The Role of Deployable Aerial Communications Architecture in Emergency Communications

Federal Communications Commission
October 31, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1607A1.pdf
See update: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1739A1.pdf

The Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) will hold a workshop and webinar in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305) to discuss the recent PSHSB White Paper entitled, “The Role of Deployable Aerial Communications Architecture in Emergency Communications and Recommended Next Steps,” which is available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-309742A1.pdf.

The first panel will focus on how enabling the use of deployable aerial communications architecture (DACA) can help ensure that critical communications are available within the first few hours after a catastrophic event for a period of between 72 and 96 hours.

The second panel will address the types of technologies that are available for DACA and how they can serve the need for immediate communications after a major disaster, when terrestrial communications may not be available.

The final panel will consider technical issues associated with the deployment of DACA for emergency communications, including interference concerns.

AGENDA

9:00 a.m. Welcome Remarks: Chairman Julius Genachowski, Federal Communications Commission

9:05 a.m. Keynote Speaker: Glenn Cannon, Director, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency

9:15 a.m. Panel 1 – Benefits of the Use of Deployable Aerial Communications Architecture
(DACA) – This panel will focus on role that DACA can play in emergency response within the first few hours after a catastrophic event to restore critical communications for a period of approximately 72 to 96 hours. Entire regional or national populations can be affected by natural disasters or conflicts, engaging thousands of responders and stakeholders with diverse skills, resources, and fields of expertise. The ability of these individuals to communicate, internally and externally, is critical to saving lives, protecting property, and maintaining the rule of law.

Moderator: Richard Lee, Associate Chief, PSHSB, FCC
Panelists:

• Captain James Cash, Chief, C4IT and Sensor Capability, U.S. Coast Guard
• Dr. Edwin (Ted) David, Leader, Advanced System Concepts Group, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
• Brian Steckler, Director, Hastily Formed Networks (HFN) Center, Naval Postgraduate School

10:10 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Panel 2 – Potential DACA Technologies – This panel will focus on the types of DACA
technologies that are available today and will be available in the future. Discussion will
focus on the advantages and disadvantages of each technology, including costeffectiveness.
Moderator: Jennifer A. Manner, Deputy Chief, PSHSB, FCC
Panelists:
Bob Buckle, CEO, Intelcomm, Ltd
Gerald Knoblach, Co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Space Data
Corporation
Penny Rubow, Director, Arkansas Wireless Information Network, State of Arkansas
Ted Wierzbanowski, Director, UAS Airspace Integration, AeroVironment
11:05 a.m. Break

11:10 a.m. Panel 3 – Technical Issues Associated with the Deployment of DACA – This panel will address the technical issues associated with deployment and operation of DACA technologies, including the potential for harmful interference, spectrum coordination, licensing and authorization issues and standard development.

Moderator: Pat Amodio, RF Engineering Chief, Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC), PSHSB, FCC

Panelists:

• David Buchanan, Chair, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Spectrum Committee
• Jim Bugel, Assistant Vice President, Public Safety and Homeland Security, AT&T Inc.
• Dr. Daniel M. Devasirvatham, Chief Technology Officer, Applied Technology Division, Defense and Maritime Solutions, SAIC
• Al Johnson, Director, Integrated Information and Communications Technology Support, Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Defense
• Brian M. Josef, Assistant Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, CTIA - The Wireless Association
• Michael Roberts, Senior Systems Engineer, CoCo Communications Corp.

12:25 p.m. Closing Remarks: James Arden Barnett, Jr., Rear Admiral (Ret.), Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC