N.Y.C. Dept. of Information Technology & Telecommunications urged...

comments on Verizon Wireless request to agency for waiver in implementing wireless PAS (CD Nov 23 p6). Verizon has said commercial, off-shelf technology that met FCC guidelines wasn’t available. National Communications System (NCS) said earlier this month that Verizon would be tasked to provide PAS capability for Washington, N.Y. and Salt Lake City on near-term basis. N.Y.C. stressed extent to which PAS solutions proposed by Verizon -- Emergency Services Capability (ESC) and Access Channel Persistence -- wouldn’t be able to service “all current or future” national security and emergency personnel (NSEP) with priority access. “NCS will face the novel challenge of determining how to provision authorized NSEP users. The result will be inability to access any radio channel, undermining the objectives of Verizon’s interim solutions,” Agostino Cangemi, gen. counsel for city department, said. He said initial Emergency Services Capability solution planned by Verizon contemplated one level of priority access, while proposed alternative would have 2 levels. City said its personnel typically were first responders in critical early hours of emergencies. “It is imperative that the FCC ensure that the city’s highest priority emergency communications users receive the benefit of any improved emergency response capabilities,” especially in light of waiver of FCC guidelines for PAS, Cangemi said. City wants FCC to grant waiver so NCS can be directed to consult closely with N.Y.C. and give “substantial deference” to its assessment of critical emergency response needs. City raised concerns that without protections of Part 64 rules governing PAS implementation, it wouldn’t have certainty that it would receive “modest” PAS capabilities under Verizon proposal. Cangemi said city also would like FCC’s newly created Homeland Security Policy Council to play “ongoing role” in overseeing waiver implementation. Specifically, city recommended NCS report to council at regular intervals during waiver period. City asked FCC to authorize council to revolve any disputes that “may arise regarding whether NCS is provisioning ESC and access channel persistence in accordance with the terms and conditions” of waiver order.