APCO Emerging Technology Forum Toronto, Canada

Transcription

1 APCO Emerging Technology Forum Toronto, Canada Barry H. Luke National Public Safety Telecommunications Council - NPSTC Eric Torunski Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group - CITIG

2 Summary Cross Border Landscape Review of U.S. & Canadian Proceedings Current Issues Progress To Date Future Action Needed 2

3 Vermont & Quebec Church Street Derby Line, Vermont Rue Church Stanstead, Quebec 3

4 B.C & Washington State 0 Avenue Canada Border between U.S. and Canada Blaine, WA USA 4

5 Blue Water International Bridge Connects Sarnia in Ontario, Canada & Port Huron, Michigan Second busiest international crossing between U.S. and Canada (Detroit/Windsor is 1 st ) 4.9 million border crossings a year May 13, 2014; 270 pounds of cocaine seized Multiple public safety border crossings daily primarily EMS 5

6 Lac-Megantic Train Derailment Disaster Eastern Townships of Quebec on July 6, car freight train derailed, carrying Bakken formation crude oil 42 people were killed and 30 buildings were destroyed Fire Departments were waved through the border crossing 6

7 U.S./Canadian Spectrum Agreements 1. Spectrum Usage (1951 treaty) In 1951 through an exchange of notes the CONVENTION BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RELATING TO THE OPERATION BY CITIZENS OF EITHER COUNTRY OF CERTAIN RADIO EQUIPMENT OR STATIONS IN THE OTHER COUNTRY 2. Spectrum Management (1962 treaty) Coordination and Use of Radio Frequencies Above 30 Megacycles per Second was effected by an exchange of notes at Ottawa on October 24,

8 1951 Treaty Language 8

9 1962 Treaty Language The licensing of U.S. radio stations using frequencies above 30 MHz and located along the U.S./Canada border is governed by coordination procedures set forth in a 1962 Treaty with Canada titled "Coordination and Use of Radio Frequencies Above 30 MHz" or the "Above 30 MHz Agreement" or "Agreement" Defines the coordination zones along borders of approximately 120 km or 75 miles Defines frequencies to be coordinated Sets the frame work for the exchange of technical information, and on-air-testing Exchange of frequency data to promote compatible operation and minimize interference. 9

10 2009 Cross Border Meeting Niagara Falls, New York FCC & Industry Canada attended a meeting in Ottawa in May 2009 where the 1952 Convention was discussed. The U.S. delegation proposed to Canada that consideration be given to amending the 1952 Convention to add language which would permit the sharing arrangements discussed at the Niagara Falls meeting. The new language would specifically address hand-held units and would permit users in one country to access base stations in the other country. Representatives from Canada agreed to look into the process of seeking authority to amend the 1952 Convention and all delegates agreed to investigate the possibility to adopt the provisions on a temporary basis. The FCC pledged to investigate whether it is appropriate to reference the convention in Section of the rules which details the provisions under which facilities in the private land mobile radio service may be shared. 10

11 2009 Strategy Spectrum Usage (1951 treaty) ARTICLE II Summary Language The respective countries agree that mobile radio stations properly licensed in one country are permitted to be operated in the territory of the other country (a) Mobile radio units installed in public safety vehicles 11

12 2009 Strategy The U.S. will promote an Exchange of Letters with the Canadian Government. This approach is faster than an actual treaty modification The Exchange of letters would modify the terms of the Treaty. Portable radio usage would be allowed. Existing treaty language allows authorized user from Country A to roam into Country B and continue to access their radio system. Solutions for the following three operating conditions will be acknowledged in the document: 12

13 Scenario 1 Operation of mobile and/or portable radio transceivers on the other side of the border in the direct (non-repeater mode) Canada United States 13

14 Scenario 2 Use of base station repeaters on the other side of the border to interoperate with public safety officials in the other country. 14

15 Scenario 3 Use of base station repeaters on the other side of the border to communicate with public safety officials in their own country. 15

16 2010 Canada U.S. DHS Cross Border Interoperable Communications Workshop Workshop Proceedings 16

17 Progress To Date 17

18 Progress To Date DHS-OEC has been working though its Regional Coordinators to identify cross border opportunities, best practices and demonstration projects. The CANUS Working Group is focusing on Federal to Federal cross border issues. Data Sharing via applications Radio IP Gateway connections between border enforcement teams. Demonstration projects embedded in the annual CAUSE exercises. 18

19 Progress To Date CITIG & NPSTC involved in both the 2009 and 2010 Cross Border workshops. CITIG recognized gap remained and included Cross Border issues as part of its 2012 program Application made for grant to support these initiatives 19

20 Recommendations from Sixth National Workshop Recommendations included: Continue to look at 10 priority areas identified in 2010 Look at ways to overcome regulatory prohibitions for fire & paramedics to cross borders (police primarily via IBET Teams) Need more joint planning between Canada and the US Identify common applications/inventory/initiative map MOU toolkit Leverage CITIG to inform people 20

21 Progress To Date During 2013 hosted six cross border workshops Sarnia, Ontario Lethbridge, Alberta St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec St. Stephen, New Brunswick Abbotsford, British Columbia Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Findings were reported at 2013 Annual CITIG-Seven 21

