Broadband eyed for first-responders.The Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission (FCC), independent executive agency of the U.S. government established in 1934 to regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest. said commercial providers could provide solutions for an integrated, interoperable nationwide broadband network for first-responders in times of crises. In a little-heralded report to Congress released shortly before Christmas last year, the FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. said it envisions a national broadband network capable of providing, rapid-warning messages, real-time text-messaging and e-mail personnel status location, high-resolution digital images and "smart radios" that are capable of operating on multiple frequencies and multiple formats. "While commercial wireless technologies are not appropriate for every type of public safety communication, there may now be a place for commercial providers to assist public safety in securing and protecting the homeland," the congressionally mandated report said. However, it noted that a new broadband network would require increased spectrum allocations. A possible solution lies in the 700 MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. band, which will become available after the nation's conversion to digital television, now estimated to take place in 2009. The FCC said it will investigate whether that portion of the spectra could accommodate broadband. The report received input from 60 stakeholders, many from the communications industry who touted their proprietary technologies as solutions to the problem. Representatives from the Satellite Industries Association, along with Iridium iridium (ĭrĭd`ēəm), metallic chemical element; symbol Ir; at. no. 77; at. wt. 192.22; m.p. about 2,410°C;; b.p. about 4,130°C;; sp. gr. 22.55 at 20°C;; valence +3 or +4. Satellite LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control and Mobile Satellite Ventures Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) is a Reston, VA company that develops telecommunications systems that integrate satellite and terrestrial radio communication technologies into one system. Subsidiary LLC, were among the commentators who pointed out that a space-based system would be immune to the vagaries of earth-bound weather, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that knocked out commercial systems and emergency services emergency services Emergency care '…services …necessary to prevent death or serious impairment of health and, because of the danger to life or health, require the use of the most accessible hospital available and equipped to furnish those services' radio towers. ArrayComm Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. and Lucent Technologies Inc. were also among those who submitted suggestions, mostly based on their own technologies. The FCC concluded that a nationwide broadband system would most likely need a combination of terrestrial and satellite-based solutions. Along with the technical hurdles, the report reminded Congress that the human element should not be ignored. "Coordination among federal, state and local emergency response providers would need to be achieved at virtually every level for an interoperable nationwide network to deliver on its promise," according to the report. |
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