Highlights

APCO International Emerging Technology Forum: Jan 30 – 31, 2013 (Anaheim, CA) — The PSCR program presents at the APCO International Emerging Technology Forum.

P25 DSR Refresh: JAN 22, 2013 (Boulder, CO) — PSCR updates its P25 DSR web pages and PDF download file.

PSCR Updates the Testing and Demonstrations Phase of the Public Safety 700-MHz Demonstration Network: DEC 10, 2012 (Boulder, CO) — The latest Network Interoperability & Drive Test is available here.

Public Safety Interoperability Workshop: DEC 2 – 5, 2012 (Toronto, Ontario Canada) — PSCR Staffers Dereck Orr, Program Manager, and Jeff Bratcher, Technical Manager, presented at The Sixth Canadian Public Safety Interoperability Workshop: A CITIG National forum “From Success to Acceptance!” (see agenda pages 14 and 20) “700 MHz Broadband for Mission Critical Public Safety Data — A Technical Discussion” and “P25 Updates.”

PSCR Delivers Latest Video Quality Research Report to DHS: Nov 6, 2012 — PSCR delivered its PSVQ group’s latest research report, “Assessing Video Quality for Public safety Applications Using Visual Acuity,” to DHS. As with previous PSVQ reports, DHS will post this paper to its SAFECOM site.

Webinar: Seeking Convergence: Delivering the Greatest Capabilities and Connectivity to Our First Responders: OCT 31, 2012 — The PSCR program’s Andrew Thiessen was among the panelists participating in the live LTE/LMR webinar discussion. Register to watch the recorded event free (archive available for one year). Presented by Urgent Communications.

P25 DSR Refresh: SEP 27, 2012 (Boulder, CO) — PSCR updates its P25 DSR web pages and PDF download file.

APCO International Conference and Expo: AUG 21, 2012 (Minneapolis, MN) — The PSCR program presents at the APCO International 78th Annual Conference & Expo.

Video Quality in Public Safety Workshop: JUL 26 – 27, 2012 — (Boulder, CO) — The PSCR program hosted its fourth workshop for VQiPS, which is establishing video performance requirements for use in public safety.

PSCR Moves Forward with the Testing and Demonstrations Phase of the Public Safety 700-MHz Demonstration Network: JUL 26, 2012 (Boulder, CO) — The latest Network Interoperability & Drive Test is available here.

NPSTC Develops Atkinson Technical Award: June 12, 2012 — NPSTC’s Atkinson Technical Award.

NPSTC Recognizes DJ Atkinson: APR 24, 2012 — NPSTC’s memorial post for DJ Atkinson.

Webinar: Next Generation Communications: What does it Mean to You?: MAR 15, 2012 — Anna Gomez, Deputy Administrator, NTIA and the PSCR program’s Andrew Thiessen were panelists (Webinar slides here) in the live webinar discussion. Register to watch the recorded event free (archive available for one year). Presented by Urgent Communications.

APCO Australasia Conference and Expo: MAR 12 – MAR 14, 2012 (Queensland, Australia) — The PSCR program presents at the APCO Australasia Conference & Expo.

Spring 2012 PSBB Demonstration Network Stakeholder Meeting: MAR 6 – MAR 7, 2012 (Broomfield, CO) — The PSCR program hosted its third face-to-face stakeholders’ meeting for the PSBB Demonstration Network, which brought together representatives from public safety, Federal agencies, industry, and academia to learn about testing progress.

International Wireless Communications Exposition: FEB 20 – 24, 2012 — The PSCR program presented at the College of Technology on FEB 21 and participated in sessions FEB 22 and 23 at IWCE 2012.

P25 DSR Refresh: JAN 18, 2012 (Boulder, CO) — PSCR updates its P25 DSR web pages and PDF download file.

Network Identifier Guidelines Posted: JAN 6, 2012 (Boulder, CO) — PSCR posts network identifier guidelines for the Public Safety 700 MHz Demonstration Network with the intent of replicating the network identifier architecture required for a nationwide public safety network.

