Meeting Minutes

Region 19 700MHz Committee

 

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

 

Rhode Island Emergency Operations Center

645 New London Ave

Cranston, Rhode Island

 

 

Mr. Jerry Zarwanski chaired the meeting.  The meeting started at 10:00AM.  An agenda was emailed to all committee members and copies were available for those attending the meeting.  Several members called in on the telephone conference bridge.

 

First item on the agenda:  Approval of Minutes

 

A copy of the minutes from the last meeting was available.  A motion was raised to approve the minutes. The minutes were approved by Mr. Stephan Brown and seconded by Mr. George Carbonell.

 

Second item on the agenda: State Updates

 

Connecticut:  Mr. Zarwanski informed the committee phase 1 of the Public Safety Data Network (PSDN) has been completed. Phase 1of the PSDN connects 112 nodes (PSAPs/state facilities) utilizing fiber optics. There are currently two applications running on the PSDN, Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing (COLLECT) and Conventional Channel Gateways (CCGWs). Phase 2 of the PSDN is currently being implemented. When completed phase 2 of the PSDN will consist of 420+ nodes. Phase 2 of the PSDN is slated for completion September of 2013.

 

Massachusetts: Mr. Gary Gutkowski stated the Massachusetts State Police have a partnership with the Boston PD, Cambridge PD and Massport to modify communication parameters in the states trunked system.

 

 

New Hampshire:  Mr. James Kowalik reported the SafeNet project is moving forward. 20 of the 25 SafeNet locations have been completed. The state of New HampshireÕs is awaiting neighboring states to sign the interoperability agreement. Once completed New Hampshire statewide IP microwave system will extend to the neighboring states. The state is also upgrading their portable radios.

 

Rhode Island:  Mr. Thomas Crotty informed the committee the Rhode Island Motorola High Performance Data (HPD) system equipment is being upgraded from version 7.7 to 7.11. HPD is in the process of being deployed.  Some tower locations are being modified to handle the additional equipment.

Maine: Mr. Bruce Fitzgerald reported the state of Maine MSCommNet (Maine State Communications Network Project) is moving forward. The first subscriber units will be operational in June 2012. The state will continue to operate in VHF narrowband until next year. The goal is to implement a digital trunked system. The state of MaineÕs border patrol interoperability project is moving forward. 

 

Vermont:  No Report

 

Third item on the agenda:  FCC Update

 

Mr. Zarwanski requested an update in regards to the 700MHz State Channel sharing agreement. Mr. Zarwanski believed representatives from all the New England states signed the document except Maine. Mr. Fitzgerald identified he will check on the status of the document. Mr. Zarwanski indicated the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) plans on meeting with the SIEC(s) of New York and New Jersey to discuss the 700MHz State Channel usage.  

 

Mr. Zarwanski identified new bill HR3630 was introduced and was passed by Congress and signed into law on February 22, 2012. HR3630 gives public safety the whole 20MHz of D Block spectrum along with 7 billion dollars in funding. Mr. Zarwanski stated public safety will be getting broadband spectrum to be used for data and video communications. The bill also identified spectrum givebacks in the T band (470MHz to 512MHz) range. Licensees operating in this band will need to vacate the spectrum in nine to eleven years. The T band spectrum will be auctioned off in the future. If proceeds from the auction exceed 24.6 billion dollars additional funding will be provided for research and development in the 700MHz band. The law also establishes a state and local implementation fund at $135 million to support planning activities. The funding will be available August of 2012. The governance board named First Responder Network Authority develops timetables and RFPs to be reviewed by the FCC for the deployment of the Public Safety Broadband Network. The committee was provided a handout identifying the governance board members. The complete document can be found at http://www.npstc.org/.

Fourth item on the agenda: Region 19 Plan/Applications

 

Mr. Zarwanski stated the committee voted to make changes to the Region 19 bylaws during the March 2012 meeting. Mr. Zarwanski identified Mr. Kowalik was nominated as the new Recording Secretary, the committee membership list was updated and Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) category was added as voting members. On May 16, 2012 the changes were submitted to the FCC.

