[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] FirstNet - a nationwide wireless broadband network for first responders

[Mark Bonanno]

http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2017-06-01
<http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arrl.org%2Farrlletter%3Fissue%3D2017-06-01&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHqToX_lTLZYiOKM8KhdyTUJ6IjwA>


https://firstnet.gov



Buildout of Nationwide First Responder Broadband Network Could Drive
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Changes

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet <https://firstnet.gov/>) --
a nationwide wireless broadband network for first responders -- could
change the complexion of how the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®)
functions to support communication for responders during disasters and
emergencies. As an independent authority within the US Department of
Commerce's National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA
<https://www.ntia.doc.gov/>), FirstNet's mission is to build out, deploy,
and operate an interoperable nationwide broadband network dedicated to
first responders. Ralph Haller, N4RH, the chairman of the National Public
Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC <http://www.npstc.org/>), told
ARRL that the advent of FirstNet "will likely be as significant as when
public safety first began using radio."

"The nationwide network will be hardened, so that it will be more likely
that many of today's public safety systems remain operational in
emergencies," Haller said, pointing out that Amateur Radio should not
expect to have access to FirstNet. He cautioned, "The endurance of Amateur
Radio systems in disasters has been a big selling point in the past for
incorporating amateur operators in emergency plans, but perhaps not so much
in the future."

NPSTC is a federation of organizations that work toward improving public
safety communication and interoperability, and ARRL has a seat on NPSTC's
Governing Board. Haller predicted that Amateur Radio's role in emergencies
will not disappear. "There is no substitute for eyes and ears on the ground
in an emergency," he said, adding that radio amateurs "can and should
continue to play an important part" in supporting emergency communication.

"Amateur operators can continue to provide valuable information to
emergency operations centers in the recovery phase of disasters," he said.
"Whether that intelligence gathering is reporting on storm clouds, power
outages, or road closures, amateurs can help provide critical, real-time
information about conditions over a vast area. While first responders are
treating the injured or protecting life and property, the amateur community
can concentrate on assessing the overall picture."

*Ralph Haller, N4RH, the chairman of the National Public Safety
Telecommunications Council.*

On March 30, FirstNet and the Commerce Department announced a 25-year
partnership with AT&T as the primary contractor to make FirstNet a reality.
"The ability to communicate seamlessly across jurisdictions is critical for
law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) when securing
large events or responding to emergencies and disasters," a Commerce
Department news release said. "In those instances, networks can become
overloaded and inaccessible, limiting responders' use of vital
communication technologies, such as smartphones and applications dedicated
to public safety services."

Public safety agencies already use commercial wireless networks, such as
AT&T and Verizon, to supplement their own radio systems and networks,
although such communication is not point to point. FirstNet is initially
targeted primarily to provide video and data, with mission-critical voice
communication at least a decade away. EMS is likely to become a heavy user
of the network, which will employ voice command functions a la Siri or
Alexa.
------------------------------

"Be sure the public safety organizations never forget how valuable the
amateurs are!"* -- NPSTC Chairman Ralph Haller, N4RH*
------------------------------

Inevitably there will be coverage gaps, and the development of
"deployables" is critical. These devices can expand the network to areas it
doesn't cover but where it may be needed for a specific incident.
Deployables could include satellites -- Inmarsat is a member of the AT&T
team. Network security and encryption is a high priority. The Military
Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) now uses encryption on its data nets.

While images in the form of digital Amateur Radio television (DATV) and a
plethora of digital modes are available to ARES, FirstNet could nudge ARES
to more quickly adopt a similar approach. A new generation of radio
amateurs steeped in data, image, and video technology is likely to drive
ARES to think beyond analog.

Haller advised that the Amateur Radio community should continue to work
closely with public safety organizations at all levels to assure that they
remain a part of emergency plans.

"The hype about broadband should not result in amateurs inadvertently being
swept under the rug," Haller stressed. "Be sure the public safety
organizations never forget how valuable the amateurs are!"

FirstNet will use spectrum at 700 MHz -- no immediate threat to Amateur
Radio allocations, although there is no guarantee that this won't change as
the network approaches the shift to 5th generation (5G) technology. Amateur
Radio has access to significant spectrum above 700 MHz.

The expectation is that within a couple of years, a nationwide "core"
network will be ready to roll out, and the first public safety users will
be on board. Some regional networks have been set up for proof-of-concept
purposes and to work out wrinkles. *-- Thanks to Mike Corey, KI1U, and
Ralph Haller, N4RH*

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Mark Bonanno
571.303.9647 <%28571%29%20303-9647>
KM4GML

Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane.
  - Philip K. Dick