Meeting of the

New England Region 700 MHz

Technical Advisory Committing

Tuesday, June 10, 2003

The meeting convened at 10:10 AM

Present were the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary. Attendees signed attendance roster that was passed around

The Chairman referenced the Agenda and the following items were discussed:

Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting held March 10, 2003.

Moved by G. Carbonell, seconded by S. Brown that the Minutes the meeting of March 10 2003 be accepted. Accepted by unanimous voice vote.

The chairman reviewed the Current membership of the committee and the members present. He noted that participation by Vermont has been minimal. There was no Vermont representation at the recent Vermont meeting. Chairman Pohorilak indicated he would continue to seek Vermont members for the committee.

The chair addressed the need to take initiatives on a state level to begin planning for the use of 700MHz spectrum. He requested that state representatives report on any activities of the Region Nineteen member States in meeting or planning for 700MHz use.

Connecticut: The Chairman addressed Connecticut and indicated the Department of Information & Technology (DOIT) has lost a number of persons due to statewide layoffs. DOIT holds the State License and has not initiated any formal meetings or begun the planning process.

The result of the layoffs has impacted all state agencies including the Department of Public Safety. Losing two employees in the Chairman’s office has resulted in less time available to visit and contact other States regarding the survey and planning of Interoperability and State use of 700MHz

In Connecticut an 800MHz Interoperability Committee has been formed and has purchased and distributed 800MHz radios with grant money. These ICAL/ITAC radios will be used in Connecticut under the Region 19 Interoperability Plan and the Connecticut State Police have a network in place to provide Statewide coverage. The State is also applying for additional monies for control stations and radios. The Office of Emergency Management has purchased 20 trailers equipped with interoperability repeaters and a cache of radios. To date approximately 12 trailers have been accepted and distributed statewide.

Rhode Island: No report of activities.

Massachusetts: Mr. Sutherland noted that the Executive Council of Public Safety has formed the State interoperability plan committee progress is being made in identifying key related needs.

New Hampshire: Mr. Kowalik reported that numerous State agencies are being combined to form a multiple disciplined agency to oversee ‘Homeland Security’. The exact form of this agency has not been resolved.

Vermont: No report

Maine: No report.

NCC Update.

The chairman reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) federal budget allocation has changed and monies are not now allocated to specific departments/projects but to the Department. DOJ project funding for CAPRAD might be challenged by reorganization and budget appropriations. He questioned how this would affect the future use of CAPRAD.

FCC Update— No 700MHz issues were raised

The Committee Discussed:

-Public Safety system overload during planned and unplanned events. Public Safety Agencies have complained that their systems become overloaded during any type of event and there is a need for additional spectrum in all bands. Commercial systems experience the same problems during events and the problems multiply once the media arrives. Officer safety is jeopardized once a system experiences overload.

-FCC rulings on 4.9 GHz and effect on Public Safety. The FCC is making 4.9GHz available within the next few weeks once the report and order is published. All public Safety entities are eligible to license all 50MHz of spectrum. The equipment does not exist at this time but the technology is known as "Mesh Network". More information to following in the next meetings

The Chairman noted from the Report and Order -Item 16 of FCC 03-99."The 4.9 GHz Band Transferred from Federal Government Use" The 700 MHz RPUC’s will have to develop a 4.9 MHz plan in addition to the 700 MHz plan.

-The effect of licensed spread spectrum on public safety communications.

Noted that there are very few spread spectrum applications pending since there are limited number of spread spectrum frequencies. Commercial spread spectrum operations interfere daily with Public Safety operations.

-CAPRAD training for additional committee members.

APCO is providing CAPRAD training prior to their annual conference in Indianapolis, IN. Any member is welcome to attend at their own expense. Mr. Kowalik indicated that he would attend the class. Mr. Carbonell noted that some sort of coordinating fee could help support the local committee expenses.

The options for a scoring methodology were discussed. The Chairman noted that previously distributed Options A and B had the most responses. The Chairman discussed Option A in length and Mr. Zarwanski pointed out some specifics in Option B.

The details of eligibility were discussed at length. The definition of Categories was discussed at length. E. Derdak noted that entities that are eligible on other services should have a lower scoring/rating. He gave examples of bus companies and utility companies.

A motion was raised to adopt plan A was MOVED by J. Warakois seconded by B. Sutherland.

Vote by show of hands to accept this portion of the plan as presented.

Plan A of the scoring scheme was ACCEPTED by show of hands

(12 in favor, 1 opposed.)

Next meeting is scheduled in Connecticut at CT Fire Academy, Windsor Locks, CT, September 9, 2003, 10:00a.m.

The December meeting will be held Concord NH, December 9^th.

Mr. Kowalik discussed ‘Self-promotion" of the RPUC. The website should present our mission statement. Mr. Carbonell indicated he will draft an overview and present it to the committee at the next meeting.

Moved for adjournment, Carried.

Meeting adjourned 12:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted

Jim Warakois, Secretary

FCC 03-99

The 4.9 GHz Band Transferred from

Federal Government Use

Wt docket No. 00-32

MEMORANDUM OF OPINION AND ORDER

AND

THIRD REPORT AND ORDER

Adopted: April 23, 2003 Released May 2, 2003

A copy of a Power Point Presentation, by Bob Speidel, June 6 2003, regarding 4.9 GHz rulings by the FCC.

Associated Press, Thursday, May 29, 2003, "State of Maine, System upgrade with new technologies."