Meeting Minutes

Region 19 700MHZ Committee

 

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

 

Massachusetts State Police General Headquarters

470 Worcester Road

Framingham, MA  01702

 

 

Mr. Jerry Zarwanski chaired the meeting.  The meeting started at 10:14AM.  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.

 

Mr. Zarwanski announced the passing of Mr. James Blesso, the first Chairman of the New England Region 19 Update Committee and Dennis Divine, the former IT Director of APCO. Mr. Elliott Derdak requested a moment of silence for both individuals.

 

First item on the agenda:  Approval of Minutes

 

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

 

Second item on the agenda:  State Update

 

Connecticut:  Mr. Jerry Zarwanski requested Mr. Steven Verbil provide the committee with the Connecticut update. Mr. Verbil stated the PSDN (Public Safety Data Network) project is on schedule and he expects the dark fiber portion to be in by the fall of 2010. Mr. Verbil indicated the PSDN will not be fully equipped to transport data until the first quarter of 2011.

 

Mr. Paul Zito reported the Connecticut State Police is implementing a P25 compatible switch and upgrading their existing Motorola 4.1 switch. He also stated there will be 130 to 140 Motorola Conventional Channel Gateways (CCGW) installed in PSAPÕs through out the state. The CCGW will be used for interoperability between the PSAPs operating on the PSDN. Mr. Zito identified that Connecticut Telecommunication Systems (CTS) will be implementing six 700MHz channels into a six site simulcast system in the Fairfield County. The system will leverage the existing CTS 800MHz system bringing about a considerable cost savings. Mr. Zito indicated he is awaiting Region 8 concurrence before he can move forward with licensing.   

 

Mr. Verbil informed the committee there will be a Northeast Region Interpretability Coordinators conference call on 3/15/10. One of the agenda items to discuss is the cross border issues concerning the ÒState LicenseÓ channels. Mr. Zarwanski identified that Region 19 committee has no jurisdiction over ÒState LicenseÓ channels.

Mr. Zarwanski informed the committee that to comply with the Region 19 Plan states with a State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) must review and approve 700MHz applications before the applicant can present their application to the Regional Planning Update Committee (RPUC). Mr. Zarwanski stated the application will be posted on CAPRAD (Computer Assisted Pre-Coordination Resource and Database System) by designated committee members. The current designated committee members are James Kowalik and George Carbonell. CAPRAD training attended by James Kowalik and George Carbonell identified the applicant will be granted a username/password and post their own application. In the event, applicants request the same channels, the CAPRAD time/date stamp on the application will be used for dispute resolutions.

 

Massachusetts:  Mr. Blair Sutherland stated the SIEC continues to meet regularly. The State of Massachusetts continues to move forward with projects subsidized by the Public Safety Interoperability Communications (PSIC) Grant.

 

Mr. Sutherland stated the Massachusetts State Police has a 700MHz application prepared. The Massachusetts State Police will be requesting nine low power 700MHz channels for tactical on scene use.

 

Rhode Island:  No Report

 

New Hampshire:  Mr. James Kowalik identified the State of New Hampshire is upgrading their microwave system to be IP based. New Hampshire DPS has partnered with Hillsborough County and Goffstown PD to institute an IP based communication link between Dept. of Safety Communications Center to Troop B.

 

Mr. Kowalik stated the Intelligent Transportation (ITS) Project for the I-93 corridor from the Massachusetts border to the City of Manchester, New Hampshire has been awarded to a vendor. The Intelligent Transportation Systems are traffic management systems that adapts to traffic flow. DOT and DPS have been working together to finalize the selection of a vendor to implement ITS in the I-95 corridor.

 

Mr. Kowalik stated New HampshireÕs original Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant application was rejected. Mr. Kowalik informed the committee, New Hampshire will be applying under phase 2 for the BTOP grant.

 

Maine: Mark Poole reported the state is moving forward with a VHF trunked system needing 159 channel pairs at 42 sites. Some of these frequencies have been set aside for interoperability communications. The State of Maine has submitted their plan for the VHF trunked system to APCO for preparation, engineering and analysis. The State of Maine would like to see this system operational by January 2013.

