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FirstNet Heats UpDirector Stoddard advocates focusing on opportunities
THE frenzied dialog of FirstNet heats up across the nation as
all sides posture for the best solu-tion and agreement that can be made before the recommendation is provided to the governor. The culmination of years of discussions, con-templations, and speculations are now heading into the next leg of this race as States prepare to make quarter cen-tury long decisions. I have a pretty good idea where most states will land and professionally have provided my rec-ommendations and guidance to those that will take the baton for the next leg of this race in our state.
Public safety across Michigan and the country should have one focus in mind relating to the op-portunities in front of them for the next two decades as technology will evolve solving existing and fu-ture problems that first responders are faced with. From public safety specific Internet of Things (IOT) solutions to adoption of consumer grade connected solutions that will provide niche solutions for public safety as they will for consumers. As ten states have already committed to Opt-In, Michigan’s team is also continuing the research to ensure Michigan’s public safety priorities are met in the rural and urban ar-eas of the state. I have stressed since the earliest efforts that FirstNet
needs to look at opportunities that will address public safety’s build out needs with that of the underserved rural areas for consumer broad-band. Members of the Michigan review team have had a chance to
review the data in the protected area of the FirstNet draft plan for Michigan. The team has finalized our comments within the portal and those comments have been collected to be shared with the FirstNet and AT&T regional team by the end of July 2017.
Once the recom-mendation has been
provided to the governor, and sub-sequently the governor will make his decision on behalf of public safe-ty in Michigan across all 83 coun-ties. That decision will ensure that public safety broadband is a solu-tion for years to come. Just as past Michigan governors provided long term strategic decisions for public safety interoperability, Gov. Snyder has had that opportunity once with the MPSCS Lifecycle Remediation Project and will again relating to the Opt-in or Opt-out decision for First-Net. Both strategic decisions will en-sure long term interoperability for mission critical voice and data solu-tions for all public safety in Mich-igan. Land Mobile Radio (LMR) is close to the century mark of use in Michigan, and the MPSCS will soon be celebrating the 21st birthday of
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Brad Stoddard, MPSCS Director
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Contents1 FirstNet Heats Up
Update from Director Stoddard on FirstNet
3 NCC Monitors SystemStaff work around the clock to protect system health
4 Tower Top ReplacementPortland tower site gets a heavy duty upgrade
5 MPSCS Lab Adds 3D PrinterNew tool allows MPSCS to make cost effective parts in house
6 Across MPSCSIntroducing MPSCS’s newest employees
7 System SnapshotLatest numbers for June 2017
7 Contact MPSCS
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Save the Date for the 2018 Interoperable Communications Conference!
FirstNet Heats Up, cont.Director Stoddard advocates focusing on opportunities
Continued from Page 1this mission critical integrated voice and data statewide network.
The maturity of interoperabili-ty in Michigan has established the expectations that where citizens are needing help, the first responder can be communicating via the MPSCS. This means that the success with a public safety broadband solution is faced with the baseline expectations of what the MPSCS delivers every day and from the existing carrier networks that have provided reli-able solutions to public safety for decades.
The MPSCS partners across pub-lic safety disciplines at all levels of
government will be the same part-ners for any public safety broadband solution developed in Michigan. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in this effort since 2008 and I’ve seen a lot of evolution in the past 9 years. From working with some of the past and current FirstNet Board members to educate our congressio-nal leaders to support the spectrum shift and correlated funding to pre-senting at international conferences with some of the nation’s leaders. I’ve been fortunate to have been in-volved in the growth of the MPSCS and the foundational drive for a na-tionwide public safety broadband solution utilizing all the lessons
learned from the MPSCS. I expect to continue to be a driving force and subject matter expert for public safety communications for LMR and FirstNet/Public Safety Broadband aiding in the state’s and nation’s fo-cus on voice and data interoperabil-ity. We are in an exciting time for public safety technology evolution and it will only get better as it gets more affordable and the wireless broadband coverage expands. I’m not sure that the decision to Opt-in or Opt-out will enable the creation of the real-life version of RoboCop, but it will make a more connected and knowledgeable responder. ■
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Network Communications Center Provides Critical System MonitoringStaff work around the clock to protect system health
THE complexity of operating a statewide emergency communi-
cations network is difficult to over-state. The information technology and physical infrastructure involved are immense in scope. Keeping both sides working in concert is critical to public safety in Michigan and de-mands round-the-clock, expert-level management.
