Q4 2016 PRESENTED BY:

In-Building Wireless and Public-Safety ™

IMPERATITHE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR PRIVATE AND PUBLIC BUILDING OWNERS AND PROPERTYVE MANAGERS EVOLVING PUBLIC-SAFETY IN-BUILDING PUBLIC- UNDERSTANDING PUBLIC-SAFETY AND COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS SAFETY SYSTEMS: PUBLIC-SAFETY CODES PUBLIC CELLULAR PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE IN-BUILDING WIRELESS SYSTEMS

AND MORE.... KEEPING PEOPLE CONNECTED AND SAFE

SOLiD Public-Safety DAS (Distributed Antenna System) solutions comply with today’s fire codes requiring separate in-building network infrastructure. SOLiD supports ppo t fifirst t responder d and d essential ti l ttwo-way radio di frequencieses whilew meeting rigorous survivability standards and working ing ini interference-free harmony with commercialial cellularc networks.

SOLiDD EXPRESS™ Public SafetySafe ety DAS www.solid.com/das-solutions/express-public-safety-das.html

solid.comcolid.s omc CONTENTS ACkNOWlEDGEmENTS Foreward ...... Page 2 SOLiD thanks and acknowledges the following subject matter experts who enthusiastically contributed to this publication: Introduction to the ...... Page 4 Public-Safety Imperative Jonathan Adelstein President and CEO of PCIA - The Wireless Infrastructure Association Evolution of the ...... Page 6 Public-Safety Imperative mike Brownson Vice President, DAS Technical Solutions, Hutton Communications The Role of Public Safety ...... Page 10 and Public Cellular Chief Charles ‘Chuck’ Dowd Assistant Chief-911 Communications, New York Police Department Understanding Fire ...... Page 14 (ret) and former FirstNet board member and Building Codes John Facella, P.E., C.Eng. Funding and Ownership ...... Page 18 Principal at Panther Pines Consulting Case Study: DC Water...... Page 21 Greg Glenn Sr. Director, RF Engineering, SOLiD Glossary of Terms ...... Page 23 Donny Jackson Editor, Urgent Communications Clark lazare National Information Systems, AT&T Government Solutions Robert leGrande II Principal, The Digital Decision; former Chief Technology Officer, Government of the District of Columbia Claudio lucente Independent Consultant at Fiorel (Canada) manuel Ojeda President, Morcom International Chief Alan Perdue Fire Chief, Greensboro, North Carolina (ret) and Executive Director, Safer Buildings Coalition Rusty Stone, RCDD Telecommunications/Tech Project Manager at Camden Property Trust

©2016 SOLiD. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, distribution, publication or electronic transmission of any content herein is not allowed without the express written permission of SOLiD. For reproduction requests contact [email protected]