 

Vermont:  No Report

 

Rhode Island:  No Report

 

 

 

 

 

Third item on the agenda:  FCC Update

 

Mr. Zarwanski provided the committee with FCC Docket 10-16 Notice of Proposed Rule Making. The docket identifies the FCC adoption of the following requirements:

á       FCC prohibits the manufacture, import, sale, lease, offer for sale or lease, or shipment of wireless microphones and other low power auxiliary stations intended for use in the 700 MHz Band in the United States, effective upon the publication of the rules in the Federal Register, and adopt related marketing and other requirements.

á       FCC requires that all low power auxiliary stations, including wireless microphones, cease operations in the 700 MHz Band no later than June 12, 2010, one year from the end of the DTV transition.

 

Fourth item on the agenda: Region 19 Plan

 

Mr. Zarwanski stated Region 19 requested concurrence from Region 8 and Region 30 for the City of Stamford, Connecticut and the Fairfield County, Connecticut UASI (Urban Areas Security Initiative) applications. Region 30 approved Region 19Õs concurrence request for both City of Stamford, Connecticut and the Fairfield County, Connecticut UASI (Urban Areas Security Initiative). Region 8 notified Region 19 a response to their concurrence request would be provided by March 8, 2010. As of this date, Region 8 has not responded to the concurrence request. Mr. Zarwanski indicated the review of Region 19 concurrence request is an agenda item for the Region 8 April 20, 2010 RPUC meeting. Region 19 needs concurrence from both Region 8 and Region 30 before moving the application forward for FCC licensing.

 

Fifth item on the agenda: FCC Broadband Auction – D Block

 

Mr. Zarwanski passed out a copy of a document titled, ÒFCC Recommends Re-Auction of D BlockÓ which was distributed to members of the NPSTC, Yahoo email group. The document identified FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski implying the FCC is moving forward with the re-auction of the D Block frequencies.

 

Mr. Verbil attended a FCC forum in Washington D.C. on March 2, 2010 to discuss the development of a national Emergency Response Interoperability Center (E.R.I.C.). The mission of ERIC is to establish a technical and operational framework that ensures nationwide deployment and operations of the 700MHz safety broadband wireless network. Mr. Zarwanski indicated large cities want this broadband spectrum to utilize as they see fit. APCO believes the correct approach is to utilize 4G technology, specifically Long Term Evolution (LTE).

 

 

 

 

Sixth item on the agenda: NRPC/NPSTC

 

Mr. Zarwanski stated Mr. Verbil and he will be attending the 700/800MHz Regional Planning and CAPRAD Database Conference on March 25 and 26 in Tampa, Florida. A conference agenda was provided to the committee identifying what will be addressed over the course of two days. Mr. Zarwanski indicated he will bring up Region 19Õs concerns in regards to administering CAPRAD and the lack of a standardized engineering software program for analysis of 700MHz frequencies.

 

Seventh item on the agenda: Region 8 and Region 30 700MHz Plans

 

Mr. Zarwanski announced Region 8 and Region 30 have a FCC approved plan in place. Region 8 had a Window opening January 1 through the 31, 2010. It is unknown at this time how many applications were submitted during the Window opening.

 

Eighth item on the agenda: 4.9GHz

 

Mr. Zarwanski indicated Region 19 received a letter from the City of Woburn, Ma Police and Fire Departments indicating the deployment of 4.9GHz in a point to point scenario. The City of Woburn, Ma is operating on a secondary basis to any mobile users.  

 

Ninth item on the agenda: New Business

 

Mr. Zarwanski provided the committee with a copy of the February 2010 Communicator.

 

Mr. Paul Zito stated the Connecticut State Police 800MHz radio system is receiving interference from Verizon. Mr. Zito indicated Verizon has increased their bandwidth to handle the increase in Verizon customers. Mr. Zito also identified the interference problems are occurring in the larger cities. Connecticut State Police requested Verizon stop operating immediately on the interfering frequencies. Verizon complied with the Connecticut State Police request.

 

With no further comments or business, Mr. Mr. Stephen Verbil motioned for

adjournment.  Mr. Steve Brown seconded the motion.  The next meeting will be held at the Putney Volunteer Fire Department, 14 Main Street, Putney, Vermont on June 8, 2010.

 

All present agreed to adjourn at 12:16PM.