MPSCS provides that manage-ment with the Network Communi-cations Center, or NCC, located at division headquarters in Lansing. NCC staff, working 24/7/365, serve as the eyes and ears of MPSCS’s in-frastructure.
One vital aspect of the NCC’s work is the protection of the health and integrity of MPSCS’s complex network of physical radio assets and IT resources. They perform regular analysis and checks on complex in-terdependent systems, fixing or pre-venting problems. While their work is often invisible to stakeholders, it is a huge piece of how MPSCS main-tains operability. Their tireless effort ensures critical communications get through in all situations.
The work itself takes on a Mission Control approach with NCC staff monitoring the system and jumping to troubleshoot issues as they occur. With life and limb potentially on the line, NCC staff leverage their deep knowledge of MPSCS and set up fixes as fast as possible. Equipment failures and emergencies run the gamut; a common sentiment among NCC staff is that there is no “aver-age day.”
Problems are often not immedi-ately clear to end users and require
a high level of system awareness and analysis. The work isn’t just monitoring alarms, it is an anal-ysis of dense technical issues and dispatching appropriate resources to resolve problems. Public safety communications often occur within emergency situations. Having the ability to diagnose and fix problems quickly protects first responders and the communities they serve.
Taking a granular look at the breadth of the systems the NCC monitors underscores the scope and importance of the job. There are, at a minimum, four major systems to track. Within those systems are a bevy of subsystems. Add in serv-ers, routers, microwave paths, fiber connections, generators, and a host of other vital equipment and soft-ware and the spiraling complexi-ty becomes evident. Behind it all, though, the NCC is monitoring, an-alyzing, fixing, and keeping the sys-tem cohesive. Experts in the NCC are often able to track infrastructure issues right down to individual com-
ponents. With careful analysis and passion, they are the first respond-ers to the first responders.
It is also important to take a wider view of the system and how the NCC keeps it healthy. Someone using a radio to push-to-talk kicks off a complex chain of events that happen in a fraction of a second. There are a lot of moving parts re-quired to move a message through a talkgroup on MPSCS. The NCC is integral to making sure that hap-pens. NCC staff have a statewide whole-system focus that preserves interoperability.
Michigan’s first responders need to know their emergency communi-cations rely upon the most depend-able network possible. Keeping the network efficient and reliable is of-ten a matter of life and death. The number of people relying on the network is huge. Through it all, the Network Communication Center is there, every hour and every day, making sure MPSCS works... and works well. ■
NCC staff member Dan Witgen (left) works with Kristen Higbee (right) from MPSCS’s Field Resources Center (FRC) to troubleshoot an issue.
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A crane lowers down the top 95’ section of the tower at the Portland site, clearing the top of the 245’ tower.
MPSCS Replaces Top of Tower Site in PortlandHeavy duty replacement of top section insures longevity and safety of site
ON April 27-28 MPSCS per-formed a heavy duty upgrade
at a tower site near Portland. The upgrade became necessary due to a change in regulations. Stricter wind tower loading rules now in place meant the top section of the tower was over its weight limit. The new rules are evolutionary and represent new research. The existing structure was secure and presented no dan-ger, but MPSCS compliance would ensure the safety of the Portland site throughout its service.
A contributing factor to the weight overage was the addition of extra equipment. Two microwave dishes and three RF antennas, add-ed over the years, sat in the top sec-tion of the tower. This extra equip-ment helped the site keep pace with the evolving needs of users. It also created a heavier load for the tower to bear. A heavy duty replacement of the top of the structure represent-ed an ideal solution. The upgraded section would facilitate the tower’s ability to evolve in sync with the system.
The upgrade itself was, in es-sence, a “top swap.” It required removal of a 95’ tall top section of the Portland site’s tower. Once re-moved, crews hoisted a new sec-tion with a higher weight limit in its place. Contractors, vendors, and MPSCS staff operated in concert to perform the feat. This would be the second section swap performed in MPSCS’s two decades of operation.
