Technical Advisory Board For First Responder Interoperability Submits Report to FCC

The Federal Communications Commission’s Technical Advisory Board for First Responder Interoperability was established by the Federal Communications Commission pursuant to Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Spectrum Act). The Interoperability Board was required to develop recommendations for minimum technical requirements to ensure a nationwide level of interoperability for the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) and submit those recommendations to the FCC. The recommendations are to be ultimately submitted to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). Meeting its statutory requirements, the Interoperability Board formally submitted their recommendations to the FCC on May 22, 2012.

The Interoperability Board worked in consultation with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the National Institute for Standards and Technology, and the Office of Emergency Communications of the Department of Homeland Security. The Interoperability Board also used subject matter experts (SMEs), from both inside and outside the members’ organizations, which proved to be critical to the quality of the Board’s work. The Board’s commitment to seeking the broadest possible input within its constrained schedule aided them it developing a complete set of recommended minimum technical requirements within the scope of the Spectrum Act. These requirements not only seek nationwide interoperability but set a minimal baseline that, if adhered to, can further an interoperable, multi-vendor network for first responders.