The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), a federation of organizations with a mission to “improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership,” provided an annual update during APCO 2016 Sunday.

INTEROPERABILITY
John Lenihan, chair of NPSTC’s Interoperability Committee, discussed the group’s work on emergency medical services, including finalizing a “10 Reasons You Should Engage with FirstNet” paper, reviewing issues regarding rural use of FirstNet by EMS and researching GPS medical alarms. Lenihan also discussed the Cross Border Working Group’s efforts, including continued work on cross-border 9-1-1 data sharing and best practices in emergency vehicle border crossing. He said the committee’s Radio Interoperability Working Group is preparing best practice statements in radio channel naming, training, change management and infrastructure management.

TECHNOLOGY AND BROADBAND
Tom Sorley, chair of the Technology and Broadband Committee, said that his committee created five “use cases” to validate existing NPSTC requirements for LMR to LTE migration while also checking for new requirements. It also created nine “use cases” documenting various configurations for broadband deployable systems. The committee’s Video Technology Advisory Group (VTAG) assisted in the review of a policy considerations document for the Video Quality in Public Safety (VQiPS) initiative. VQiPS is a partnership between The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC) that examines the use of video in public safety.

SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT
Stu Overby, NPSTC Support, discussed the Spectrum Management Committee’s efforts, including emphasizing the need for required frequency coordination in the 4.9 GHz band. In addition, the committee’s Interference Protection Working Group is planning a draft response covering noise floor impact from energy efficient lighting and radio frequency from wind farms. NPSTC also is seeking noise floor measurements.

“By and large, we are trying to protect the existing spectrum and address any interference issues,” he said.

Sorley stressed NPSTC’s need for volunteers. “There is a seat at the table for you,” he said, adding that you don’t need to have technical knowledge to join the working groups. “We need people who do this for a living to tell us when we’re wrong – or when we’re right,” he said.

For more information, including a calendar of meetings and access to NPSTC’s latest reports, visit NPSTC.org. Visit NPSTC at booth #565 in the exhibition hall.