The process of removing the top started with MPSCS steeplejacks prepping the tower. Cutting cables and getting the extra equipment
ready to come down was the first step. The climbers on the tower then assisted a crane on site which pulled down equipment mounted on the tower. The equipment, in some cases sitting more than 200’ in the air, came down piece by piece.
Once free of attached equipment the top section was ready for re-moval. The work that day was a bit touch and go as the Michigan spring weather threatened to interfere. High winds or rain could scrub any forward progress as the large crane would be unable to operate in a safe manner.
With the wind holding off, stee-plejacks connected the crane to the top tower section around 10:00 AM on the 27th. The crane’s boom, clearing the top of the 245’ tower, gently lowered the current 95’ tall top section down.
Crews then reversed the process with the new heavy duty section going up in short order. Equipment and cable hookups soon followed. In all the process took 12 hours. The impact to customers was minimal.
This swap may be a preview of work to come at other sites. When asked about the trend, MPSCS’s Site Maintenance Supervisor Rod-ney Anway said that “with newer requirements in place doing ma-jor modification work will become more common.”
Swapping out the top section of a tower is an intense challenge. This is especially true when the tower is a part of a statewide communications network. The logistics involved were complex and time windows tight. MPSCS staff and our partners got the work done, though, without a hitch. ■
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3D Printer Added to MPSCS LabInnovative tool allows MPSCS to make cost effective parts in house
INGENUITY, re-sourcefulness, and
cutting-edge technol-ogy often come to-gether at Michigan’s Public Safety Com-munications System. One example of this convergence resides in the lab at our Di-mondale headquar-ters. MPSCS recently acquired a 3D print-er, which is employed for the in-house fab-rication of certain replacement equip-ment.
As routine preven-tative maintenance, fan covers and fil-ters are regularly re-placed on microwave radios at MPSCS sites across the state. Out-side vendors estimat-ed costs for replace-ments around $65 per unit. Because there are several thousand microwave units incorpo-rated into the system, these main-tenance costs became a concern of high priority. Deputy Director Theron Shinew and Acting Support Services Manager Dan Robinson de-cided to explore the in-house pro-duction of these parts. Radio Tech-nician Todd Velderman undertook the project’s initial setup and creat-ed the prototypes, while fellow Ra-dio Tech Steve Goodman acquired the filter material and carried out field testing. With the ability to “print” the fan covers in our lab and
ownership of the die to cut the filter pieces, the cost of these replacement parts plummeted to less than $1 per unit. The huge cost-saving benefit of this new equipment became evident within its first few days.
The LulzBot TAZ 6 printer cre-ates the fan covers by following a template designed using online CAD software. Polylactic acid (PLA) filament becomes malleable as it is fed into the extruder, which, while in operation, is heated to 205˚C (401˚F). The tool head is situated in a carriage which articulates left and right along the X axis as well as
up and down on a Z axis. The filament is extruded onto a heated polyethermide print bed which operates at 60˚C (140˚F) for this particular medium. The print bed itself slides forward and backward to create the Y axis. The ex-truder and print bed move in concert, applying layers of PLA filament upon one an-other to produce the three-di-mensional objects defined by the software blueprints.
Currently a small-scale operation, the printer is able to complete 8-10 fan covers per day. Velderman over-sees its daily operation with assistance from Engineering Assistant Brian Aprill. Sever-al months of round-the-clock printing are required to satis-fy the needs of the entire MP-SCS, but the 3D printer has a less obvious advantage: the ability to build replacement parts for itself!
Embracing new technologies and applying them to everyday work is an important aspect of MPSCS’s mission. By finding new solutions we can reduce costs and improve methods for the ongoing operation of our statewide network. The 3D printer is a tool which allows MP-SCS to efficiently continue its su-perior maintenance of the system’s physical equipment. In so doing, it supports a vital effort to maximize capabilities of first responders and reinforce their safety and security, as well as that of the citizens they serve. ■
The LulzBot TAZ 6 in the process of printing fan covers. Several covers get made at the same time.
