Reference Materials
Reference Materials are documents, files, or intellectual property that are consulted frequently for general information regarding a process or a definition of a term, or background information on a subject.
- 4/3/2008
- 700 MHz Spectrum Band Plan
- In July 2007, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revised the 700 MHz band plan and service rules to promote the creation
of a nationwide interoperable broadband network for public safety and to facilitate the availability of new and innovative
wireless broadband services for consumers.
- 4/3/2008
- 800 MHz Spectrum Rebanding Extensions
- 10/30/2008
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Hurricane Public Announcements and Podcasts in Accessible Formats
- CDC Hurricane PSAs and Podcasts provide timely and accessible messages about protection from hurricanes.
- 1/23/2009
- Communications Sector Coordinating Council (CSCC)
- The CSCC fosters and facilitates the coordination of sector-wide activities and initiatives designed to improve physical and
cyber security of the critical infrastructures and related information flow within the sector, cross-sector and with DHS.
- 10/30/2008
- Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN): Emergency Responder Video
- The CEPIN project aims to broaden the scope of awareness and preparedness between first responders and deaf and hard-of-hearing
persons prior to the occurrence of natural and man-made disasters. This video informs first responders on the most appropriate
methods of communicating with deaf or hard-of-hearing persons during an emergency.
- 4/3/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 1: Interoperability
- This first Tech Topic looks at the fundamental precepts of interoperability, that is, at what it means and how it is achieved.
- 4/3/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 2: Internet Protocol (IP) Based Interoperability
- This Tech Topic looks at the technical issues surrounding IP-based network interoperability.
- 4/3/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 3: Physical Layer Interoperability
- This Tech Topic looks at the physical layer (Layer 1) of the OSI model and suggests a method for creating interoperable networks.
- 4/3/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 4: Software Defined Radio
- This Tech Topic continues the discussion of interoperability by suggesting a third alternative. By configuring a flexible
radio architecture to meet the transmission characteristics of the desired network, interoperability among an entire class
of new radios as well as existing radios can be achieved.
- 4/3/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 5: Issues of Software Defined Radio Implementations for Public Safety
- This Tech Topic discusses issues relevant to software-defined radio systems.
- 4/3/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 6: Standard for Interoperable Gateways
- This Tech Topic ooks at the recent Department of Homeland Security announcement that establishes a standard for interoperable
gateways.
- 4/21/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 7: Core Concepts and Software Defined Radio for Public Safety
- In this Tech Topic, we return to consider some of the basic precepts of public safety communications systems while at the
same time advocating the potential strengths of software defined radio (SDR) in meeting the demands of public safety communications.
- 6/3/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 8: Cognitive Radio for Public Safety
- This Tech Topic continues the discussion from our previous Tech Topic # 7 regarding software radio in a public safety application,
and expands on the application to take advantage of the flexibility and adaptability of software defined radio (SDR).
- 6/4/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 9: Cognitive Radio Potential for Public Safety
- This Tech Topic expands on the discussion of software defined radio (SDR) and the future development of cognitive radio.
- 7/14/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 10: License-Exempt Wireless Applications for Public Safety
- A number of public safety agencies are turning to license-exempt spectrum as an alternative or complementary means of providing
broadband communications support. This Tech Topic addresses the basic concepts for the use of license-exempt spectrum in
addition to considering the issues this approach presents for the public safety community.
- 8/21/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 11: WiMAX Applications for Public Safety
- This Tech Topic addresses the basic concepts of WiMAX and suggests how the improvements over Wi-Fi make WiMAX a viable candidate
for use by public safety agencies.
- 9/22/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 12: National Interoperability Channels
- This Tech Topic addresses the Federal Interoperability Channels and the non-Federal Nationwide Mutual Aid Channels, and reiterates
their importance.
- 10/23/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 13: Amateur Radio Service Support to Public Safety Communications
- This Tech Topic addresses the voluntary services provided by amateur operators and discusses the amateur organizations along
with their relationships with public safety jurisdictions.
- 12/2/2008
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 14: Diversity, Redundancy, and Resiliency - in that Order
- This Tech Topic returns to an earlier discussion in Tech Topic #7 (Core Concepts and Software Defined Radio for Public Safety)
and to the core precepts for public safety communications.
