[Scan-DC] New 700 Mhz system in DC?

Wed Jan 9 18:32:33 EST 2013

Well, two things come to mind when you put it that way (while ignoring the
reference to the deficit because I'm absolutely the wrong person to cross
swords w/r/t spectrum policy / HS grants / etc) -- first off, I am unsure
as to if the usual Homeland Security grants would even be available for the
purpose of deploying a plain vanilla 700mhz trunked system (whether its
encrypted or not). Second, I am fairly certain that what grants there are
for 700mhz deployment are targeted towards deploying and implementing the
700mhz-banded (but IP based) FirstNet.

The public safety block from the 700mhz auction was originally meant by
Congress to be a dual-use network that a winning bidder would build out for
public safety entities but would be able to sell bandwidth on it to private
parties to first recoup the capital outlay for buildout and then as a
business running a public-private partnership such that whatever equipment
approved by the FCC for use on the block would have some manner of priority
key or software-based "off switch" to let the public safety entities the
block is for take 100 percent control of it during any sort of emergent
situation requiring the full capacity of the block.

The original structure envisioned was a "network of networks" run by
different bidders around the country but using a common protocol (a lowest
common denominator) to ensure interoperability.across the different
regional operators and agencies.

But for obvious reasons none of the major wireless providers wanted to pay
for spectrum that could be shut off for their paying customers at the whim
of any number of government entities (FCC, FEMA, state and local
police/fire/ems, municipal governments, et cetera). My memory of that
particular auction isn't so grand but if I recall few, if any bidders even
came close to the reserve for the block.

So the FCC took the block off the market and handed the D block (plus more
designated public safety spectrum) off to a single licensee (FirstNet)
under the auspices of NTIA which is in the process of deploying the entire
swath of 700mhz as a nationwide IP-based broadband network for public
safety entities. I suspect that in the years to come we will see these
700mhz trunked systems either decommissioned entirely or relegated to cold
backup equipment because as I said earlier, I fail to see the future
utility of digital trunks requiring cumbersome encryption (which is
kryptonite to any meaningful emergency interoperability) just to lock out
scanner buffs because of the anecdotal (more like apocryphal) evidence
alleging *cough*bullshit*cough* rampant use of laggy smartphone scanner
apps to evade police (because LE these days always broadcasts detailed,
plain language updates on stuff like stakeouts or drug stings in enough
time to give the street-level offenders warning).

The only reason I can think of that anyone would be building a 700 trunk at
this moment in time is if the FCC happened to have granted a 700mhz license
a long, long time ago -- and if the license was contingent on meeting a
build-out target.

In other words, we might see a few more of these 700mhz trunks go up using
state/local funds while FirstNet is embryonic, but once  LE realizes that
the huge swath of IP-based broadband can deliver trunk functionality with
unlimited talkgroups of unscannable voice plus whiz-bang stuff like
real-time video from IP-enabled cameras (CCTV or  air support), real-time
records of past citizen contacts, and who knows what else on next-gen MDTs,
tablets, and (this'll get em drooling) even some LE-custom version of those
Google Glasses, whatever bands the licenses are for will be used as extra
capacity for the IP network (in other words for interoperability on a
local/state/regional scaled version of what FirstNet will be) so that such
a region can keep to its own air and set its own policies on say, media
access to voice traffic, but the big show will run on the same equipment if
everyone needs to talk to everyone else.

Ok, I'm done rambling.

On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 4:50 PM, Joel Kahn <jrkahn at att.net> wrote:

>  Andrew:
>  But you just hit the nail on the head!  If you can get free Fed (Homeland
> Security grants) money from Congress to increase the deficit, why not take
> it and buy a whole new system, after just upgrading and encrypting the old
> one.
>
> As I said before, I hope they use the same 'encryption' method as PG
> County!  My investment in a PSR800 may bear fruit yet!
>
> Joel
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* Andrew Feinberg <andrew.feinberg at gmail.com>
> *To:* Alan Henney <alan at henney.com>
> *Cc:* Scan DC <Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net>
> *Sent:* Wed, January 9, 2013 7:33:40 AM
>
> *Subject:* Re: [Scan-DC] New 700 Mhz system in DC?
>
> Frankly, while this telecom policy journalist / scanner buff is
> painfully aware of the 700mhz public safety land grab / bandwagon, I'm
> a bit dumbfounded as to why DC would pay for a new (voice only) 700
> system when not only does the 800 work well and is interoperable with
> most of the neighboring COG-member jurisdictions (also on 800) many of
> which having just
> rebanded, but also when FirstNet (the nationwide public safety
> broadband network) is just starting its process. .
>
> Now, I see how the most excellent signal penetration of the 700mhz
> band (remember watching tv via rabbit ears indoors?) might be
> attractive to those jurisdictions that for whatever reason are just
> now going to their first trunked digital system for voice
> communications, but I don't see the utility in a jurisdiction with a
> working 800mhz deploying a whole new voice only system on a different
> band when there will soon be a large swath of spectrum available for
> not only voice but all sorts of broadband applications as well.
>
> Maybe I am naive but if it were me, I'd save my money and invest in
> the sexy broadband and all the cool toys it can support.
>
> (Too bad for us you can't scan ip-based broadband)
>
> Thoughts? Maybe someone knows something I don't.
>
> On Jan 8, 2013, at 9:59 PM, Alan Henney <alan at henney.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > I think the irony is that the taxpayers are paying $50 to $60 million
> for this system and there is no discussion or mention of it in the "main
> stream" media.
> >
> > I would presume after it is up, running and tested, the mayor will make a
> > big announcement.
> >
> > Alan
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dewey3" <dewey3 at gmail.com>
> > To: <Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net>
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 12:29 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] New 700 Mhz system in DC?
> >
> >
> >> Coincidence... yes.  I'm hearing that the move to 700 has already
> started,
> >> just haven't been able to personally confirm it (remember, I'm retired).
> >>
> >> Dewey
> >
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