A new fan cover and filter attached to the back of a microwave radio. An added benefit of the covers is that they are much easier to replace.
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Goldie OttGoldie is a new addition
to MPSCS’s PSESU unit as an Information Technolo-gy Programmer / Analyst. She’ll be assisting with the PSESU’s vital mission of supporting MPSCS’s data network.
Prior to coming over to MPSCS, Goldie worked at Dart Container. Her previous job saw her doing system admin and project management work. We’re looking forward to putting those skills to use in the PSESU!
Outside of work Goldie enjoys riding her motorcycle, cooking, gardening, and playing games. She has two adult children and two children at home.
Welcome to MPSCS, Goldie! ■
Josh GuthrieJosh has joined the MP-
SCS team as an Information Technology Programmer / Analyst in the PSESU. He comes to MPSCS from DTMB’s SOS Hosting Cen-ter.
Josh will be helping the Public Safety Enterprise Services Unit by providing support for MPSCS’s data network. He’ll soon have a degree in Geographic Information Science and will be bringing that expertise to the PSESU’s administration of numerous systems that use GIS.
Outside of the office Josh enjoys spending time with his wife and 4-year-old son.
Welcome to the team, Josh! ■
New Employees
Across MPSCS
Michelle GilsdorfMichelle is MPSCS’s
newest Field Resource Center (FRC) Department Tech. Michelle comes from the Michigan State Police Emergency Homeland Se-curity (EMHSD) and has experience administering systems in the private sector.
Michelle is a veteran troubleshooter and will be helping the FRC team fix issues MPSCS users have out in the field. She is excited to get started and brings a wide range of skills and experiences to the FRC.
When not at work Michelle enjoys gardening, pho-tography and high adrenaline activities like white wa-ter rafting and ziplining.
Welcome aboard, Michelle! ■
Mustafa HasanMustafa is a recent addi-
tion to the Network Com-munications Center (NCC) as a Radio Technician. He’ll be helping keep MPSCS’s network operational and secure as part of the NCC team.
Before joining MPSCS, Mustafa worked as a con-tractor for Verizon in Chicago as a System Performance Engineer. He brings network operations center and RF experience to the NCC team.
Mustafa enjoys spending time with his wife and 16-year-old son. He enjoys hockey as a Blackhawks fan and follows cricket, especially the Pakistan and Austra-lian teams.
We’re excited to have you on the team, Mustafa! ■
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Contact MPSCS
Brad Stoddard | [email protected]
Theron Shinew | DEPUTY [email protected]
David Hayhurst | ENTERPRISE [email protected]
Pat Kenealy | ENGINEERING [email protected]
Buzz Leach | BUSINESS [email protected]
Ralph Liddle | NCC [email protected]
Dan Robinson | SUPPORT SERVICES (ACTING)[email protected]
Mark Sandberg | [email protected]
Jennyl Simon | COMMUNICATIONS & [email protected]
Randy Williams | PUBLIC SAFETY ENTERPRISE SERVICES [email protected]
NCC Phone TOLL FREE: 1-888-554-4622 | LOCAL: 517-333-5050
MPSCS AddressMichigan’s Public Safety Communications SystemState Police Headquarters7150 Harris Dr. Dimondale, MI 48821
MPSCS Quarterly is produced by MPSCS Commu-nications and Outreach. For questions, corrections, or story ideas contact Craig Terrill, Communica-tions Representative at [email protected].
82,317RADIOS
59,415SQUARE MILES
1,597PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES SERVEDIncludes State, Local, Federal, Tribal & Private Public Safety
248TOWER SITES64 sites locally owned but integrated into MPSCS
69911 DISPATCH CENTERSSupporting 330 console positions
12,000,000PUSH TO TALKS PER MONTH
System SnapshotNumbers current as of June 2017
MPSCS’s cutting edge network provides interopera-ble statewide coverage for over 80,000 radios used by Michigan’s first responder community. MPSCS serves over 1,500 agencies at all levels: state, local, federal, tribal & private public safety agencies all rely on MPSCS for critical public safety communi-cation services. We provide world class infrastruc-ture, expertise and 24/7/365 support to public safety agencies within Michigan.
ABOUT THE SYSTEM
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