrote this aspect of the PSG report. Their research covers the majority of all systems and infrastructure at a site, including power, security, site hardening, electronics, and other elements. APCO has expressed interest in the creation of an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard involving site hardening to provide a single source document for use by emergency responder agencies working with broadband or LMR systems.

This report defines PSG communications and provides measurable characteristics which would differentiate a mission critical communications system from a standard or commercial grade network. The report covers environmental considerations, service level agreements, reliability and resiliency, coverage, push-to-talk, applications, site hardening, installation, and operations and maintenance.