Free for all | Worth 1 CDE

Navigating the complexities of Part 90 FCC licensing can be challenging, but it’s essential for ensuring compliance and optimal operation of land mobile radio services. This comprehensive webinar is designed to guide you through Part 90 licensing, from understanding the basic requirements to mastering the application process and managing your license effectively.

Key Topics:

• Introduction to Part 90 FCC Licensing: Overview of the Part 90 regulations, including who needs a license and the types of services covered.
• Application Process: Step-by-step guide on how to prepare and submit your FCC license application.
• Frequency Coordination: Understanding the role of frequency coordinators and how to work with them to secure the necessary approvals.
• License Maintenance: Tips and best practices for keeping your license up to date and ensuring continued compliance.
• Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them: Insights into common mistakes made during the licensing process and how to avoid them.
• Q&A Session: An opportunity to ask questions and get expert advice on specific licensing concerns.

Takeaways: By the end of this webinar, you will have a thorough understanding of the Part 90 FCC licensing process and be equipped with the knowledge and tools to manage your licensing requirements confidently.

Presenter:
Amanda Bredstrup,  Spectrum Analyst, APCO International

To receive your one CDE credit, enter this webinar into Training Central under My Classes Taken > Add Continuing Education.

Recorded Feb. 1, 2024 | Free for everyone

Public safety spectrum for communications is divided and assigned across the spectral landscape. Some bands can be coordinated and assigned exclusively to agencies and their users and other bands are historically coordinated on a “shared” basis by all users. The CAPRAD database was created in 2002 specifically to serve as a coordination database and tool for RPCs for the implementation of 700 MHz public safety spectrum. Each RPC developed a plan for their respective region to best meet their user’s needs. This webinar will focus on how CAPRAD provides the support RPC’s need as well as allowing for sharing of applications and their status between and across disparate RPC’s. The webinar will also highlight how one state utilizes CAPRAD to coordinate the use of their 700 MHz State Geographic License at each of the other states that they border, states of which also use the same geographic use spectrum.

Additionally, RPC’s have been able to utilize CAPRAD for helping them coordinate National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) 800 MHz spectrum throughout their region as well. The CAPRAD database allows for real time editing for all RPC based 700 and 800 MHz channel allocations as applicants apply for channels in each respective region. APCO International, through a grant from the US Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, continues to support the maintenance and funding for the CAPRAD database as part of its ongoing CAPRAD and RPC support.

Sponsored by

This webinar will discuss and explore features of the CAPRAD database; Regional Planning Committee responsibilities and capabilities; RPC adjacent region/state approval process; RPC managed spectrum approval process; and more.

Presenters
Scott Bigham, Chair, Region 24 700, and 800 MHz Regional Planning Committees
Stephen Devine, Chief Technology Officer, APCO International

To receive your one CDE credit, enter this webinar into Training Central under My Classes Taken > Add Continuing Education.

Wednesday, July 17 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Free for everyone

On June 12 the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced the beginning of a multi-year process to revise the Standard Occupational Classification. Through this process, OMB will consider whether to change the classification of public safety telecommunicators from the administrative/clerical category to the category for Protective Service Occupations. APCO will hold a webinar July 17 to explain APCO’s strategy for providing input to OMB, how this effort relates to the 9-1-1 SAVES Act and what you can do to help ensure that OMB finally corrects this outdated classification.

Sponsored by

Presented by APCO Government Relations

To receive your one CDE credit, enter this webinar into Training Central under My Classes Taken > Add Continuing Education.

This webinar will focus on swatting hoaxes and how they impact emergency communications center (ECC) operations. Discussion topics will include how public safety telecommunicators can identify swatting calls and how departmental policies can help ECCs deal with suspected swatting incidents. Webinar participants will be from the FBI, the ECC community and APCO International.

Sponsored by

Presenters:
Brian Leblanc, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Heather McGaffin, DC Office of Unified Communications
Crystal Lawrence, APCO, Director CC9S

The demands on dispatchers today have changed significantly from a decade ago. We can safely bet the same will be true in five years as shifting community needs, new generations of dispatchers, and increasing cybersecurity threats all help rewrite the job description. Dispatch software needs to evolve to meet those challenges.

Join us as we bring together a panel of former dispatchers turned CAD software experts who have firsthand experience navigating the complexities of dispatch operations. Drawing from their experience, they’ll discuss the future of CAD systems and how to find an evergreen vendor that’s built for the future.