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FOREWARD By DOnny JAckSOn

To a large extent, most people money to pay for one were kids done; today, it is a “must,” if only — and enterprises — organize working for drug dealers. In addi- to ensure that people can call for their plans into three main areas: tion, students that really needed to help in case of an emergency — a (1) things they must do; (2) things make a call could always find a notion that the FCC recognized they ought to do; and (3) things landline phone in the school office when it adopted new 911 rules they would like to do or would be or a nearby pay phone. designed to bolster indoor location nice to have, but are not necessities This position may sound crazy, accuracy information from wireless and arguably are luxuries. but it was not simply dismissed at devices. It is — as the title of this As an example, consider the the time. When the council mem- eBook suggests — an “imperative.” notion of a parent planning a ber first announced his position, But wireless indoor coverage child’s education. It is generally use was limited always has been a challenge. accepted that parents “must” take largely to the wealthy few who Radio signals lose strength as they steps to have their children edu- could afford a service that offered encounter physical obstacles, cated at least through the high spotty coverage at best. However, whether it is in the form of a school level — to a large extent, it as prices dropped and coverage mountain, a dense forest or a man- is the law. Most agree that they improved, cellular phones became made structure, like a high-rise “ought” to have their kids attend a more mainstream, and parents office building or an apartment school that helps ensure students’ wanted their kids to have them, so complex. safety and provides an environ- they could communicate things Making the challenge more ment that prepares students to like dinner plans and when they difficult are advances in the continue their education at a needed to be picked up from energy efficiency of buildings. college or university, if they want. after-school activities. The designs and materials used to It would be “nice” if the school(s) Today, the wireless evolution/ keep buildings warm in the winter provides strong programs in areas revolution has had a massive im- and cool in the summer while of special interest to the student — pact on the way we communicate. using less power also are signifi- be it arts, athletics, student politics, There are more wireless devices cantly more resistant to radio etc. — and happens to be a in the market than people on the signals. In these energy-efficient nearby public school, as opposed planet, with many users having buildings, the idea that radio to a private school that requires a more than one device. signals from an outdoor tower lengthy daily commute. In short, wireless technology — consistently will be able to During the past three decades, be it Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular or penetrate inside a building to communications have undergone land mobile radio (LMR), which is provide indoor coverage — a rapid transformation that has used by public safety and many particularly coverage that does not seen wireless communications other enterprises — is the method drain battery life from a device — evolve from a luxury to a necessity that is used most for both voice no longer is realistic. for most in society. and data communications. In a Instead, a more reliable approach As a young reporter for a news- growing number of circumstances, is to design coverage inside a paper in a Dallas suburb, I remem- wireless is the only option, because structure. When designed effectively, ber a city council member in the wireline service is no longer ubiq- an in-building coverage solution late 1980s and early 1990s argue uitous indoors. About 40% of U.S. will deliver a better radio signal to that students should be prohibited households do not have a wireline a wireless device, which typically from carrying cellular phones on phone, according to the FCC. results in better audio quality for public-school campuses. His rea- Meanwhile, pay phones are about voice applications, better through- soning was that cellular phone as rare as 8-track tapes and VCRs. put speeds for data applications service was so expensive that the As a result, wireless connectivity and longer battery life for the only students with both the need indoors is no longer “nice” to have user’s device. It also has potential to have a mobile phone and the or something that “ought” to be to deliver much better location