- 1/6/2009
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 15: Outage Reporting Systems
- This Tech Topic addresses situations when communications fail, including situations where there are network failures that
affect redundancy, but do not result in a loss of service to the end-user. Also, it introduces the systems that are used
by the FCC to document large scale outages and how these reports are used to form the basis for analysis of overall system
performance.
- 2/4/2009
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 16: Narrow Banding Public Safety Communication Channels
- This Tech Topic presents a cursory view of the FCC's efforts to enhance public safety spectral efficiency by moving to narrower
channel allocations.
- 3/11/2009
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 17: Propagation Characterization
- This Tech Topic acquaints readers with the basic precepts of radio frequency signal propagation and to provide an appreciation
for the effects that frequency of operation and separation distance between the radios have on the propagation characteristics
and the quality of communications.
- 4/29/2009
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 18: Priority Telecommunications Services
- This topic introduces three priority service programs, established by the Federal government, to provide prioritized system
access for designated users or to allow for prioritized installation/restoration of services.
- 5/21/2009
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 19: Communications Interdependencies
- In this Tech Topic, we discuss the any number of interdependencies that could threaten one of the key components of our critical
national infrastructure, the communications sector.
- 1/21/2010
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 20: Cyber Security and Communications
- 1/21/2010
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 21: Emergency Alert System
- 3/2/2010
- Chief Engineer's Tech Topic 22: Application of Emerging Wireless Broadband Technology for Public Safety Communications
- 10/30/2008
- Chicago Fire Department Fire Safety Booklet
- The Chicago Fire Department has a paper registration form for persons with disabilities. A completed registration form is
mailed to CFD headquarters, where it is loaded into a PSAP database. If a 9-1-1 call is placed from the registered disabled
person's home, first responders are notified that an inhabitant has a disability.
- 10/30/2008
- City of Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Handbook for Persons with Disabilities
- This 33-page guide prepared by the Los Angeles Department on Disability provides guidance for persons with disabilities for
a variety of emergency situations. It also includes information about the care and protection of service animals. The publication
includes sample forms to document emergency contacts and important medical information to communicate to others.
- 10/30/2008
- Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS)
- In 2008, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules establishing the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) whereby
commercial mobile service (CMS) providers may choose to transmit emergency alerts to their subscribers. Under the Commission's
rules, CMS providers that choose to transmit alerts over the CMAS must include an audio attention signal and vibration cadence
in their handsets in order to let subscribers with disabilities know when they have received such alerts.
- 4/10/2008
- Communications Sector Specific Plan
- The Communications SSP describes a collaborative effort among the private sector, Federal Government, and State governments
to protect the Nation_s Communications Infrastructure. This collaboration will result in the assessment of risk to the communications
architecture and its functions that will help prioritize protection initiatives and investments within the sector and aid
the identification of critical assets against specific threats.
- 8/20/2008
- Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Radio Training
- 12/22/2008
- Congressional Action Needed to Ensure Agencies Collaborate to Develop a Joint Solution (2008)
- A report from the Government Accountability Office states that top government agencies responsible for developing a nationwide
federal wireless communications service for use by first responders are no longer coordinating with each other.
- 5/12/2009
- DHS Achieves Interoperable Communications Milestone (May 2009)
- 10/30/2008
- DisabilityInfo.gov
- DisabilityInfo.gov provides quick and easy access to comprehensive information about disability programs, services, laws and
benefits.
- 8/26/2010
- Disability Preparedness
- 10/30/2008
- DisasterAssistance.gov
- Information and services for individuals, families, and businesses needing disaster recovery assistance.
- 4/3/2008
- E911 Phase 2 Accuracy Definition Modification Proposal (Motorola) [Adobe]
- This is an archived presentation related to the technical issues involved in the implementation of the performance and accuracy
standards for Phase II Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") technologies that was deployed as part of E911 service beginning
October 1, 2001.
- 4/3/2008
- E911 Phase 2 Accuracy Definition Modification Proposal (Motorola) [PowerPoint]
- This is an archived presentation related to the technical issues involved in the implementation of the performance and accuracy
standards for Phase II Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") technologies that was deployed as part of E911 service beginning
October 1, 2001.
- 4/3/2008
- E911 Phase 2 Location Solution (IDC)
- This is an archived presentation related to the technical issues involved in the implementation of the performance and accuracy
standards for Phase II Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") technologies that was deployed as part of E911 service beginning
October 1, 2001.
