The Role of Broadband in Improving Public Safety Communications and Emergency Response


Federal Communications Commission
Georgetown University, Leavey Center
3900 Reservoir Rd, NW
Washington, D.C. 20057
Thursday, November 12, 2009
9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-294440A1.doc

The hearing will focus on the specific broadband requirements for America's first responders and emergency medical personnel, as well as the use of particular technologies and applications to maximize use of broadband, the cost of implementing such communications technologies, and how the National Broadband Plan now being developed by the Commission can help bring attention to, and address, these critical public safety issues.

AGENDA

Summary: The field hearing will focus on public safety entities (EMS, Fire, Police, PSAPs) to determine specific broadband requirements, including applications, needed by each discipline to facilitate the utilization of broadband technologies to promote efficient, effective response and recovery capabilities. The discussion will include the requirements of the public safety community in terms of network features, applications, architecture and other aspects of the network including costs of implementing these technologies and the role of the National Broadband Plan in addressing these needs.

9:00 AM-9:15 AM—Welcome: Commissioner Mignon Clyburn

9:15 AM-9:30 AM—Welcome: Howard Federoff, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Georgetown University Medical Center

9:30 AM-9:45 AM— Keynote—Undersecretary Rand Beers, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Department of Homeland Security

9:45 AM-10:45 AM—Panel 1—Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (Moderator: Jennifer Manner, Deputy Bureau Chief, PSHSB) How are broadband technologies and applications being utilized in the medical services arena and what future uses are needed or are being considered for use in the medical field? What is needed to make everyday use of these technologies a reality? What are the benefits to practitioners and the public of utilizing broadband technologies and tools?

Participants:

• Larry Flournoy, Associate Director, Academy for Advanced Telecommunication and Learning Technology, Texas A & M University (DREAM Ambulance Project)
• Dr. Richard, J. Katz, Professor of Medicine, George Washington University
• Jonathan D. Linkous, Chief Executive Officer, American Telemedicine Association
• Bruce McFarlane, Deputy Director, Emergency Preparedness Initiative, National Organization on Disabilities
• Kevin McGinnis, MPS, EMT-P, Communications Technology Advisor,
Joint National EMS Leadership Conference (National Association of State EMS Officials, National Association of EMS Physicians, National Association of EMTs, National Association of EMS Educators).

Government Participants:

• Jeffery Goldthorp, Chief, Communications Systems Analysis Division, PSHSB
• Robert Kenny, Director of Media Relations, PSHSB
• Timothy Perrier, Director, FCC Operations Center, PSHSB

10:45 AM-10:55 AM—Break

10:55 AM-11:55 AM— Panel 2—Police & Fire (Moderator—David Furth, Deputy Bureau Chief, PSHSB) How are broadband technologies, including applications, utilized in the police and fire arenas and what future uses are needed or are being considered for use in these fields? What is needed to make everyday use of these technologies a reality? What are the benefits to practitioners and the public by utilizing broadband technologies and tools?

Participants:

• Randy Hughes, Bureau of Indian Affairs, (Invited)
• Bob Pavlak, Chief Engineer, Public Safety Wireless Broadband, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Government of the District of Columbia
• Eddie Reyes, Deputy Chief, Alexandria (VA) Police Department
• Tim Riley, Chief Information Officer, Bureau Chief, Los Angeles Police Department
• Greg Schaffer, Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Communications, Department of Homeland Security (Invited)
• Richard Tuma, Director of Emergency Preparedness, Waukesha, WI

Government Participants:

• Jeff Cohen, Senior Legal Counsel, PSHSB
• Jeffery Goldthorp, Chief, Communications Systems Analysis Division, PSHSB
• Tom Peters, Director, Wireless Engineering, Broadband Task Force, FCC

11:55 AM-12:10 PM—Remarks from Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker

12:10 PM-1:00 PM—Lunch

1:00 PM-1:15 PM—Remarks from Commissioner Michael J. Copps

1:15 PM-2:15 PM—Panel 3—Requirements Needed for Public Safety Mobile Wireless Network (Moderator—William Lane, Ph.D., Chief Engineer, PSHSB)

Participants:

• Paul Mankiewich, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Wireless Networks, Alcatel/Lucent
• Bob Epsom, Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Enterprise Mobility Solutions, Motorola, Inc.
• Steve Harte, Associate Commissioner, Wireless Technologies, Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, New York City
• Dennis Martinez, Ph.D., Vice President of Product Management and Engineering, Broadband and Cellular Products, Harris Corporation
• Charles Werner, Chief, Charlottesville (VA) Fire Department

Government Participants:

• Behzad Ghaffari, Senior Engineer, CSAD, PSHSB
• Walter Johnston, Chief, Electromagnetic Compatibility Division/OET
• Jon Peha, Chief Technology Officer, FCC
• Ziad Sleem Associate Division Chief - Technical Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau

2:15 PM-2:30 PM—Closing Remarks—James Arden Barnett, Jr., Chief, PSHSB