Monday, August 8

1:00pm- 2:15pm
Federal & Congressional Panel
The discussion will focus on the issues Congress and the Administration are considering as they prepare to pass legislation to allocate an additional 10 MHz of spectrum to public safety and funding for building out a nationwide broadband network. This presentation will be divided into two sections.  The congressional panelists that have been invited include majority and minority staff from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the House Homeland Security Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee.

Invited Federal panelists include high ranking officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Commerce, Federal Communications Commission and the current Administration.

2:30pm- 3:45pm
FCC Regulatory Panel
The Regulatory Panel will feature high level staff from the FCC and address “hot button” items of concern to public safety, including a national broadband network, narrowbanding,  wireless E911, and 800 MHz rebanding.

4:00pm- 5:15pm
LightSquared Planned Terrestrial Operations and Potential Impact on GPS
Andrew M. Seybold, CEO and Principal Analyst of Andrew Seybold, Inc., Geoff Stearn, Vice President of Spectrum-LightSquared

LightSquared is planning to deploy a wireless broadband service in frequency bands adjacent to those used for GPS.  Concerns have been raised regarding potential interference from LightSquared’s operations to a wide-variety of GPS-enabled devices, including simulcast trunked radio synchronization equipment.  This session will include presentations from Lightsquared and Andy Seybold, a leading telecommunications consultant who has been critical of the Lightsquared proposal. 
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Tuesday, August 9

1:15pm- 2:30pm

NG9-1-1 Cost Modeling and Network Reliability
Staff members of the FCC will discuss current open proceeding dealing with communications reliability and security.  Staff will review the current NOI that asks for input on communications maintainability and overall broadband communications reliability.  During this session staff will discuss the open NPRM that seeks answers to questions about extending Part 4 outage reporting.  Discussion by the panel will include the PSBB network and review efforts to develop costing models for NG9-1-1.

2:45pm- 3:45pm

Narrowbanding
FCC staff will provide an overview of the Commission’s narrowbanding rules, focusing on upcoming deadlines, licensing requirements, and guidelines for those who may be seeking a waiver of the deadline.  A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
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Wednesday, August 10

8:00am- 12:15pm

FCC Environmental and Section 106 Compliance for Public Safety Network Professionals
Now more than ever, complying with FCC environmental and historic regulations is an important aspect of public safety wireless network management.  As public safety licensees nationwide modernize and deploy advanced wireless networks, consideration of FCC environmental requirements early in the planning process can help speed deployment, reduce costs, facilitate compliance with requirements for federal grants or loans (e.g. PSIC, BTOP or RUS), and lay the groundwork for potential future collocation revenue.  This session will address FCC National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance for public safety wireless networks, with a particular focus on historic preservation requirements.

Designed for public safety network professionals involved in site acquisition and development and wireless network planning, attendees will receive useful, practical training and tips.  Topics covered in the session include:

• What are your obligations – what are the controlling environmental laws
• Decision-makers’ guidance –what conditions will lead to successful compliance, including advance planning, selecting consultants, oversight and record-keeping
• Why compliance is important – why compliance is necessary for public safety licensees and beneficial (e.g., early decisions about siting and structural design of towers can maximize commercial collocation revenue or infrastructure sharing with commercial wireless providers)
• NEPA overview – when is FCC environmental review triggered, what factors must be considered and addressed prior to construction, and how does the Environmental Assessment process work
• NHPA overview – how to determine when a new tower or collocation will affect historic properties, how to complete the required involvement with SHPOs and Tribes, and suggestions for mitigation measures
• Successful case studies – examples where public safety licensees engaged FCC staff early to site towers in sensitive areas (e.g. near Civil War battlefields) and maximize collocation revenue

Panelists will include Amos Loveday, Jr., Ph.D., History and Preservation Specialist at Atchley Hardin Lane and the former FCC Federal Preservation Officer and Ohio SHPO, as well as representative(s) from the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and NEPA/NHPA staff from the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.