Spectrum 20/20 Ottawa, ON, May 6, 2008 Public Safety Challenges: Broadband Anyone?

1. Spectrum 20/20 Ottawa, ON, May 6, 2008 Public Safety Challenges: Broadband Anyone? Sean O’Hara National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Technical Advisor Business Area Manager – Analysis, Communications, and Collection Systems Syracuse Research Corporation ohara@syrres.com

2. Heading off aData Divergence • As long ago as 2006, mobile broadband was starting to take a strong hold on the wireless subscriber community • BB data networks rolling out, coverage footprints grow • Emergency responders began to see the utility of having high bandwidth mobile data connectivity • Most mobile data systems only provided a maximum of 32 kbps for their data applications • The faster speeds offered by the commercial data technologies offered the ability to transfer images, video, and other large files. • BB started to take hold in the Public Safety Community • Washington DC began to roll out dedicated a 700 MHz BB network • San Diego County (and many others) started to utilize commercial providers to offer BB data services to their users • New York City released an RFP for a dedicated BB network

3. NPSTC takes Action • The public safety community clearly communicated to the FCC its desire to utilize the 700-MHz spectrum to support broadband operations. • After significant analyses and debate, NPSTC filed comments with the FCC in May 2006 requesting that the structure of the 700-MHz band public safety allocation be modified to allow for broadband aggregation of up to three 1.25-MHz channels. • NPSTC then formed an Broadband Task Force (BBTF) to work out the details of how all of these technologies could be deployed without harmful interference. • This BBTF was chartered to work jointly with public safety and the vendor community in the development of coexistence guidelines. • NPSTC and the BBTF concluded that the various technologies could coexist as long as they were properly managed and coordinated. • Submitted a technical report with band configuration recommendations

4. The Technology Landscape Broadband Optimization Plan Proposal BB: EVDO WB: SAM BB: UMTS/WCDMA/LTE/WiMax

5. A New Concept is Born • Rather than accept the widely-supported NPSTC recommendations, the FCC took bold steps to introduce a new framework for a National Broadband network whose spectrum assets would be managed by a single public safety broadband licensee (PSBL). • D Block auction winner to work with PSBL to provide services • This was an extremely contentious topic within the Community, and the responses were sharply divided • Could it Hurt? • Many concerned that economic viability dooms the network to failure, while crippling the ability to roll out dedicated local public safety BB services • Concern that this would be seen a “solution to all problems”, and as such would take away resources from solving NB voice interoperability concerns • Could it Help? • Many felt that only a National Network could provide the economies of scale to provide service and coverage for public safety

6. A Public Safety BB SoR • In last 2007 as the 800 MHz auction approached, there was a lot of uncertainty in the market regarding the expectations of the PSBL • What were the requirements going to be to provide public safety services? • More importantly, how much is this going to cost? • NPSTC stepped in again, brought tremendous resources to bear, and worked with the community to generate a Statement of Requirements* for distribution to the D-Block Bidders. • This at least provided a basis for what types of details need to be worked out in the Network Sharing Agreement (NSA) to be negotiated between the PSBL and D Block auction winner • However, there was still uncertainty as to what the actual requirements for the network would be, as the NSA was to be developed post-auction *Available at : http://www.npstc.org/statementOfRequirements.jsp

7. The Auction: Reality Check • Everyone knows how the 700 MHz auctions turned out • Some unfortunate facts we are now dealing with: • Fact: Only a single bid was placed for the D-Block Spectrum, well below the minimum bid. • Fact: Many of the National service providers likely met their needs through the auction (AT&T, Verizon), or though the use of other bands (such as Sprint’s 2GHz spectrum acquisition through 800 MHz rebanding) • Fact: The D-Block/PSBL concept is probably only economically viable for someone who already has a national footprint • This is not a the best position for PS to be in

8. Contemplation Time • Now is a good time for some careful contemplation • FCC: • How can this approach be reformulated to make best use of the spectrum? • Public Safety • How can we find a balance between wants and needs? • How can we get something that is achievable? • Commercial Ventures • The 10 MHz of prime 700 MHz spectrum is worth a lot of money (~ $10B), is there anything that can be developed that can serve public safety and still provide a reasonable ROE? • I have worked work with a lot of public safety folks, both managers and end users, and from my experience we need to take a look at requirements, services, and operability/interoperability

9. My Perspective (not NPSTC’s):Services • Data is not voice • It is a mistake to treat data as voice, it often serves an entirely difference purpose as voice, has difference UI characteristics, and uses different applications, with differing requirements • In most cases, data is not as “mission critical” as voice • Ask first responders to chose between voice and data if you do not believe me. • What you can do and how you do it is highly augmented by data capabilities (database queries, telemedicine, etc) • Data helps you do a better job to serve the public • Data may never replace voice • Almost all data applications require to take your eyes off of what you are doing. • Even the most sophisticated data consumers (the armed forces) still need voice

10. My Perspective (not NPSTC’s):Requirements • Data Requirements are not ubiquitous • Requirements are not the same everywhere • Traffic light control, meter reading, and other public service applications are the not same as bomb squad robot video and control • Data Requirements are relative • If you have nothing, then anything is better • Many (and perhaps most) first responders do not even have narrowband data available to them right now • Data Requirements are not the same as voice • Voice messages requires minimal latency, and have a short “lifetime” • Data messages often can be queued and delivered as soon as possible, and have a much longer “lifetime”

11. My Perspective (not NPSTC’s):Operability/Interoperability • Voice and Data interoperability are not the same • Different requirements and different implementations • Many data benefits are applications of operability - not interoperability. • The need/requirements for data interoperability is very ill-defined right now, and as such the best way to achieve them are uncertain • There have been major efforts by many folks to look at this, but divergent conclusions • Politics and parochial interests have hindered the furthering of voice interoperability, and they might be worse for data • Voice is a piece of cake compared to sharing data, which is more akin to sharing and/or opening up access to IT networks. • Applications needs to be as interoperable as the data itself • Top down approach developed standardized applications, and can offer band and technology agnostic interoperability as soon as a common IP platform is reached • Bottom up approaches offer technology and band specific solutions, but still cannot work until the top of the stack is reached

12. What is Next? • Public safety needs to look at where it is going to use data and especially BB data in their operations • Capabilities and timelines • Public safety needs to understand what is going to be mission critical, and what is not • Mission critical applications require a hardened highly available network • Public safety needs to understand what their data interoperability needs are, and start to look at all the ways that they can be met. • From application layer to PHY(s) • We need to build a bridge to a fiscally achievable destination • And during all phases of construction, we need to be able to be somewhere better than we were. • This is a huge complex effort • NPSTC will continue to work hand in hand to help guide PS as this plays out