Sponsored by

Key takeaways include:

• Best practices around releasing new features to promote improvement without inhibiting critical operations
• Why robust customer success and support teams are a necessity for CAD vendors
• How to take a proactive approach in software with shifting government regulations

Speakers

Kristin Fetterling, Regional Practice Lead, Mark43
Amy Moulton, Principal Solutions Engineer, Mark43

P25 Link Layer Authentication (LLA) is being heard more and more frequently within the public safety communications community, but there is confusion around what it is, what it does and how it can be implemented in land mobile radio (LMR) systems. With increasing examples of criminals accessing LMR networks to monitor communications and disrupt law enforcement activities, LMR system security is critically important for both system owners and the public safety users they support. P25 LLA is an additional option to restrict system access

Join this session to learn what P25 LLA is – and is not – and how it can limit access to P25 trunked radio systems and provide an extra layer of system security and protection for critical communications networks. Panelists will share their expertise on how to protect P25 LMR networks, describe how P25 LLA can offer additional system security by verifying subscriber units before granting system access, provide real world incident use case of it working and examples of why P25 LLA is needed, and offer best practices as well as lessons learned for successful P25 LLA implementation.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand how P25 Link Layer Authentication (LLA) can provide additional system security.
• Types of P25 LLA.
• Potential benefits and impacts of adopting P25 LLA
• Lessons learned and best practices for implementing P25 LLA, particularly across multiple networks and disparate manufacturer systems.

Presenters:

• Hermina “Nina” Koshinski, Chief of Radio Operations Engineering & Support for the Pennsylvania State Police
• Scott Wright, Senior Telecommunications Engineer 2 with the Connecticut Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection
• Don Root, Project 25 Manager, APCO International

At V-COMM Telecommunications Engineering, we advocate for a proactive stance in strengthening public safety (PS) communication networks. The most efficient and successful projects all begin with a complete understanding of the environment and the desired outcomes. The current industry push is for ERCES deployments to support in-building communications for public safety agencies, but this can lead to adverse effects on the radio network if they are not properly deployed. In our discussion, we unveil a collection of best practices for testing, designing and deploying ERCES to enhance in-building coverage, but not degrade the LMR network. Our presentation highlights the critical need for public safety stakeholders to take definitive actions to safeguard their communication systems and their communities.

Sponsored by

Key Takeaways:

• Recognizing the importance of obtaining final approval from the frequency license holders, alongside necessary coordination with Authority Having Jurisdictions (AHJs), to eliminate uncertainty from your network’s operations.
• What information should be provided to system designers to ensure an effective design.
• Going beyond the fire code by integrating additional essential elements for a comprehensive, fortified ERCES.
• Defining equipment requirements to ensure seamless integration with the LMR network.
• Why being involved in all stages of development from design through deployment is important.
• What is required from building owners and integrators post-deployment.
• Reviewing V-COMM’s ERCES Deployment Checklist tailored for Public Safety stakeholders to guide system integrators on all necessary data to support an interference-free system.

Speakers:
David Stern, Vice President, V-COMM
Michael Webster, Director of Enterprise Network Engineering, V-COMM
Justin Day, Director of Enterprise Network Engineering, V-COMM

February 2, 2024 |  Free for everyone.

The problem of in-building wireless “dead zones”; areas where outdoor wireless signals are unable to penetrate inside buildings – has been a known and growing problem for decades. The proliferation of energy-efficient material that block or strongly attenuate radio signals, combined with the use of higher and higher frequencies, has made the problem worse in recent years. Signal boosters for in-building wireless coverage enhancement have been deployed worldwide for decades to address these “dead zones”. Since 2009, the International Fire Code and International Building Code have required that buildings be tested for code-compliant coverage and, where deficient, have solutions installed to correct the problem. Use of signal boosters is governed by FCC 47 CFR Part 20 and Part 90, addressing commercial cellular and land mobile radio (LMR) frequencies.

As more and more signal boosters have been deployed, there has been a rise in noise floor and interference problems. Root causes include: poor design; need for improved industry and jurisdiction education and training; proper adherence to FCC rules; under-defined or documented processes and standards; and a lack of coordination between local jurisdiction code enforcement teams and radio system operators (frequency license holders).

Sponsored by

This webinar will discuss and explore the current state of signal booster use; applicable FCC rules and related fire codes; root causes of current challenges; best practices for standards, requirements, processes, and testing; and ideas and outlook for an improved future.

Speaker:  John Foley, Managing Director, Safer Buildings Coalition (SBC)