PSBTA Offers Communications Support to VAPolice to Improve Patient, Staff Safety

PSBTA May 17, 2024

Washington, DC — The Public Safety Broadband Technology Association (PSBTA) stands ready to help the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) improve real-time communications with its own law enforcement agency and partnering agencies in all levels of government — in order to boost patient and staff safety at the VA’s 1300-plus health care facilities.

This was the promise delivered by retired Assistant Chief Charles Dowd, PSBTA Vice President and former Commanding Officer of the New York City Police Department’s Communications Division and the NYC-911 system, during his May 16, 2024 appearance before the Senate’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations in Washington, DC. The Subcommittee was conducting an oversight hearing entitled, “Ensuring VA’s Security: How Can Congress Best Support VA’s Law Enforcement?” The PSBTA is composed of the nation’s leading Public Safety executives and associations.

“As we understand, the VA appears to have a critical need for interoperable communications both locally and nationally that will allow them to talk directly to their partners and to share critical information such as situational awareness,” Assistant Chief Dowd told the Subcommittee’s members. “I recommend their communications solution should be looked at from a holistic national purview that not only provides a communications solution for the VA’s law enforcement but may include additional elements of technology for other divisions of the VA and the local, state, and federal mutual aid partners. This is recommended so there is a nationwide, sustainable, common solution, and we would encourage the VA to harness advanced broadband solutions that can integrate with the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network. There should no longer be a need to encourage disparate systems for one organization because of geography anymore.”

To make this happen, Assistant Chief Dowd recommended that the VA:

Establish a Joint Task Force with its own police force and other public safety agencies to foster better understanding, streamline communications, and coordinate responses more effectively.
Update its policy and procedures to improve VA police communications, and improve communications with other public safety agencies.
Cross-train the VA’s police communications staff with those of other public safety agencies.
Provide adequate funding for these improvements.

“We applaud Congress for working to bolster the VA’s emergency preparedness posture through investments in communications systems at VA medical facilities; however, we would caution against limiting its scope to legacy radio technology,” said Assistant Chief Dowd. “The integration of broadband-enabled push-to-talk into traditional radio systems expands the coverage reach of traditional radio systems, while also increasing the system’s functionality and improving redundancy and reliability. We understand the VA has already made great strides to implement FirstNet technology and integrate their radio systems with FirstNet push-to-talk. We applaud the VA’s Public Safety and Emergency Management personnel for their technology leadership and their recommendation for Congress to build upon this progress.”

For more information:

PSBTA Media Contact:
John Paul Jones
info@thepsbta.org

Categories: Press Releases

PSBTA

Missouri Valley Division Alert: Important Information for Immediate Dissemination

We must advocate for the continuity of public safety operations by protecting the 4.9 GHz spectrum from potential commercial or non-public safety use.

PSBTA December 21, 2023

Parkinson: Vision 2023 at the “Bleeding Edge” of Public Safety Communications

Vision 2023 at the South Point Spa and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, from September 25 to 28, 2023 is the premiere industry event for all things FirstNet, “If you’re talking about range extension, if you’re talking about 911, or the integration of broadband, it really does cover the A to Z of public safety comms in a way that I don’t think any other conference does,” Parksinson said. “To be able to see what’s available for public safety and then to see the vision of what’s to come — and that is what the conference is named after — is a terrific opportunity to hear some of the thought leaders, to see some of the leading technology, the thought leaders in the community and to see what’s coming.”

PSBTA September 26, 2023

PUBLIC SAFETY SPECTRUM ALLIANCE (PSSA) EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT WITH FCC ACTION TO ALLOCATE PUBLIC SAFETY SPECTRUM TO THE STATES.

The Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA), a coalition to protect public safety’s use of mission-critical spectrum, including the 4.9 GHz Band, announced that it will not be deterred by the FCC’s action today to reallocate the 4.9 GHz spectrum to the states that has previously been allocated solely to public safety. “We are extremely disappointed by the FCC’s action that jeopardizes public safety’s access to spectrum critical to life-saving operations. Today’s action by the FCC shows clearly that commercial interests won out at public safety’s expense” according to Chief Jeff Johnson, CEO of the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) and former vice chairman of the FirstNet Authority. “ This spectrum was allocated by the FCC to public safety after 9/11 to be part of the interoperability solution for first responders.

PSBTA November 4, 2021

Public Safety Broadband Technology Association (PSBTA) and the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) Host Webinar for all Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWICs) to Discuss the 4.9 GHz Spectrum

The Public Safety Broadband Technology Association (PSBTA) stands ready to help the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) improve real-time communications with its own law enforcement agency and partnering agencies in all levels of government — in order to boost patient and staff safety at the VA’s 1300-plus health care facilities.

PSBTA August 20, 2024

PUBLIC SAFETY SPECTRUM ALLIANCE (PSSA) EXPRESSES APPRECIATION TO COMMISSIONER ROSENWORCEL AND STARKS FOR SUPPORT OF PRESERVATION OF 4.9 GHz SPECTRUM FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

The Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA), a coalition to protect public safety’s use of 4.9 GHz spectrum commends Commissioner Rosenworcel and Commissioner Starks for their support of public safety by dissenting on yesterday’s agenda item: Amendment of Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules, WP Docket No. 07-100. Their comments show that they clearly understand the significant negative impacts to public safety of this order and pointed out the procedural flaws in this proceeding that may violate the Administrative Procedures Act.

PSBTA November 4, 2021

Related Articles