PSCR Staff Receive U.S. Commerce Bronze Medal Award: DEC 20, 2011 (Washington, D.C.) — Two PSCR program staff received a group Bronze Medal Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

PSCR Staff Receive U.S. Commerce Silver Medal Award: DEC 13, 2011 (Washington, D.C.) — A team of ten PSCR program staff received a group Silver Medal Award in the category of Leadership from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

IWCE Virtual Tradeshow Webinar: Will Broadband Voice Replace Narrowband Voice?: DEC 6, 2011 — PSCR staffer Emil Olbrich was a panelist (PSCR slides here) in the live discussion. Register to watch the event free (archive available for one year). Presented by Urgent Communications.

Public Safety Interoperability Workshop: DEC 5 – 7, 2011 (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) — PSCR Staffers Jeff Bratcher and DJ Atkinson presented at The Fifth Canadian Public Safety Interoperability Workshop: A CITIG National forum “From Results to Successes!” (see agenda pages 15 and 23) “700 MHz Broadband for Mission Critical Public Safety Data — A Technical Discussion” and “The P25 Standards Process — What does it look like and where are we now?” (Page 22 of this PDF slide deck includes embedded audio examples that require Adobe Reader to play.).

Winter 2011 PSBB Technical Workshop: Network Identifiers and Roaming/Clearing: NOV 30 – DEC 1, 2011 (Boulder, CO) — The PSCR Program hosted the invitational meeting, which gathered representatives from the PSST OAC, PSCR’s PSBB Demonstration Network Study Item participants, and Federal partners.

Commerce Secretary Visit: NOV 8, 2011 — (Boulder, CO) U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson visits our public safety labs.

P25 DSR Refresh: OCT 7, 2011 (Boulder, CO) — PSCR updates its P25 DSR web pages and PDF download file.

PSCR Delivers Latest Video Quality Research Report to DHS: OCT 6, 2011 — PSCR delivered its PSVQ group’s latest research report, “Recorded-Video Quality Tests for Object Recognition Tasks,” to DHS. As with previous PSVQ reports, DHS will post this paper to its SAFECOM site.

NPSTC Quarterly Meeting: SEP 29, 2011 (Orlando, FL) — PSCR distributes the NTIA/ITS technical report “In-Building Radio Enhancement Systems for Public Safety,” by Robert Achatz, Roger Dalke, and John Lemmon.

Webinar: What’s keeping you up at night? SEP 21, 2011 — The PSCR program’s Andrew Thiessen was a panelist in the live webinar discussion. Register to watch the recorded event (archive available for one year). Presented by Urgent Communications.

APCO International Conference and Expo: AUG 10, 2011 (Philadelphia, PA) — The PSCR program presents at the APCO International 77th Annual Conference & Expo.

P25 DSR Refresh: AUG 2, 2011 (Boulder, CO) — PSCR updates its P25 DSR web pages and PDF download file.

P25 DSR Refresh: MAY 12, 2011 (Boulder, CO) — PSCR updates its P25 DSR web pages and PDF download file.

Video Quality in Public Safety Resources Posted: MAY 5, 2011 (Boulder, CO) — PSCR posts VQiPS resources, including a primer to defining public safety video quality requirements and a recommendations tool to provoke requirements considerations.

Webinar: The Integration of P25 and LTE: MAY 5, 2011 — The PSCR program’s D.J. Atkinson was a panelist in the live webinar discussion. Register to watch the recorded event (archive available for one year). Presented by Urgent Communications.

International Wireless Communications Exposition: MAR 8 – 10, 2011 (Las Vegas, NV) — The PSCR program presented at the College of Technology on MAR 8 and hosted sessions MAR 9 and 10 at IWCE 2011.

Major P25 DSR Refresh: FEB 22, 2011 (Boulder, CO) — PSCR reorganizes and updates its P25 DSR web pages and PDF download file.

Video Quality in Public Safety Workshop: FEB 16 – 18, 2011 — (Boulder, CO) — The PSCR program hosted its third workshop for VQiPS, which moved toward creating a standard for public safety video performance.

PSCR Moves Forward with the Deployment Phase of the Public Safety 700-MHz Demonstration Network: FEB 7, 2011 (Boulder, CO) — Project status update.

The PSCR Program Hosts Winter 2010 PSBB Demonstration Network Stakeholder Meetings: DEC 1 – 2, 2010 (Boulder, CO) — The Stakeholders’ meetings for the 700-MHz PSBB Demonstration Network gathered participants to discuss planning, scheduling, testing, and expectations.