2 ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS PUBlIC-SAFETy ImPERATIvE data from the device, including increased property loss, injuries Public Safety Communications much-anticipated vertical — or “Z and fatalities. Research (PSCR) stated that First- axis” — information. This straightforward reality Net could reduce the number of From a public-safety perspective, should be reflected in the laws outdoor sites needed for its much- good indoor coverage for customers and financial issues associated with anticipated public-safety broad- and first responders provides buildings and other structures. band network by 14%, if it knew multiple benefits during an emer- Laws and insurance discounts that indoor coverage was available gency response. have long been in place to require in all buildings. Initially, strong commercial or encourage the installation of fire Exactly how this should be indoor coverage lets consumers sprinklers — with good reason, implemented is a matter that who are indoors dial 911 to report because such systems can reduce should be a topic of healthy an emergency via their cellular property loss and save lives. debate that should be part of a phone — the device they are most Given that indoor wireless conversation that needs to happen comfortable using, and it should coverage achieves similar goals in sooner, rather than later. Invest- provide better location information broader range of use cases — fire ments in wireless technologies in the near future. This can save sprinklers will not help a victim of continue to accelerate, and they valuable time in circumstances a heart attack or domestic violence can be done much more efficiently when seconds can mean the — we should have similar require- if everyone understands the big- difference between life and death. ments and incentives in place for picture goals as soon as possible. Once first responders are on the in-building wireless systems for For instance, given the 911, scene, a good indoor public-safety both consumers and public safety. lifeline and public-safety implica- system allows firefighters, law Building owners who make the tions of in-building systems in the enforcement and EMS to commu- commitment to provide this capa- foreseeable future, my belief is nicate better and more efficiently bility should be rewarded legally that the core in-building wireless using LMR voice today, with the and financially for making their capability should be hardened potential to leverage Band 14 LTE facilities safer. Those who do not from a power and physical stand- and transmit sensor data via myr- provide in-building wireless cover- point for both consumers and iad technologies in the near future. age in their facilities should pay public safety. However, various This data capability includes the higher insurance rates and other scenarios and costs factors need to ability to track the location of first costs, because their structures be assessed before policies are set responders, as well as monitor their simply are not as safe as those — different types of buildings may health via biometric technology. with in-building coverage. justify different approaches. When first-response efforts Not only are policies associated This is just one example of the have gone awry, communications with in-building coverage important nuanced technical and policy difficulties almost always are cited from a safety perspective, they discussions that should occur in as a key contributing factor. This have other implications, as well. the coming months and years. is understandable, because any With reliable indoor coverage and But the important thing is that organizing an endeavor – from the location capabilities, applications these conversations take place, construction of a sports arena to and businesses can be established so appropriate policies can be planning a family reunion – tends that leverage this information. established that enable efficient to happen more smoothly when In addition, good in-building deployment of technologies that strong lines of communications coverage helps keep customers will make both consumers and are open. happy, which is always good for first responders safer in the future. In short, a facility with good business. Addressing this in-building wire- indoor wireless-communications Meanwhile, if a network less issue is the right thing to do, coverage for consumers and pub- provider knows that in-building and the timing is ideal. It should lic safety is inherently safer than coverage is available in all facilities, be considered an imperative. those that lack this functionality. they do not have to spend as Without good indoor coverage, much on outdoor macro towers, Donny Jackson, Editor, there likely will be a delay in in hopes of having the radio Urgent Communications reporting an emergency situation signals from the towers penetrate and the response effort often is the buildings to provide indoor delayed, which can lead to coverage. In 2014, officials for

3 INTRODUCTION: ThE PUBlIC-SAFETy COmmUNICATIONS ImPERATIvE JOhn cELEnTAnO, EDiTOR

“If you can’t call us, we can’t help you.” chief Alan Perdue, Fire chief, Greensboro, north carolina (ret) and Executive Director, Safer Buildings coalition ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS PUBlIC-SAFETy ImPERATIvE

Public-safety communications is at an important juncture. Every day, seemingly, news “At the end of the day, a cop or firefighter headlines are filled with reports of incidents in which communications needs to be able to key up: I need help!” plays a pivotal role in the outcome. chief charles “chuck” Dowd, Assistant chief-911 At the height of any emergency, communications, new york Police Department (ret) it is paramount that first responders and former Firstnet board member can communicate with one another “Do they hear me? Can I hear them?” Yet as clear as this impera- • Commercial building owners The outcome is a series of tive is, the stark reality is that and property managers must discussions on the most pertinent public-safety communications adopt and implement prevailing topics: faces challenges, particularly inside local building and fire codes, and buildings having certain character- find workable business models to PUBlIC-SAFETy COmmUNICATIONS istics. EvOlUTION fund in-building wireless systems A look at how public-safety com- But public-safety communica- that enhance public safety inside tions is not relegated to police, munications got started and where their buildings. it’s headed. fire and emergency medical To be sure, it is vital that both services (EMS). It’s about the gen- public safety and commercial UNDERSTANDING CODE FOR eral public, too. After all, if you or cellular to work together to solve PUBlIC-SAFETy COmmUNICATIONS I can’t be notified about an incident for public safety communications. An overview and demystifying of or call for help, first responders This outcome is the vision of First- relevant and evolving building won’t know to help us. Net, the ambitious and once-in-a- and fire codes related to public- It is imperative that every stake- generation initiative to create a safety communications. holder in the public safety milieu new public-safety broadband assess and address the issues that ThE ROlE OF PUBlIC SAFETy AND PUBlIC network (PSBN). However, First- CEllUlAR IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS SySTEmS impact their contribution to public- Net was intended to fund and A hotly-debated topic in which we safety communications: achieve outdoor communications, weigh the pros and cons of each • First responders must find com- not indoor. With an estimated network architecture approach. mon ground on communications 80 percent of all wireless calls systems, and in each jurisdiction, originating or terminating inside PAyING FOR IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS determine how police, fire and buildings, it is vital that indoors SySTEmS: FUNDING AND OWNERShIP EMS should interoperate. A discussion of strategies for does not get left behind. overcoming the challenge of an • Communications equipment It is with these issues in mind vendors must deliver products unfunded mandate for indoor that The Imperative has been public-safety communications. and services that provide robust created. in-building wireless solutions, This eBook is intended as a CASE STUDy: DC WATER while serving wireless digital reference document for the many A profile of a unique public-safety handheld devices and cellular constituents who face the chal- communications deployment in that are changing lenges of improving in-building the nation’s capital wastewater both verbal and non-verbal wireless service that supports treatment plant. communications in public-safety public-safety communications. and public cellular networks alike. In preparing this document, we We believe that fostering discus- • Municipalities and local jurisdic- consulted many of the industry’s sion and debate will only help to tions must stipulate the building leading experts and proponents get the key issues on the table. and fire codes that make buildings in public-safety communications, Such discussion can lead to a con- safer within their jurisdictions, tapping their deep knowledge and sensus and progress on how pub- while staying current with contin- experience in public-safety codes, lic safety communications issues ual national and international first responder operations, wireless are addressed and solved. code revisions. technology, and telecommunica- To that end, we welcome your tions networks. comments and feedback.

