Region 19 Minutes
700 MHz Technical Advisory
Committee
September 12, 2006
Connecticut DOT
Present
Presiding
Chairman George Pohorilak, Vice
Chairman Jerry Zarwanski and Secretary James Warakois present.The meeting was
convened at 10:00 AM. All members and guests present signed
the attendance sheet. All present introduced themselves.
Previous minutes:
The
Chairman requested a motion to approve the minutes of the June 2006 meeting.
Moved by Mr. Leary, seconded by Mr. Carbonell to accept minutes of previous
meeting.
The
Chairman requested Òthe agenda be
modified to show this meeting to be the Annual Meeting as
constituted". Vote by acclamation to accept the Agenda as modified
of the September 13, 2006 meeting. A show of raised hands by the members
present approved the change to the agenda.
The
Chairman stated that the 700MHz Plan calls for the fall meeting to constitute
the annual meeting at which time changes to the board can be instituted. The
Chairman asked the members present for nominations for Chairman, Vice-chairman
and Secretary. Moved by Mr. Brown that: "the present Board of Officers (Mr. Pohorilak, Mr.
Zarwanski and Mr. Warakois) be voted to continue in their present capacity for
the next year." Seconded by Mr. Kowalik. The floor was open to discussion. No
further nominations were made. There was no further discussion. By acclamation
the three current officers were elected to continue for the next year. The
annual election was held.
State
Updates:
New
Hampshire
Mr.
Kowalik reported that training is being received on new equipment.
He
described the system features and plans for further equipment additions.
Improvements in interoperability provide the State of New Hampshire with increased
flexibility throughout the State.
Chief
Chris Pope (ret.) is the new Homeland Security Director under the New Hampshire
Department of Public Safety. The State Interoperability Executive Advisory
committee will serve the State of New Hampshire and merge the functions of
various past committees.
The
TIC Plan is in development and interoperability issues will be drilled/tested
in the very near future.
Massachusetts:
Mr.
Warakois reported that a TIC drill ÒOperation PoseidonÕ will be held in the
future to exercise the interoperability capabilities.
Rhode
Island:
Mr.
Crotty reported that the communications Working Group, with
Howard
Boxenbaum as Chairman is moving forward to become the official State of Rhode
Island Interoperability Committee.
Mr.
Mike Scanlon, a member of that committee, noted that the 800 MHz Committee is
moving forward in Rhode Island. Various new agencies/members are joining to
become active users on the
statewide 800 MHz system.
Connecticut;
Chairman
Pohorilak reported that a formalized Connecticut State Interoperability
Executive Committee has been constituted.
An advisor communications committee is being formalized with voting and
non-voting members. The voting members have yet to be appointed. The
appointments are scheduled to be announced shortly.
Mr.
Carbonell discussed the development of a wider area system of multifrequency
interoperability utilizing the UCAL/UTAC, VCAL/VTAC and 806MHz low power
cross-banding plan. The plan is complete, but still needs approval from the Executive
Committee. In addition, an RFP is in development for procurement of the
required equipment.
The
Chairman introduced a new Telecommunications Engineer in attendance from the CT
Department of Public Safety, OSET, Mr. John Masciadrelli. Mr. Masciadrelli will
assist in the planning and engineering process for 700MHz.
Vermont
No
Report
Maine
No
Report
FCC
UPDATE
A
Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) was issued by the FCC requesting
proposals for restructuring portions of the 700 MHz band. A presentation by Mr.
Sean O'Hara will identify the various restructuring recommendations by various
interested parties. Some proposals will add broadband spectrum to the current
allocated 700MHz spectrum.
NPSTC,
CAPRAD
Mr.
Zarwanski indicated NPSTC will be holding a three day meeting, November 14,
15&16, 2006, in Long Island, NY. There will be a training session on CAPRAD
and TSB-88b on the 14th of November. The training session will be
held at no cost. Seating is limited and registration is required. This will be
an active session for hands on learning.
Applications:
No
applications have been received to date.
Region
8 700MHz Plan
Mr.
Travis LePage representing Region 8 and Region 30 presented an overview of
their 700MHz plan. Mr. LePage identified the steps completed along the path
toward interregional approval.
Region
8 and 30 requested adjacent region concurrence of their 700MHz plan. Mr. LePage
identified the website http://www.nys-rpc.org available to
view the Region 8 and 30 700MHz plan. Region 8 Chairman, Mr. Mead was present
and also available for questions. Chairman Pohorilak questioned the review and
denial/approval requirements of 10 days incorporated into the plan for adjacent
state review. Chairman Pohorilak indicated that Region 19 meets on a quarterly
basis and distribution of the filing would take several days to committee
members. Chairman Meade agreed that 10 days was not enough time for review of a
large adjacent region filing. Mr. Meade suggested 30 days and agreed to modify
the change with an endorsement from Region 8 membership. The two Chairman's
discussed various needs for interregional concurrence. Region 8 had received
adjacent region 30 approval and is awaiting Region 28 and Region 19 approval.
Orphaned
Channels
Mr.
Sean O'Hara presented a scheme for "border conflict resolution", Òorphaned channels", and
"channel allotments". Mr. O'Hara also discussed the FCC NPRM that was
issued by the FCC requesting proposals for restructuring portions of the 700
MHz band. The presentation identified the proposals from 7 different interested
parties. One proposal was to add approximately 6MHz of broadband spectrum to
the existing FCC 700MHz allocation. A detailed discussion was held on the
issues.
4.9 GHZ
Chairman
Pohorilak indicated that the 4.9GHz plan has been filed with the FCC. The FCC takes no action with the filing
of the 4.9GHz plan. Mr. Zarwanski indicated that a copy of the 4.9GHz plan will
be mailed to all 4.9GHz licensed holders in New England requesting that they
file with this committee before implementation and construction of a 4.9GHz
system. Resource sharing is important in the development of an operational
4.9GHz system.
New Business
Chairman
Pohorilak identified the continue need to add to the committee membership. Two
individuals from Connecticut would like to join the committee, Mr. Paul Zito
and Mr. Scott Wright. The Committee awaits their appointments.
The
next meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at the New Hampshire Department
of Safety in Concord, NH at 10:00am.
With
no further business to discuss. A motion was made by Mr. Leary to adjourn. All
committee members in attendance agreed.
The
meeting was adjourned at 12:10 PM.
Respectfully submitted
James A. Warakois, Secretary
Documents:
Federal
Communications Commission; FCC 06-133, NPRM In the matter of Former Nextel Communications,
Inc.Upper 700 MHz Guard Band Licenses and Revisions to part 27 of the
CommissionÕs Rules;
WTk Docket No. 06-169.
Development
of Operational, Technical and Spectrum Requirements for Meeting Federal State
and Local Public Safety Communications Requirements Through the Year 2010; WT Docket No.96-86