- 4/3/2008
- E911 Phase 2 Location Solution (IDC)
- This is an archived presentation related to the technical issues involved in the implementation of the performance and accuracy
standards for Phase II Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") technologies that was deployed as part of E911 service beginning
October 1, 2001.
- 4/3/2008
- E911 Phase 2 Location Solution (KSI)
- This is an archived presentation related to the technical issues involved in the implementation of the performance and accuracy
standards for Phase II Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") technologies that was deployed as part of E911 service beginning
October 1, 2001.
- 4/3/2008
- E911 Phase 2 Location Solution (KSI)
- This is an archived presentation related to the technical issues involved in the implementation of the performance and accuracy
standards for Phase II Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") technologies that was deployed as part of E911 service beginning
October 1, 2001.
- 4/3/2008
- E911 Phase 2 Location Solution (SnapTrack)
- This is an archived presentation related to the technical issues involved in the implementation of the performance and accuracy
standards for Phase II Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") technologies that was deployed as part of E911 service beginning
October 1, 2001.
- 4/3/2008
- E911 Phase 2 Location Solution (SnapTrack)
- This is an archived presentation related to the technical issues involved in the implementation of the performance and accuracy
standards for Phase II Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") technologies that was deployed as part of E911 service beginning
October 1, 2001.
- 4/3/2008
- E911 Phase 2 Location Solution Landscape
- This is an archived presentation related to the technical issues involved in the implementation of the performance and accuracy
standards for Phase II Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") technologies that was deployed as part of E911 service beginning
October 1, 2001.
- 4/3/2008
- E911 Phase 2 Location Solution Landscape
- This is an archived presentation related to the technical issues involved in the implementation of the performance and accuracy
standards for Phase II Automatic Location Identification ("ALI") technologies that was deployed as part of E911 service beginning
October 1, 2001.
- 7/29/2008
- Emergency Communication and Information Issues in Terrorist Events Involving Radioactive Materials
- This article reports findings from an ongoing study of risk communication issues in nuclear/radiological terrorism situations.
It is a larger part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded effort that aims to better understand communication
challenges associated with weapons of mass destruction terrorism incidents.
- 4/3/2008
- Factsheet: FCC Wireless 911 Requirements
- 10/30/2008
- Federal Communications Commission Disability Rights Office (DRO)
- The FCC's DRO provides information on FCC rulings to make telecommunications service accessible for persons with disabilities.
- 3/9/2010
- FCC Preparedness for Major Public Emergencies (pdf)
- This Chairman's 30-day review is a comprehensive report on FCC's preparedness for major public emergencies. It also marks
the beginning of a new era of watchfulness and preparation at the FCC. (2009)
- 7/29/2008
- Influenza Preparedness Pandemic Plan (OmniTel Communications)
- 9/8/2010
- FEMA
- Special Needs Require Special Preparation
- 3/18/2010
- FEMA - National Response Framework Resource Center
- Principles that enable all response partners to prepare for and provide a unified national response to disasters and emergencies
.
- 10/30/2008
- Interactive Map: Local Disability & Emergency Preparedness Resources
- The NOD has created an interactive map which provides an accessible, interactive directory of federal, regional, state, and
local disability-related emergency management resources. The map contains information on regional branches of FEMA and ADA
& IT Technical Assistance Centers, Governors' websites and state disability resource agencies, a directory of independent
living councils by state, Citizen Corps and American Red Cross Chapters, as well as links to State and local Emergency Management
Agencies. Click on the map or the link below to be directed to NOD's website for more information.
- 7/30/2008
- Master PSAP Registry
- The Registry lists PSAPs by an FCC assigned identification number, PSAP Name, State, County, City, and provides information
on any type of record change and the reason for updating the record. The Commission updates the Registry periodically as it
receives additional information.
- 5/7/2010
- National Diversity Assurance Initiative
- The intent of the Initiative was to explore and research the possibility of circuit route diversity assurance for critical
National Security / Emergency Preparedness circuits across multiple service providers.
- 9/9/2009
- National Incident Management System (NIMS) Resource Center
- NIMS establishes standardized incident management processes, protocols, and procedures that first responders can use to coordinate
and conduct emergency response actions.
- 4/10/2008
- National Infrastructure Protection Plan
- The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) provides the unifying structure for the integration of critical infrastructures
and key resources (CI/KR) protection efforts into a single National program. The NIPP provides an overall framework for integrating
programs and activities that are under way in the various sectors, as well as new and developing CI/KR protection efforts.