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EvOlUTION OF ThE PUBlIC-SAFETy COmmUNICATIONS ImPERATIvE Public-safety communications has evolved out of necessity and in line with technological advancements. Throughout this evolution, there have been many imperatives. Over time, it is through these imperatives that we have advanced our communications and created safer environments to work, live and play. So with FirstNet on the horizon and wireless broadband technologies aligning with our current imperative, how did we get to where we are today? how did technology play a role, and how did the stakeholders make it happen?

WORD OF mOUTh naling to notify the fire department so did the efficiency of public Throughout history, the shrill of an emergency situation vastly safety communications and a shift cry of “FIRE! FIRE!” was the call to improved response times. Call box in stakeholder’s responsibility. action that summoned first respon- designs improved and the bright Up to this point, municipalities ders to the scene of an emergency. red metal boxes sprouted up on primarily funded, installed and Simple, and it worked. That is corners throughout major cities maintained the call box networks. until towns turned into cities and across the country. More important, Even though curbside call boxes new technology presented a viable each call box was numbered and are a thing of the past, building and more efficient alternative. was connected to a central dispatch and fire codes still require manual From a simple “FIRE!” to E-911, station that received an alarm pull stations in every commercial scalability and enhanced voice when the call box was activated or building. Building owners became technology are the key drivers and “pulled” by a citizen or police. Now stakeholders in public safety and are relevant even today. fire departments could receive will continue to play a significant immediate notification of a fire, role in the communication impera- FIRE CAll BOxES determine the approximate location tive. Buildings old and new now By the 1830’s technology was at of the fire from the call box num- have code requirements for fire the ready, and like most high-tech ber, and dispatch fire crews to the prevention, detection, alarms and advancements, you have solutions scene within minutes. Adding a communication systems. looking for problems to solve. telephone to a call box further ad- But what about communications Even by today’s standards, the vanced the speed, efficiency and among the police, fire and EMS at telegraph found its way into public accuracy of notifying the fire the scene of an emergency? Enter safety very quickly and rapidly ad- department because the caller in more technology – the portable vanced the ability to communicate connected directly with a dis- radio. with the fire department. Using te- patcher at the central station and legraphy, the first fire call box was could provide more detail on the lAND mOBIlE RADIO (lmR) installed in Boston in 1852. Call exact location of the fire or incident. Handheld two-way technology boxes were simple machines that Call boxes with telephone jacks found its way home with the generated a telegraph signal that were installed in buildings to serve troops returning from World War was decoded at a central location. the same purpose as outdoor call II. Motorola engineers developed The idea of using some sort of sig- boxes. As technology advanced, the technology and supplied the