22 Regional Workshop Goals Increase awareness of the issue of cross-border public safety interoperability Present information on some of the various interoperability programs and projects currently taking place in Canada, the U.S. and regionally Obtain feedback from local participants about the current cross-border interoperability situation, opportunities for information-sharing and outline next steps Discuss next steps relevant to interoperability strategic planning in the region Make both Canada and the U.S. safer! 22

23 CITIG 7 Recommendations Continue acting upon previous recommendations (i.e., look at ways to overcome regulatory prohibitions for responders to cross borders) Look into the Blue/VLAW31 channel being used out west or additional analog frequencies for multi-agency cross border communications SOP development of policies, partners, and use of cross border communications during major events Realistic cross border exercises held to establish the if s, maybe s, and oh really actions Recognize that Interoperability starts and ends with people 23

24 Progress To Date FCC and Industry Canada working on solutions for the 3 scenarios: #1: Units crossing the border and maintaining communications #2: Base station across the border to support mutual aid #3: Base station across the border to support local agency Tentative agreement between Industry Canada and the FCC on use of hand held radio units in response to Scenario #1. - Hand held radio use by public safety first responders will be permitted across the border. This resolves the installed in vehicle language in the 1952 treaty 24

25 Progress To Date FCC has prepared a draft Public Notice to provide guidance to licensees in Scenario #2 and #3 Industry Canada is reviewing the FCC draft notice and may issue a companion notice. 25

26 Progress To Date Industry Canada has posted their licensing process and technical coordination review process online. Industry Canada will provide the U.S. licensee with the call sign of the Canadian broadband station that is causing a frequency request denial. FCC has provided a wavier for all public safety disciplines to operate on VLAW31/Blue Channel for cross border interoperability in the State of Montana. FCC Docket DA , December 12, MHz (VLAW31 and Blue Channel) Authorized within 10 miles of the border 26

27 Progress To Date Montana has completed an online Mutual Aid radio permitting process to allow Canadian first responders to access the Blue Channel in their state. 27

28 Progress To Date Industry Canada advised it is likely legal that Canadian first responders can program the Blue Channel into their radios without having a Canadian license. A concern was expressed by Canadian first responders that they cannot program a frequency into their radio unless they have an Industry Canada license. 28

29 Progress To Date 800 MHz Frequencies have been harmonized between the U.S. and Canada; allowing more interoperable frequencies: NPSPAC Conventional InterOp channels are in alignment following rebanding This was codified in Agreement F. 700 MHz Frequency band agreements have been finalized between the U.S. and Canada This includes the 700 MHz interoperability frequencies This was codified in Agreement G 29

30 Future Action Needed 30

31 Future Action FCC Rule allows a license holder to allow others to operate on their radio system. This is how the State of Montana allows Canadian first responders to get mutual aid radio permits to operate on the Blue Channel Industry Canada has reported that they do not have this flexibility and Canadian public safety agencies cannot allow U.S. first responders on their radio networks under current law. Is there a solution? 31

32 Future Action There is a need to identify VHF and UHF frequencies for cross border mutual aid use. The VHF Blue Channel is only available above Line A in the western half of the border area. Identification of U.S. mutual aid frequencies authorized in the border area would work best; using the Blue Channel process. Canada cannot allow U.S. first responders on their licensed channels under current law. Need to extend the State of Montana mutual aid radio waiver and permitting process to other U.S. states as a best practice. 32

33 Future Action CITIG advocating and first responders are pursuing the ability to license a block of mutual aid/interoperability frequencies. The U.S. currently allows a bundled license for designated nationwide interoperability frequencies. Review/work with/promote initiatives map draft expected to be released during CANUS Meeting in June Clarity is needed on now a Canadian first responder agency can access a U.S. public safety frequency. What is required from Industry Canada? 33

34 Future Action Examine existing cross border IP Gateway solutions to identify and share best practices: Policy, Procedure, Process on activation and utilization Acknowledge issue with gateway coverage limitations Further outreach is needed to U.S. and Canadian first responders on current and pending updates Clarification is needed on how mutual aid agreements and MOU s may be legally codified across the border. U.S. City/County to Canadian City/County U.S. State to Canadian Province 34

35 Future Action Model agreements and response plan templates need to be developed and shared. Cross border tower sharing opportunities need to be identified and codified. Broadband coverage and cross border roaming issues. Priority access harmonization Deployable network assets coordination. Policy issues on privacy and information sharing (voice and data). 35

36 Future Action Biggest questions around 700 MHz Broadband for Mission Critical Public Safety DATA Where is the other 10 MHz of Spectrum? Encouraging action with the PSBBN 36

37 Summary Much progress has been made. More work remains to be completed CITIG & NPSTC remain committed to working with local, regional and statewide entities on this effort, in conjunction with DHS-OEC and Public Safety Canada. Presentation scheduled for the joint CANUS Working Group on June 17 th in Ottawa. 37

38 Upcoming Major Events Canada-US Bi-National Cross Border Workshop, October in Windsor (launched today!) CITIG s Eighth Canadian Public Safety Interoperability Workshop, Nov 30 to Dec 3 in Ottawa (registration now open!) See for more info 38