Meeting Minutes

Region 19 700MHz Committee

 

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

 

Massachusetts State Police Headquarters

470 Worcester Road

Framingham, Ma

 

 

Mr. Jerry Zarwanski chaired the meeting.  The meeting started at 10:27AM.  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 were available.  A motion was raised to approve the minutes. The minutes were approved by Mr. Steve Brown and seconded by Mr. George Carbonell.

 

Second item on the agenda:  Committee Membership/Annual Elections

 

Mr. Jerry Zarwanski identified every September Region 19 holds its annual elections. Mr. Zarwanski identified a quorum of 9 committee members representing three member states must be present for the elections to take place. Mr. Zarwanski stated 11 voting committee members were present. Mr. Zarwanski requested a nomination for chairman. Mr. Elliot Derdak nominated Mr. Zarwanski. Mr. Stephen Verbil seconded the nomination. Nominations were closed. Eleven committee members voted and Mr. Zarwanski was elected unanimously. Mr. Zarwanski requested a nomination for vice chairman. Mr. Zarwanski nominated Mr. Stephen Verbil. Mr. Derdak seconded the nomination. Nominations were closed. Eleven committee members voted and Mr. Verbil was elected unanimously. Mr. Zarwanski requested a nomination for secretary. Mr. Zarwanski nominated Mr. James Kowalik. Mr. Verbil seconded the nomination. Nominations were closed. Eleven committee members voted and Mr. James Kowalik was elected unanimously.

 

Third item on the agenda:  State Updates

 

Connecticut:  Mr. Verbil provided the committee with the State of Connecticut update. Phase I of the Connecticut Public Safety Data Network (PSDN) will be accepted in the month of October. Connecticut On-Line Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing (COLLECT) will be the first of three applications running on ConnecticutÕs PSDN. NG911 and the Common Channel Gateways (CCGWs) will be implemented in the future. Phase II of the PSDN was funded by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), the matching funds were provided by the Office of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications (OSET).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Massachusetts: Mr. Blair Sutherland stated Massachusetts Public Safety Network (MassNet) is ongoing. MassNet will provide the backbone to connect all police, fire and EMS locations throughout the state. The state is utilizing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and BTOP grant funds to support the implementation. The State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) and Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) are in the final design review of the master core project. The UASI core should be completed in June of 2012.

 

Rhode Island:  Mr. Michael Smith informed the committee Motorola High Performance Data (HPD) system is near completion for the state police. Testing data transfer to the state trooper cars will begin soon.

 

Maine: No Report

 

Vermont: No Report

 

New Hampshire:  Mr. James Kowalik identified the state have five large projects in progress. The states microwave system is being upgraded to transport data via IP. New Hampshire Department of Transportation has three communication projects and New Hampshire SafeNet is in its design phase. The goal of SafeNet is to create a core IP network over the states fiber and microwave infrastructure interconnecting 5 to 6 north eastern states. 

 

Fifth item on the agenda:  FCC Update

 

Mr. Zarwanski stated FCC Section 90.529 ÒState LicensesÓ has been modified by a FCC declaratory ruling of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The FCC decision change identified in FCC Section 90.529 (b)(1) requires each state holding a 700MHz State License provide or be prepared to provide Òsubstantial serviceÓ to one-third of their population or territory by June 13, 2014. FCC Section 90.529 (b)(2) requires each state holding a 700MHz State License provide or be prepared to provide Òsubstantial serviceÓ to two-third of their population or territory by June 13, 2019. FCC Section 90.529 (d) If a state licensee fails to meet any condition of the grant the state license is modified automatically to the frequencies and geographic areas where the state certifies that it is providing substantial service. FCC Section 90.529 (e) any recovered state license spectrum will revert to General Use. However, spectrum licensed to a state under a state license remains unavailable for reassignment to other applicants until the CommissionÕs database reflects the parameters of the modified state license.

 

Mr. Zarwanski stated negotiations between the north eastern states continue in regards to border agreements for operating on 700MHz Òstate channelsÓ.

 

Mr. Zarwanski identified discussions continue in congress to determine allocation of D Block spectrum. Congress has endorsed the Rockefeller Bill, while the House of Representatives still need to vote to move the bill forward. Mr. Zarwanski informed the committee APCO requested letters from their membership supporting allocating 700MHz D Block spectrum for public safety use. The letters were forwarded to Congress and the House of Representatives.

 

Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) is the current license holder of the entire D Block spectrum. Mr. Zarwanski identified 21 public safety entities have waivers to build out a 700MHz broadband system utilizing D Block frequencies. Public safety entities utilizing D Block spectrum must be in compliance with FCC 700MHz broadband technical specifications and guidelines. 

 

Fifth item on the agenda: Region 19 Plan/Applications

 

Mr. Zarwanski stated there are no pending applications at this time. The committee was provided with CD copies of the New England Region 19 700MHz Plan.

 

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

 

Mr. Zarwanski informed the committee Region 8 has one outstanding applicant in the 1st window filing with Region 19. Region 19 denied Window 1 applicant Suffolk County and has requested they modify their transmitter sites to better protect Connecticut. At this time Suffolk County has not resubmitted to Region 19 with a revised application.

 

Region 8 has pending applications in Window 3. Region 19 has not received a concurrence request at this time.

 

Seventh item on the agenda: 4.9GHz

 

Mr. Zarwanski stated he received two requests for 4.9GHz, New Hampshire DOT and BAE System Inc. New Hampshire DOT is expanding their 4.9GHz point to point system by adding 4 links. Mr. Zarwanski indicated the application is incomplete. Mr. Lee Savary representing New Hampshire DOT identified he will provide Region 19 with additional information as requested. BAE System is building out an experimental site. BAE System Inc provided Region 19 with their FCC STA for review. Mr. Zarwanski stated both New Hampshire DOT and BAE Systems Inc are in compliance with the Region 19 4.9GHz Plan.

 

Eighth item on the agenda: New Business

 

Mr. Carbonell requested the membership list for the New England Region 19 700MHz and 800MHz Plan be updated. Mr. Carbonell stated he would like to update the Region 19 webpage to reflect changes in membership. Mr. Kowalik recommended we send letters out to agencies representing Region 19 committee members requesting a membership status update.

 

Mr. Carbonell also suggested Region 19 hold their meetings in a central location. Mr. Paul Zito pointed out the Region 19 bylaws require the meetings rotate to the member states on an established rotation schedule which will be set at the annual meeting each year.

 

With no further comments or business, Mr. Steve Brown motioned for adjournment.  Mr. George Carbonell seconded the motion.  The next meeting will be held at the Putney Volunteer Fire Department, 14 Main St, Putney, Vermont on December 13, 2011.

 

All present agreed to adjourn at 11:20PM.