6 ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS PUBlIC-SAFETy ImPERATIvE troops during the war. After the war, the company looked for ways to commercialize its ‘walkie-talkie’ designs. Motorola promoted its two-way mobile radio to police and fire departments for public- safety uses. Now police officers and firefighters could communicate with each other with portable radios. These radios at first were analog devices that operated over only a few channels so their functionality was limited and often the system became congested trying to handle an overload of calls, especially dur- ing an emergencyinside buildings. In response, the government and the industry organization APCO established initiatives to develop required capabilities and standards beginning with Project 16 which was later supplanted by Project 25 (or P25) to improve public-safety communications for enhanced coordination, timely response, and efficient and effective use of communications equipment. Operating at VHF/UHF and 800 MHz frequencies, P25 radios can be used inside buildings because the low frequencies can penetrate walls. However, there are limita- tions: dense building materials, and high tech finishes, like high efficiency window coatings, can reduce or even block RF signals. Additionally the type of building will also play a role in RF signal reception. In tall buildings, first re- sponders cannot communicate with each other above 10 floors if they are operating in 1:1 simplex mode. Conventional- or trunked- mode that uses base stations and repeaters can help communications inside buildings, but every building is different. “When you move into the ‘built environment’ where we do our work, you never know what “FIRE! FIRE!” you’re going to get” says Chief From a simple “FIRE!” to E-911, scalability and enhanced voice Alan Perdue, a retired Fire Chief of Guilford County Emergency Services technology are the key drivers and are relevant even today.

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in Greensboro, North Carolina and currently the Executive Director of the Safer Building Coalition. Without an adequate in-building wireless facility, two-way radios quickly can hit their limits. Recent events in our history have made it painfully clear that it CONGRESS CREATES FIRSTNET is better to communicate wirelessly, On February 22, 2012, the U.S Congress enacted the Middle Class and this is where the imperative Tax Relief and Job Recovery Act of 2012 (Spectrum Act) which: becomes very clear. Every building • Formed the First Responder network Authority (Firstnet) as an or structure presents a unique independent authority within the U.S. Department of commerce. communication challenge and it’s Firstnet is charged with responsibilities for deploying and operating this challenge that begins to define the nationwide public safety broadband network. the Imperatives stakeholders and their roles to meeting the challenges. • Gives Firstnet the mission to build, operate and maintain the first Once again technology will be high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to leveraged to meet the challenge. public safety. • Firstnet will provide a single interoperable platform for emergency WIRElESS BROADBAND and daily public-safety communications. This broadband network will Most teenagers with smartphones fulfill a fundamental need of the public safety community as well as today possess wireless communica- the last remaining recommendation of the 9/11 commission. tion abilities that are superior to • Directed the commission to allocate the D-Block (758-763 today’s first responders. Wireless Mhz/788-793 Mhz) to public safety for use in a nationwide broadband technology, like the broadband network; telegraph over a century ago, is set to advance public-safety com- • Designated that Firstnet will hold the license for both the existing munications and it promises to public safety broadband spectrum Band 14 (763-769 Mhz/793-799 Mhz) and the reallocated D Block, and deliver big! FirstNet is a wireless broadband network based on • Allocated up to $7 billion dollars to Firstnet to construct this LTE technology operating in nationwide public-safety broadband network. the 700 MHz band and is slated to support the next generation of Robert LeGrande, a former CTO for tween first responders. public-safety communications the District of Columbia and cur- With appropriate filtering, there Using nationwide 700 MHz rent CEO of the Digital Decision, will be no interference with public spectrum, FirstNet is designed to a consultancy for communications cellular 4G LTE 700 MHz frequen- unify the decades-long disparate initiatives for Federal, State and cies, whether on the outdoor net- public-safety communications, and Local governments. This way, if the work or on an in-building DAS. will help keep communities and public-safety frequencies go down Proper system design is the key, emergency responders safer with for any reason, first responders can nonetheless. In addition to the a robust ubiquitous network. ‘roam’ or transfer their calls onto FirstNet frequencies, a DAS can FirstNet’s appeal is that it will the public . carry P25 VHF/UHF and 800 MHz leverage commercial wireless LeGrande believes that FirstNet’s public safety frequencies which will technology that is complementary capabilities for handling voice, data remain operational for some time, to what the major cellular carriers and video communications over a thereby enhancing in-building are using. unified network platform make it coverage for two-way radios. Designed with a redundant very compelling for first respon- Progress requires change and highly-available, high-reliable ders. This broadband link opens LeGrande expects police and fire architecture, FirstNet will support possibilities for streaming video departments will be slow to give mobile devices that operate in both from body cameras to access to up the familiarity of their LMR public-safety and cellular carrier data including photographs, build- radios in favor of a new multi- frequencies with the back-up that ing drawings and maps not to purpose handheld device on first responders want according to mention true interoperability be- FirstNet. He believes, however,

