WASHINGTON-The federal government is trying to mend its rocky relationship with the public-safety community, following a series of flare-ups between the two during the past year.Last week, the Federal Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration named Washington, D.C, lawyer Philip Verveer...
Cellular telephones improved communications at the Oklahoma City tragedy when public-safety groups' two-way radios-all on different frequencies-couldn't connect."At the site of a disaster, radio channels max out immediately with just tactical communication," said Ron Baker, director of wireless services for McCaw Cellular Communications Inc.'s...
Two industry associations have asked the Federal Communications Commission to modify the freeze placed on intercategory sharing in the 800 MHz band, suggesting it only apply to specialized mobile radio operators or other groups interloping into industrial/land transportation, business or public-safety pools.The freeze, announced...
Cellular One of Ohio and Michigan announced Lindsay Notwell has been appointed director of wireless data, heading up this new department. Notwell will be responsible for building and managing the wireless data group and supervise the rollout of various wireless programs. Prior to Cellular...
Transmitting mug shots and fingerprint images over wireless is the aim of the FBI's $17 million-plus technology update program, but it comes at a time when government spectrum already is clogged."A picture is worth a thousand words, but it takes a lot more bandwidth...
In efforts to achieve compatibility of mobile communications systems among public-safety agencies, several manufacturers contributing to the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International Inc.'s Project 25 have encountered communication snags of their own.Motorola Inc.'s Land Mobile Sector and E.F. Johnson Co. signed a joint licensing...
According to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, approximately a half million 911 calls are placed over U.S. cellular networks each month. With the cellular subscribers growing at an annual rate of 48 percent, the number of cellular 911 calls is increasing, creating a serious...
