By Dave Buchanan, FirstNet Director of State Consultation

In the 14 consultation meetings that FirstNet has conducted to date, we have learned a lot about state- and territory-specific needs for the deployment and operation of a nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN). Throughout this process, we have collected real world examples that have helped us understand how first responders currently use broadband in their day-to-day operations, as well as how the technology could have been useful if it was available on a dedicated basis during an emergency.

At our meeting In Texas on February 11-12, a number of public safety representatives provided several examples over the course of the two-day consultation using photographs, video, and first-hand testimonials to assist FirstNet with better understanding their emergency communications capabilities and needs. This included natural disasters – such as the Possum Kingdom Lake Fire, the north Texas ice storm, wildfires and house fires, Hurricanes Ike and Rita – as well as large public gatherings and the response to the Space Shuttle Columbia explosion in 2003.

Todd Early, the Texas single point of contact (SPOC), kicked off the meeting with an overview of the state’s landscape and a recap of its FirstNet-related initiatives. Todd also did an effective job at explaining the challenges that the state foresees with the planning and deployment of the NPSBN, while emphasizing the importance of FirstNet’s mission. In addition, a number of state and local public safety representatives used multimedia tools to demonstrate key communications needs across the state, including:

Bastrop County Complex Wildfire: Steven Long and Jim Allen described the most destructive fire in the history of Texas, which affected more than 34,000 acres. During the response, air card and data were unusable, cellular service was at capacity and disabled, landlines were overwhelmed, and the SMS and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems were functioning, but at times were over capacity. Steve and Jim also discussed how having priority access, geo-fencing, and access to pictures for situational awareness could have helped the responders that came from across the country to assist in the response.

West Texas Explosion: City of Woodway Chief Yost Zakhary recounted the April 17, 2013 west Texas fertilizer plant explosion. He emphasized how a dedicated broadband network could have improved situational awareness, helped inform public safety personnel, and enhanced the experiences of many public safety personnel from various disciplines that responded to the explosion, including police, fire, emergency medical services (EMS), and emergency management. As the past president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), he also stressed the importance of having a dedicated network that provides priority use for those responders.

Harris County: Shing Lin, Harris County Director of Mobility Services, shared lessons learned from the buildout of its “Early Builder” LTE public safety network. He explained how planning is critical, especially when it comes to the business model, funding and operating costs, deployment, and location. In addition, he emphasized how education and outreach are important to the successful implementation of the network.

Operation Strong Safety: Texas DPS Regional Commander Joe Rodriguez explained how the program conducts sustainable around-the-clock multi-agency (ground, air, marine) operations to address key border issues, including Mexican cartels, transnational gangs, criminal aliens, potential terrorists, and drug trafficking. He shared multiple videos and pictures of issues in the field and discussed how the NPSBN could improve communications for this type of program.

Brazos County LTE in Action: Lieutenant Thomas Randall discussed Brazos County’s unique landscape, which includes the City of Bryan and Texas A&M University in College Station, and covers 585 square miles with varying terrain. He also addressed key future communications needs of the county’s public safety community, such as the further development of interactive video, the ability to access IP-based camera systems, and the use of live video streams with wearable camera information.

In addition to these impactful real-world examples, the consultation meeting also featured:

• 160 participants, including public safety representatives from seven other states (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Oklahoma);
• Discussion about the results of a recent survey the state conducted about FirstNet. Among the 1,126 responses:
  • Almost 90 percent said they believe mobile data is important to the future of public safety;
  • Almost 50 percent were “confident” that the NPSBN would be deployed;
  • Respondents listed timing, funding, cost, education, and rural deployment as the top challenges facing the NPSBN in Texas.
• Review of the new website that the state recently launched to help with FirstNet outreach and planning: www.TxLTE.com;
• Presentations on NG9-1-1 and the Texas Rural Strategic Advisory Group’s outreach efforts.

Thanks to Todd and the Texas team for a very productive and informative two-day meeting,

-Dave