PSCR Staff Receives U.S. Commerce Bronze Medal Award: DEC 1, 2010 (Washington, D.C.) — Dr. Carolyn Ford received a Bronze Medal Award for Scientific/Engineering Achievement from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The PSCR Program’s Dereck Orr was the Featured Speaker at the FCC Speaker Series Event Featuring NIST/OLES: AUG 31, 2010 (Washington, D.C.) — Orr, NIST/OLES’s Program Manager for Public Safety Communications, discussed NIST/OLES’s role in improving public safety communications. The FCC/PSHSB/ERIC event focused on NIST’s role in developing and implementing standards for public safety communications and its partnership with ERIC.

PSCR finishes its latest round of audio and video quality testing: AUG 20, 2010 (Boulder, CO) — The second round of fireground digital radio audio quality tests (Press) evaluated noise pollution that interrupts communications on the fireground. The audio tests will quantify what improvements have been made and target where efforts are needed to further improve audio quality for public-safety communications. The video quality testing investigated the interaction of target (item to recognize) size, motion, and lighting on the ability to recognize a given target in the video stream in a real-time application. Publication of the audio and video quality test results are expected in the coming months.

PSCR hosted a session in the Interoperable Communications and Information Sharing track at the National UASI Conference: JUN 20-24, 2010 (New Orleans, LA) — The session, “What's New at PSCR?," provided updates on our latest work in P25 standards/CAP, 700-MHz broadband, video quality, and audio quality.

Webinar: The Future of Interoperability and Project 25: JUN 17, 2010 — The PSCR program’s Andrew Thiessen was a panelist in the live webinar discussion. Register to watch the recorded event (archive available for one year). Presented by Urgent Communications.

The PSCR program's Dereck Orr testifies before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation: MAY 27, 2010 — See the hearing summary and press release.

PSCR Engineers within VQiPS Attend IEEE Conference: MAY 3 – 11, 2010 (Krakow, Poland) — PSCR engineers within the VQiPS working group presented a paper at the IEEE Conference on Multimedia Communications, Services, & Security.

PSCR Hosts Inaugural PSBB Demonstration Network Meetings: APR 21, 2010 (Boulder, CO) — Stakeholder meetings initiate discussion for 700-MHz Public Safety Broadband Demonstration Network requirements.

National Broadband Plan is Released: MAR 16, 2010 — The National Broadband Plan calls for ERIC and PSCR collaboration.

PSCR 700-MHz Demonstration Network Webinar: MAR 15, 2010 — PSCR held a kick-off informational webinar about participation in the Public Safety 700-MHz Broadband Demonstration Network.

International Wireless Communications Exposition: MAR 10 – 12, 2010 (Las Vegas, NV) — The PSCR program exhibited, presented, and hosted at IWCE 2010.

Video Quality in Public Safety Workshop: FEB 1 – 3, 2010 (Boulder, CO) — In partnership with DHS/OIC, the PSCR program hosted its second VQiPS workshop.

Voice Interoperability Workshop: NOV 16 – 18, 2009 (Halifax, Nova Scotia) — At the Third Canadian Voice Interoperability workshop: A CITIG National forum “From Planning to Action,” PSCR presented an overview describing where its work stands.

International Association of Fire Fighters Conference: NOV 9 – 11, 2009 (Los Angeles, CA) — At the IAFF's Twentieth Symposium on the Occupational Health and Hazards of the Fire Service, PSCR presented an overview of its background noise testing for firefighting environments. (This PDF slide deck includes embedded audio examples that require Adobe Reader to play.)

Public Safety VoIP Presentation: OCT 27 – 30, 2009 (Mobile, AL) — At the 3rd Annual Gulf Coast Technology Summit, PSCR presented its work on BSI, a VoIP method for interconnecting public safety communications bridges.

Public Safety Communications Research: OCT 27 – 29, 2009 (Washington D.C.) — With the Emergency Communications Preparedness Center's Technical Working Group, PSCR participated in the creation of a Technology Roadmap for interoperable public safety communications.

PSCR Staff Receive U.S. Commerce Gold Medal Award: NOV 18, 2008 (Washington, D.C.) — A team of three PSCR program staff received a Gold Medal Award for Scientific/Engineering Achievement from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

PSCR Staff Receive U.S. Commerce Gold Medal Award: NOV 8, 2006 (Washington, D.C.) — A team of ten PSCR program staff received a Gold Medal Award for Scientific/Engineering Achievement from the U.S. Department of Commerce.