The Public Safety Technology Council addresses the challenges facing cities and counties as they seek to improve service delivery through the deployment of new public safety technologies.

Chair
Kent Koehler
Senior Project Manager, Division of Information and Operations
Sedgwick County, KS

Vice Chair
Wesley Reid, Director
Guilford Metro 9-1-1
1201 Coliseum Blvd.
Greensboro, NC 27403
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
336-373-2122 Office, 336-373-4753 Fax

PTI Staff Member
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Assistant Executive Director for Research and Government Services

03-03-2010     Send a link     Topics:  Council Leadership  Public Safety Technology     Print version

The Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) interposes a central FEMA facility between emergency alert originators such as local governments, and wireless providers (CMSPs) who forward the messages to citizens’ mobile devices.

Key materials concerning CMAS and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) are on the FCC website at this link.

Text of FCC Report and Order Establishing CMAS [PDF]
This document prescribes the coverage area and specifications of CMAS alerts, and addresses commenters who filed questions and objections to the CMAS proposal.

FEMA Letter to FCC [PDF]
This February 2008 letter from FEMA to the FCC explains that FEMA does not have statutory authority “during non-emergency periods to develop, implement, operate or maintain elements of the CMAS that regard alerts, warnings or notifications originated by State and Local authorities.” The agency asked the FCC to delay CMAS until such legal issues are resolved.

FEMA Takes Aggregator/Gateway Role for Nationwide Alert System
After declining to become the central gatekeeper for emergency alerts to wireless customers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has reversed position and will accept this role.

IPAWS Page of the FEMA National Continuity Program Directorate

CMAS Forum

08-11-2010     Send a link     Topics:  Web Management & E-Government  Public Safety Technology     Print version

A key element in mounting effective responses to biological attacks is effective and efficient information sharing. While this is especially true in the initial hours after detection, oftentimes uncertainty about the detection and jurisdictional responsibilities complicate the process.

Read more    04-06-2010

Promotes collaboration on technology, information sharing initiatives

Ashburn, VA, Apr. 6, 2010: The IJIS Institute, a nonprofit organization that focuses on mission-critical information sharing for justice, public safety and homeland security, welcomes Public Technology Institute (PTI) as its newest Alliance Partner.

Read more    04-06-2010

PTI’s Public Safety Technology Council focuses on developing and applying practical approaches to the utilization of technology in the public safety arena.

It includes leadership teams associated with police, fire protection, emergency response, corrections and other public safety officials in localities across the nation.

Read more    02-18-2010

Produced by PTI for the Public Safety Foundation of America, this paper serves as a resource on critical application needs for public safety pertaining to the D-block of the 700 MHz spectrum.

When and how the 700 MHz D Block is ultimately allocated is critical to the deployment of advanced public-safety applications.

This spectrum band is exceptionally well suited for the new and demanding requirements of a new generation of video/data/voice devices.

Download this white paper

01-01-2010     Send a link     Topics:  Public Safety Technology  Public Safety Technology     Print version

A Guide to Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources Protection at the State, Regional, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Level

This Department of Homeland Security publication helps interpret the requirements of the U.S. National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) at non-Federal levels and outlines the attributes, capabilities, needs, and processes that a state or other governmental entity should include in establishing its own Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources protection function so that it integrates with the NIPP.

Published September 2008. PTI makes this publication available at no charge on Scribd.

View and download this item now

08-24-2009     Send a link     Topics:  Public Safety Technology     Print version

A soft-cover full-color edition of the PTI publication Local Government Energy Assurance Guidelines is now available for $33.49 on Amazon.com at this link.

The publication helps city and county officials to address energy assurance and security concerns for mission-critical government facilities.

"Protecting and enhancing the resiliency of the energy sector from natural and human-caused disasters requires local governments to be vigilant and aware of the interdependencies of the system," said PTI executive director Alan Shark.

Read more    06-15-2009

PTI Staff Contact: Alan Shark, 202-626-2445.

On April 22, 2009, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced a partnership between its frequency coordination subsidiary, APCO-AFC, and PTI.

APCO-AFC will provide support to PTI’s local government entity and agency members. Specifically, APCO-AFC will provide frequency coordination, engineering and licensing services, and licensing management to PTI’s Private Land Mobile Radio (CFR47, Part 90) licensees.

Read more    04-23-2009

This Congressional Research Service report is an excellent backgrounder on the threat of High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and High Power Microwave (HPM) devices on the national infrastructure including the electrical grid, computing and communication networks.

It summarizes the Sage / Instant Access Networks study of EMP damage and recovery times in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore-Richmond metropolitan area. PTI makes the report of that study available separately at this link.

Members: Read more    07-24-2008

This initial Kansas Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) has been developed to educate interested partners on the status of communications planning throughout Kansas.

The Kansas SCIP is in the early stages of development, and as such should not be considered as complete as it will be at the point of implementation.

Members: Read more    07-17-2008

A 64-page Congressional report, released in May 2008, examines homeland security challenges for mass gatherings.

It details 30 recommendations for what should be done by federal, state and local governments and the private sector to protect the public should an act of terrorism or disaster occur.

The recommendations focus on countering biological terrorism and other threats to human health, planning for emergencies and sharing information and resources.

Download this item now [PDF]

05-27-2008     Send a link     Topics:  Public Safety Technology     Print version

Initial Economic Assessment of Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Impact upon the Baltimore-Washington-Richmond Region
by Sage Policy Group, published by Instant Access Networks LLC

This impact assessment concludes that an EMP attack affecting the Baltimore-Washington- Richmond region would result in economic output loss potentially exceeding $770 billion, or 7 percent of the nation’s annual gross domestic product.

Members: Read more    09-10-2007

Successful Response Starts with a Map:
Improving Geospatial Support for Disaster Management

Committee on Planning for Catastrophe:
A Blueprint for Improving Geospatial Data, Tools, and Infrastructure
Mapping Science Committee, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources
Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council

This report is about the maps that are an essential part of search-and-rescue operations.

Read more    08-24-2007

The following is a successful application for Innovation Lab recognition.

City of Tallahassee, Florida Public Safety Systems Integration Project

Members: Read more    08-01-2007

Denver, CO, Sunday, May 6, 2007

Members: Read more    05-07-2007

Presented by EPA National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) at PTI’s 2007 Technology Leadership Conference, Denver, CO.

NHSRC expertise and products are used to prevent, prepare for and recover from public health and environmental emergencies arising from terrorist threats and incidents.

This presentation describes NHSRC structure, facilities and programs.

Members: Read more    05-06-2007

Introduction to EMP All-Hazards Public Safety Planning and Emerging Requirements for 911 Emergency Communications Centers by Charles L. Manto, Instant Access Networks LLC

Read more    05-31-2006