Congressman Questions PSST Relationships with Advisors: "House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman wrote FCC Chairman Kevin Martin requesting details about the relationship between the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) and the for-profit entities that are serving as PSST advisors.

The PSST, a nonprofit corporation, is expected to oversee the creation of a nationwide interoperable wireless broadband network for public safety. Waxman urged greater transparency regarding the PSST’s relationships with outside parties, although he made no accusations of wrongdoing."

Municipal Wi-Fi needs a paradigm shift: "The new ABI Research report, “Municipal Wireless”, examines the current state of municipal Wi-Fi networks, assessing technology evolution, current market challenges and possible solutions. More than 400 cities in the United States have planned municipal Wi-Fi networks, but after a honeymoon period there is a widespread perception, fueled by media reports of high-profile problems, that the concept is fundamentally flawed.

According to a new study from ABI Research, there is a disconnect between that media-driven gloom and the reality on the ground. Municipal Wi-Fi can be a success, if its goals and business models are redefined."

National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) Leadership: "Denis Gusty has been appointed cochair of the NC&OC. In this role, Mr. Gusty is responsible for managing communications regarding NIEM and supporting active engagement by a broad array of users and practitioners. Mr. Gusty serves as the Acting Director of the Command, Control and Interoperability Division’s (CCI’s) Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC). In addition, he leads OIC’s Disaster Management program, which aims to improve incident response and recovery by developing tools and messaging standards that help emergency responders manage incidents and exchange information in real time."

Massachusetts Statewide Communications Plan Initiated: "Gov. Deval Patrick and Secretary of Public Safety and Security Kevin Burke have announced the creation of a new Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan designed to address critical communications needs of first responders. The plan is Massachusetts' first comprehensive statewide strategy and enables state and local emergency response agencies and other key stakeholders to effectively exchange communications and data, particularly during emergencies. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security has submitted the plan to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Once the plan is approved, the Commonwealth will receive as much as $21 million in federal interoperability grants."

DHS Announces Director of the Office of Emergency Communications: "The Department of Homeland Security announced today the selection of Chris Essid as Director of the Office of Emergency Communications within the department's National Protection and Programs Directorate. In his new position, Essid will guide the department's policies, programs, and activities promoting emergency response communications for federal, state, local, and tribal governments.

Essid brings considerable interoperable communications expertise to the department and joins DHS from the Virginia Governor's Office of Commonwealth Preparedness, where he served as the state's first Interoperability Coordinator overseeing initiatives to improve interoperability at federal, state, and local levels of government."

DHS Announces Director of the Office of Emergency Communications: "Dec 10, 2007, The Department of Homeland Security announced today the selection of Chris Essid as Director of the Office of Emergency Communications within the department's National Protection and Programs Directorate. In his new position, Essid will guide the department's policies, programs, and activities promoting emergency response communications for federal, state, local, and tribal governments. Essid brings considerable interoperable communications expertise to the department and joins DHS from the Virginia Governor's Office of Commonwealth Preparedness, where he served as the state's first Interoperability Coordinator overseeing initiatives to improve interoperability at federal, state, and local levels of government."