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hISTORy lESSON: ThE FIRE mARk These metal plaques marked with the emblem of the insurance company were affixed to the front of insured buildings as a guide to the insurance company's fire brigade. Subscribers paid fire fighting companies in advance for fire protection and in exchange would receive a fire mark to attach to their building. The payments for the fire marks supported the fire fighting companies. Folklore suggests that the volunteer fire company would not fight a fire unless there was a fire mark on the burning building. (Sources: Wikipedia and The Firemark circle of the Americas) that once first responders become specific code and standards that ments, and appropriate solutions comfortable with wireless broad- address: coverage area, fire-rated will need to align to meet the band capabilities and with proper cable raceways and equipment requirements. training and testing, they gradually enclosures, battery back-up and Once established in the code, will migrate from LMR radios. requirements for redundancy, architects and engineers, commer- system monitoring and acceptable cial developers and building ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS communication signal levels. owners can start to plan for ImPERATIvE For the majority of people, 80 in-building wireless as part of the What are building owners to percent of occurs facility’s ecosystem. Still, to make it make of FirstNet? indoors and, when most people all work, Chief Perdue is emphatic At this writing, building and are faced with an emergency that public safety is an imperative fire codes are being revised and today, they reach for their mobile is shared by multiple stakeholders: updated to include DAS technol- device to call 911, not a landline. “The industry - manufacturers, de- ogy as a viable extension of the This in-building reality is the signers, installers, building owners public-safety communications imperative that will further and public-safety organizations – network indoors. Today, there are advance and drive code require- they all have to be at the table.”

9 ThE ROlE OF PUBlIC-SAFETy AND PUBlIC CEllUlAR IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS SySTEmS Think about it: In an emergency, how do people call for help? These days, most people will dial 911 on their . But what if they are inside a high-rise office building or other large venue and they do not have cellular coverage to call or send a text message? hundreds of lives could be at risk. And if emergency first responders face the same indoor communication dilemma, then what? ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS PUBlIC-SAFETy ImPERATIvE