The NIPP includes 17 Sector-Specific Plans (SSPs) that detail the application of the overall risk management framework to
each specific sector.
- 10/30/2008
- National Organization on Disability (NOD), Emergency Preparedness Initiative: Prepare Yourself - Disaster Readiness Tips for
People with Disabilities
- This pamphlet contains resources on disaster preparation and readiness tips specific to different types of disabilities.
- 10/30/2008
- National Organization on Disability (NOD) Releases Findings of its Special Needs Rapid Assessment Teams for Hurricane Katrina
- The National Organization on Disability released the findings of its Special Needs for Katrina Evacuees (SNAKE) Project in
2005. SNAKE teams were deployed throughout the Gulf region to perform rapid assessments of the special needs and living conditions
of Katrina survivors with disabilities.
- 10/30/2008
- National Weather Service: Special-Needs NOAA Weather radio
- The special-needs NOAA Weather Radio was designed to adapt to the needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The Weather
Radio can warn such persons of hazardous conditions, giving them around-the-clock, up-to-the-minute weather information.
- 4/3/2008
- NENA Model Recommendation - Evacuation Checklist
- This checklist is an appendix to NENA Model Recommendation for Disaster and Contingency Plans (June 2005).
- 4/3/2008
- NENA OID - Hazard Checklist
- This checklist is an appendix to NENA Resource Analysis Operations Information Document (March 2007).
- 4/3/2008
- NENA OID - Hazard Profile
- This worksheet is an appendix to NENA Resource Analysis Operations Information Document (March 2007).
- 4/3/2008
- NENA OID - Risk Assessment
- This worksheet is an appendix to NENA Resource Analysis Operations Information Document (March 2007).
- 4/3/2008
- NENA OID - Risk Index
- This worksheet is an appendix to NENA Resource Analysis Operations Information Document (March 2007).
- 4/3/2008
- NENA OID - Vulnerability Analysis
- This chart is an appendix to NENA Resource Analysis Operations Information Document (March 2007).
- 10/19/2009
- Oklahoma Weather Alert Remote Notification service (OK-WARN)
- This webpage provides information about OK-WARN, which assists persons with hearing impairments better access to weather information.
- 10/30/2008
- Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO): Recommendations for the Care of Mentally or Physically Challenged Persons, and the
Elderly in Emergencies
- PAHO offers these guidelines to first responders and community leaders for anticipating the needs of persons with disabilities
in a disaster.
- 6/13/2008
- Portable Radio Best Practices - International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
- Portable Radio Best Practices - International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
- 4/3/2008
- Revised 700 MHz Band Plan for Commercial Services
- In the 700 MHz Second Report and Order, the Commission established a single nationwide Public Safety Broadband License (PSBL)
for the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum. The PSBL will have priority access to the commercial spectrum in times
of emergency, and the commercial licensee will have preemptible, secondary access to the public safety broadband spectrum.
- 4/3/2008
- Revised 700 MHz Band Plan for Public Safety Services
- In the 700 MHz Second Report and Order, the Commission established a single nationwide Public Safety Broadband License (PSBL)
for the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum. The PSBL will have priority access to the commercial spectrum in times
of emergency, and the commercial licensee will have preemptible, secondary access to the public safety broadband spectrum.
- 5/6/2008
- Science and Technology: A Foundation for Homeland Security
- Office of Science and Technology Policy, April 2005. This document details the numerous accomplishments of science and technology
that have helped to secure the homeland. This document builds upon the National Strategy for Homeland Security, released by
the President on July 16, 2002, which set forth a sound framework to reduce America's vulnerability and to respond with improved
agility and effectiveness to future terrorist attacks.
- 2/19/2009
- A Technique for Determining Radio-signal Propagation in an Emulated Wireless Environment (2008)
- A pre-computed technique using software library Terrain-Integrated Rough-Earth Model to improve precision and
speed for determining wireless links in an emulated wireless environment. The technique was developed by Brian Luu of the
FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau when he was working at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory.
- 12/25/2008
- Template for Creating a Tab-Delimited File for DIRS
- 1/7/2011
- Tower and Antenna Siting Issues
- Facilities constructed for FCC licensees are required to comply with the FCC's environmental rules that can be found on Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau's Facility Siting Page.