Meeting Notes
Date:
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
RE:
NPSTC Governing Board Meeting
Participants:
NPSTC Board and other attendees
http://www.npstc.org/meetingDetail.jsp?meeting=1057
1. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office for Interoperability and Compatibility – John Merrill,
Director. OIC Reorganization John is now the Director of OIC since Dan Cotter has moved to FRG. APEX programs- includes next
generation first responder (NGFR). Protected, connected and fully aware. 48 programs running
simultaneously. Communications and Network Engine – (CNET) – managed by Quang Luu. Includes
Interoperable voice and data and indoor location and comms. Situational Awareness and Decision
support (SANDS). Data Analytics – to include evaluation of emerging technologies. One area they are
exploring is an accelerated program for bringing wearable technologies to market. Includes business
counseling on how to develop a business plan to bring a new product to market.
2. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Emergency, Communications (OEC) – Chris Essid,
Deputy Director. Dusty Rhoads subbed for Chris Essid.
New emphasis is on interoperability in bringing IP information from the public.
There are 23 grant programs for communications, SAFCOM manages 17 of them. There was no
knowledge of to what level these programs are funded compared to prior fiscal years. P25 is still a
requirement of the SAFCOM grant guidance but there is no way for one agency to require another
agency to use a specific technology. For SAFCOM grants, the applicant must justify a non P25
technology to receive the funds. CAP is not required. There are specific areas where P25 should not be
required.
3. LTE Global Standards/3GPP Update – Andy Thiessen, via teleconference. There appears to be a
movement to approve some PTT features and services that would not be good for Public Safety. NPSTC is
working to overcome these and revise. The big impact could be proprietary voice features that are not
interoperable. LTE-to-LTE voice roaming will be impossible under this scenario if approved.
4. Broadband Working Group Updates – Barry Luke, NPSTC Deputy Executive Director. Many challenges
with interoperability of LTE “deployables” operating within “communications bubbles.”
5. Radio Programming Compatibility Requirements (PAM tool) – Tom Sorley – working on a long term
solution to upgrade to a data base, error checking, pop-up windows for individual channel editing, etc.
6. Federal Partners for Interoperability Communications (FPIC) – Jimmy Downes, LMR Standards and
Security Coordinator, Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) – FPIC includes more than 200
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Federal, State, local, and tribal public safety representatives from over 45 Federal agencies, as well as
representatives from State, Tribal and local entities, focusing on improving interoperability among all levels
of government and addressing common public safety related communications issues. Driving updates to
the Over-the-Air Rekeying standards and test procedures, link layer encryption and the Security Services
Overview.
Federal agencies have seen a surge in encrypted communications as state and local agencies begin to
implement security services. Increased requirements for privacy to protect law enforcement operations and
personal identifiable information (PII). Response to academia white papers discussing challenges with land
mobile radio security. Requires significant coordination between agencies still requiring interoperable
communications. Reduced cost delta in providing encryption with digital technologies although the system
complexity increased. Problems with analog encryption are no longer relevant for digital (Coverage loss,
Reduced audio quality).
Encrypted Interoperability Requires a desire to interoperate between agencies using Project 25 Standardsbased security solution using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES 256-bit).
Knowledge and understanding of encryption and key management
Coordination between agencies (Planning, Implementation, Following standards and templates
Communication, Cooperation)
Coordination with the National Law Enforcement Communications Center (NLECC) and/or
Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWIC) for I/OP keys
A key distribution system Key Fill Device (KFD) and/or OTAR
KFD configured in accordance with NLECC Guidelines
Even though the SLNs do not match, the radio will decode the audio since the KIDs and TEKs are the
same. Note: Single key radios will increase the operational complexity and require additional coordination.
How do we manage encrypted interoperability on a national level? DHS-CBP National Law Enforcement
Communications Center in Orlando, Florida. Generates, manages, and distributes operable and
interoperable encryption keys on a national level. Manages SLN assignments. Manages KID assignments.
Recommends the use of interoperability keys generated by the National Law Enforcement
Communications Center (NLECC) in Orlando, Florida.
7. Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) – Harlin McEwen, Chairman, Public Safety Advisory Committee
(PSAC) Current Assignments.
a. Priority and Preemption Task Team (Kicked Off 2/26) - FirstNet seeking advice from PSAC
regarding an initial framework for implementing access prioritization, user preemption, and
prioritized application use in the NPSBN. The PSAC Task Team is basing their work on a report
and recommendations from NPSTC.
b. Public Safety Grade Task Team (Kicked Off 2/27) - FirstNet seeking advice from PSAC regarding
an initial methodology and framework for prioritizing and implementing NPSTC’s public safety grade
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recommendations in the NPSBN. The PSAC Task Team is basing their work on a report and
recommendations from NPSTC.
c. User Equipment Tasking (Kicked Off 3/4) - FirstNet seeking advice from PSAC on functional
objectives for and ergonomic considerations of Band 14 broadband user equipment that will meet
the operational needs of first responders. The PSAC EC is currently addressing this task.
8. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) –William Davenport, Deputy Chief, Enforcement Bureau
a. Current structure is unsustainable. The field is the largest part of the enforcement bureau, 108
employees in 23 field offices. Of the total 21 are managers. The current model was adopted 20
years ago. The primary mission is to respond to complaints, not monitor.
b. Actions – tried to link current priorities to the field mission. Refocus around the current mission. The
work was not being prioritized…resolving RF interference. Less than 10% are spent resolving public
safety complaints.
c. Solutions – more time in the field instead of the office. Focus on RF problems as a priority.
Response with 24 hours. Reducing managers to 5 (10:1). Locating in the areas of most RF
(population areas). Only using EE’s from now on.
d. Number of field agents are being reduced from 63 to 38.
9. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – Roberto Mussenden, Attorney–Advisor, Policy and
Licensing Division, Public Safety Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB)
a. Trying to figure out how to maximize the utility of 4.9 GHz. Trying to make it clear what the market is
for equipment manufacturers.
b. Vehicular Repeaters – the order is “up on the 8th floor” for approval
c. Reviewing the use of analog on 700/800.
d. Not renewing any licenses on wide band only (V/U) without special approval. This is freeing up
spectrum.
e. T-Band – trying to find access to other spectrum, not working on reinstating T-Band
f. 800 MHz interstitials – due date is May 11th, possibility for extension? Perhaps.
10. Spectrum Management Discussion, FirstNet Public Notice # 2 Response –Stu Overby
a. Two major themes: Devices and State’s Opt Out Issues. NPSTC response filed on April 28.
General concurrence with FirstNet interpretations regarding devices. Public safety will need various
types of interoperable devices.
b. FN Network policies, proposed coverage/capacity, spectrum lease requirements, and business
plans need to be available to the Governor for proper decision making. Information should be made
available concurrently when plan is presented to a state.
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11. FirstNet Public Notice # 3 –Stu Overby, Public Notice Issued April 24, 2015
a. Major theme: Who is eligible as public safety on the network? Furthers the discussion and
interpretation on this issue from FirstNet Notice #1, to which NPSTC responded 10/27/15.
b. FirstNet Preliminarily concludes there can be employees or groups of employees eligible in an
organization even if the organization as a whole is not eligible. FirstNet seeks comments on this
interpretation, and on how to administer it. Comments on Notice #3 are due 30 days after
publication in Federal Register.
c. Utilities are asking to be on FirstNet, will this open the door to others who are really not Public
Safety?
12.
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