 

Fifth item on the agenda: APCO Training/NRPC Meeting

 

Mr. Zarwanski reported APCO has purchased a new RF coordination software package called Spectrum E. User training has been provided to all APCO frequency coordinators. In the future Spectrum E software will be available to the public. Moving forward APCO International will not support the software program Comstudy but Region 19 will continue to utilize Comstudy until Spectrum E becomes available to the public. Mr. Zarwanski informed Region 8Õs technical subcommittee, Region 19 will still require Comstudy files when reviewing interregional concurrence requests.    

 

Mr. Zarwanski stated Mr. James Kowalik and he attended the National Regional Planning Committee (NRPC) meeting on April 24 and 25 in Tampa, Florida. The FCC was present to answer questions regarding public safety frequencies in the 700/800MHz band. Mr. Zarwanski informed the committee 70% of the regional update committees have submitted 700MHz plans. Many of the regional update committees have out of date 800MHz plans which need to be brought up to date. Region 19Õs 800MHz plan has been filed with the FCC for over a year. The FCC is awaiting completion of rebanding before reviewing and approving Region 19Õs plan. The NRPC has advised all regional planning committee to utilize CAPRAD. George Carbonell and James Kowalik are CAPRAD administers authorized to provide individuals access to the CAPRAD database. Mr. Carbonell indicated all requests to access CAPRAD must be email to him or Mr. Kowalik.          

 

Sixth item on the agenda: Region 8 and 30 700MHz Applications

 

Mr. Zarwanski reported Region 8 or 30 have not requested interregional concurrence for any new applications. Region 8 Window 1 (Suffolk County) and Window 3 (Westchester County) applications are still pending interregional concurrence.

 

Mr. Zarwanski informed the committee Region 8 has requested Region 19 review Window 1 applicant Suffolk County for interregional concurrence. Region 8 identified Suffolk County has corrected their 601 form in CAPRAD to match their application. Region 19Õs technical subcommittee reviewed Suffolk CountyÕs 601 form and identified many discrepancies. Region 8 was notified Suffolk CountyÕs application parameters did not match their CAPRAD submitted 601 form. Region 19 will take no further action until Suffolk CountyÕs application is corrected.

 

Mr. Zarwanski stated Region 8 Window 3 applicant Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) has received interregional concurrence for Region 19.

 

Mr. Zarwanski reported Region 8 has requested interregional concurrence for Westchester County. The application was reviewed by Region 19Õs technical subcommittee. Mr. John Masciadrelli, Chair of the Technical Subcommittee, stated Westchester County is applying for a total of eleven 12.5 KHz channels. Seven of the eleven channels being applied for are orphan channels. Westchester CountyÕs application was discussed by meeting attendees. Mr. George Carbonell made a motion, requesting an extension of time allowing the Region 19 technical subcommittee to review Westchester CountyÕs application. The motion was seconded by Mr. James Kowalik. The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

Seventh item on the agenda: 4.9GHz

 

Mr. Zarwanski reported he has no 4.9GHz updates. 

 

Eighth item on the agenda: New Business

 

Mr. Zarwanski informed the committee FCC licensees operating on VHF and UHF frequencies must narrowband by the end of 2012. FCC licensees operating on T-band channels are now excluded from narrowbanding mandate.

 

Mr. Zarwanski announced APCO is looking for a Maine frequency advisor. Mr. Bruce Fitzgerald from the Department of Emergency Management, Maine informed the committee APCO has been contacted and informed Maine has a candidate by the name of Kevin Smith.

 

With no further comments or business, Mr. Kowalik motioned for adjournment.  Mr. Steven Brown seconded the motion.  The next meeting will be held at the Connecticut Fire Academy, 34 Perimeter Rd, Windsor Locks, Connecticut on September 11, 2012.

 

All present agreed to adjourn at 11:13A.M.