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Please welcome Michael Barnbeck and TTT Consulting, LLC to the iCERT community. Barnbeck is a retired public safety professional with upper-level management experience. Based in North Carolina, TTT Consulting LLC consults the public safety industry with innovation and implementation for the appropriate use of technologies. iCERT welcomes their experience and collaboration in support of our mission to drive innovation in the emergency response sector and to promote industry growth through increased investments in new technologies.

Please welcome Mary Boyd and Mary A. Boyd & Associates LLC to the iCERT community. Boyd has served in the 9-1-1 public safety industry for 40 years and is considered a subject matter expert. iCERT is thrilled to be once again working with Boyd and welcomes her advanced expertise in all things public safety. Mary A. Boyd & Associates LLC is based in Texas with experiences ranging from extensive PSAP knowledge to State 911 Program management. Boyd has served in the private sector for the last 20 years leading policy and regulatory matters related to 9-1-1 and Next Generation 9-1-1. They are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and communities and are always looking for new and innovative ways to make a positive impact.

Are you an iCERT member looking to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in the industry? If so, we invite you to join us for Collaborate & Innovate in the Nation's Capital on November 2-3. The in-person Fall Meeting will provide us with a valuable opportunity to share our experiences and insights and to learn from one another as we work towards our shared goals. Registration is now open to ALL iCERT members, and the best part is that it's completely FREE. Discussions to include AI, Drones, Satellites, Policy, Public Safety Broadband, 2024 Olympics, NG911, and briefings from elected and appointed officials. There will also be special guests, updates from iCERT's committees and working groups, and plenty of networking time. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to connect with other industry professionals and stay informed on the latest developments in the field. Follow the link below to register now, and we look forward to seeing you in DC!

We congratulate Anna Gomez on her confirmation as the fifth Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). iCERT, along with our member companies, is pleased to have someone with her level of experience and expertise on the Commission. Gomez will be a valuable addition to the FCC, and we look forward to working with her to advance public safety communications in the United States. Congratulations, Commissioner Gomez!

Earlier this week, a letter on behalf of the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA), National Association of County Officials (NACo), National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCert), and National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), was sent to U.S. House Leadership, in support of H.R. 3565 – “The Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act of 2023.” This bill includes the much needed NG911 funding, which iCERT has been advocating for. All of our organizations hope that this strongly bipartisan legislation is sent to the floor for a vote as soon as possible. We encourage all iCERT members to take advantage of opportunities during August, when members of Congress are in the states and districts, to stress the importance of passing NG911 funding.

Please welcome Monica Million and Million Consulting Services, LLC to the iCERT community. A long-time supporter of iCERT and leader in the public safety sector, we are excited about working together to improve public safety through advocacy, innovation, and collaboration. Million Consulting Services, LLC is based in Colorado with a commitment to quality and expertise that has enabled them to become a trusted industry subject matter expert. They partner with clients in a variety of public safety and emergency preparedness initiatives. They strive to provide clients with the best services, solutions, and resources available. By joining iCERT, Million hopes to "continue to advocate for NG911 with the industry and with the public sector. To help promote innovation and modernization."

Earlier today, the Energy & Commerce Committee (E&C) of the US House adopted the amended HR 3565 - the Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act of 2023. This bill is substantially similar to the bipartisan/bicameral end of year agreement that was reached last December, often referred to as the “four corners agreement,” which would reauthorize the FCC’s spectrum auction authority for three years (it has now been lapsed for over two months) and directs spectrum auction revenues to fund several critical programs, including NG911. iCERT has been in constant communication with E&C committee members and staff throughout this year, urging them to move the agreement language from late last year. We are pleased the committee has taken the initiative to keep the momentum going on this important issue by voting HR 3565 out and moving it to the full House.

The FCC allocated the 4940-4990 MHz band (4.9 GHz) for Public Safety use back in 2002. Over the past twenty years, the Commission has made various changes to the rules applicable to the band in order to promote more effective and efficient use of the spectrum and to incentivize more robust public safety services. As a result, various applications have evolved to make use of the band. For example, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has invested in a multibillion-dollar project (Federally funded) that uses the band for both transit systems (train control) and police video cameras. This example helps to illustrate that there is strong interest in the band for both public safety and critical infrastructure applications, and many see these applications as being complementary. Despite these and other efforts to utilize the band, the FCC has been generally disappointed with the band’s limited uses and has had an open proceeding for nearly ten years to consider how to improve utilization. In 2020, the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) recommended that the spectrum be assigned to FirstNet. Note: The PSSA is comprised of former public safety officials that are supportive of FirstNet. While this proposal received some support from public safety, the existing public safety licensees in the band opposed that proposal, as did the National Sheriffs Association, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), APCO, and others. In January, the FCC released a Seventh Report and Order (Order) and Ninth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Further Notice) in the proceeding. The Order rejected the PSSA proposal and established a new Band Manager framework to both protect current public safety uses of the band and to promote new uses that would complement these uses. The Further Notice seeks comment on a variety of proposed rules that would make that new framework more effective. Comments are due April 13.

The Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (iCERT) strongly supports legislation introduced by Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) which would authorize Federal funding to support the nationwide deployment of Next Generation 911 (NG911) systems. We thank Congressman Hudson and Congresswoman Eshoo for their continued support of and leadership in advancing NG911 legislation. Our nation’s emergency response systems are critical to the safety and security of our citizens, our communities and our nation. We look forward to continuing to work with these leaders and entire Congress in making full funding for NG911 implementation a national priority.

Today, the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies (“iCERT”) submitted a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of the Motion for Extension of Time filed on March 1, 2023, by the National Sheriffs’ Association, American Petroleum Institute, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance, the Forestry Conservation Communications Association, the International Municipal Signal Association, and the Utilities Technology Council. In their motion, these groups requested a sixty (60)-day extension of the Comment and Reply Comment deadlines in the Matter of Amendment of Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules (WP Docket No. 07-100), the FCC’s proceedings related to 4.9 GHz. iCERT believes the requested extension would serve the public interest and urged the FCC to grant it.

In advance of this Friday’s U.S. House Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing titled “Defending America’s Wireless Leadership,” iCERT submitted a letter for the record, stressing the need for funding nationwide NG911 implementation.

As the new Congress begins its work in earnest, we look forward to continued progress in funding the transition to IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) technology. Our nation’s 911 systems are critical to ensuring the safety and security of our communities, and nationwide implementation of NG911 will ensure these systems can leverage the most advanced communications technologies possible.