Public-safety network gets trial run at Republican convention

For the telecom world, the biggest lesson of the GOP convention wasn’t political — it was that a nationwide interoperable broadband network could actually work.

The convention in Tampa, Fla., marked the first time law enforcement personnel were able to use the type of system envisioned by policymakers since the Sept. 11 attacks highlighted critical weaknesses in first-responder communications. Vendors and public safety officials hope the lessons can be applied nationwide.

The communications system used during the convention, which relied on several vendors and often used off-the-shelf technology, allowed coordination for the public safety network over some 15 jurisdictions, all for a high-profile event that had the added complication of a passing hurricane, public safety and industry officials involved in the effort told POLITICO.

Sgt. Dale Moushon of the St. Petersburg Police Department intelligence unit said it allowed police to operate faster and more efficiently than they could have using their old-style primary system.

“From an operational perspective, it’s huge,” Moushon said. “To be able to communicate that much data with the Tampa P.D. or the Clearwater P.D. is a huge help.”

Moushon said the network put law enforcement on the same footing as the bad guys who now use all the fancy, high-tech gear that is commercially available. Police officers in departments like his often use their own personal equipment for texting and other such applications, even though it’s unsecured.

“I could text the same information to the next jurisdiction, but it’s off the grid,” Moushon said.

A consortium of companies, including Cisco, Raytheon, Nokia Siemens Networks, Reality Mobile and Amdocs proved for the first time in Tampa that the multivendor interoperable Public Safety LTE network could work.

It also was the first time federal, state and local first responders have simultaneously used a 700-MHz D-block broadband network for what is called a National Special Security Event. The network was deployed under special temporary authority from the Federal Communications Commission.

In effect, it provided a field trial of a multivendor integrated LTE system in advance of the $7 billion deployment of the National Public Safety Broadband Network, said Kevin McFadden, Cisco’s customer solutions and business development manager.

“It was a first look at First Net,” McFadden said. “It helps us understand where First Net needs to go.”

The new First Responder Network Authority is an independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration that will hold the spectrum license for the network, and is charged with taking “all actions necessary” to build, deploy and operate the network, in consultation with federal, state, tribal and local public safety entities, and other key stakeholders.

“Communications is critical during such a large-scale event as the Republican National Convention,” 2012 Republican National Convention CEO William Harris said in a statement. “Thanks to our partners and official providers, we had complete interoperability between the convention leadership team and our security planning partners on the federal, state and local levels, which allowed us to have a safe and successful event.”

Using the system, security officials were able to get a high-definition look at a parking citation and use facial recognition to determine that a rowdy individual was just that.

“To be able to see that in HD quality in real time allowed the detective to determine there was not a threat and move on,” Harris said. “This just opens up a world of [possibilities] for the cop on the street for what the technology can do.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81309