According to statistics from may not be clear. A similar situation arises in 700 AT&T, nearly 80 percent of all “There is a big need for MHz frequencies where adjoining wireless calls originate or terminate in-building coverage for public bands are assigned for carrier- inside buildings. In response, the safety” says Greg Glenn, Sr. based commercial cellular 4G LTE wireless industry has developed Director, RF Engineering at SOLiD. and FirstNet public-safety channels. solutions to enable cellular service “The problem is that there are not “Outside, we’re good with from the outside, in. A proven any best practices to deal with 1,000-2,000 feet between base approach is through the use of public-safety communications. stations. Indoor application is Distributed Antenna Systems Each city and county has their much different than outdoor; (DAS). own take [on in-building wireless], we’re not so lucky,” says Glenn. By design, a DAS can support so it is hard for DAS installers to Traditionally, most DAS equip- frequency bands from multiple know what to do in each case.” ment manufacturers focus on cellular providers. Similarly, a DAS (For more information, please see developing solutions that are opti- designed to enable public-safety our chapter on “Understanding mized for cellular applications. communications can support the Fire and Building Codes for After all, nearly nine of every ten multiple frequency bands used by Public-Safety Communications”) dollars spent on in-building wire- public safety such as VHF/UHF Glenn points out that the less gear is for commercial cellular. and 800 MHz. frequency assignments for public- DAS equipment that is designed This raises an important question: safety and cellular services have outside of the U.S. is often unable Should a single DAS support both gotten closer so the potential for to handle both cellular and public cellular and public-safety signals? interference has increased. This safety in the same building. At first blush, the advantages situation has arisen with 800 MHz Support for both services must be appear to be attractive. However, re-banding for cellular that could filtered, but that adds complexity there are myriad considerations interfere with 800 MHz Trunked and cost to the systems. that inform a definitive answer radio used by first responders. SOLiD’s Glenn describes three hOW A DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SySTEm PS REPEATER (DAS) WORkS: DAS The cellular (RF) signal (EACH FLOOR) source is fed into a DAS head-end. ROU The signal source may be: 1) a base transceiver station (BTS) for cellular, public safety or both, that is co-located ROU at the DAS head-end, or 2) a bi-direc- tional amplifier (BDA) co-located with ROU the head-end and is fed by a directional antenna, called a donor antenna that picks up the outside signal from a ROU nearby macrocell site. The DAS head-end converts the RF to ROU an optical signal for transmission over fiber optic cable that connects to DAS ROU remote units.

The DAS remote unit then converts the ODU DMS INTERNET CLOUD optical signal back to RF and connects BIU BASE to one or more indoor antennas that STATIONS are strategically located or distributed throughout the building.

11 ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS PUBlIC SAFETy ImPERATIvE approaches for enabling both of sprinklers, smoke detectors, fire commercial cellular and public SEPARATE OR PARALLEL DAS pull boxes took time. The middle safety indoors: tier won’t be built out soon. It may 1) Separate or parallel DAS lay- take a long time. Economics will ers that have discrete infrastructure PS dictate separate or a converged including cable feeds and anten- system.” nas for cellular and public safety. CELL The real question is more oper- 2) “Hybrid” separated DAS lay- ational, and the ability for various ers that have separate cable infra- first responder agencies to com- structure (i.e., public safety on one “HYBRID” SEPARATED DAS municate with each other outside fiber from the head-end and and inside buildings. cellular on another fiber) but then Chief Charles ‘Chuck’ Dowd, combine both services on the PS retired Assistant Chief for 911 same antenna. Communications for the New York 3) Converged DAS where com- CELL Police Department (NYPD) and mercial cellular and public-safety former FirstNet board member has frequencies are combined on the first-hand experience where inter- same DAS infrastructure operability and less than optimal The latter remains controversial. CONVERGED DAS coverage impacted the emergency Technically, a converged platform communications. He was on-site is feasible but only with the PS during 9/11, Hurricane Sandy and addition of expensive RF filtering the Northeast Blackout. “These are at the DAS remote to ensure that CELL high-volume, high-demand situa- the respective services do not tions where the police, fire and interfere with each other. In EMS need to talk to each other.” addition, specialized codes for Three approaches for enabling both Dowd says that first responders commercial cellular and public-safety public safety may not apply to coverage indoors. have difficulty communicating commercial cellular service. And inside buildings because first lastly, carriers or third party owner The International Fire Code responders use two-way radios neutral hosts may not pay for a (IFC) stipulates 95% general build- differently. “When fire crews are public-safety DAS. ing coverage for public safety. By dispatched then get on-scene, they “There are pros and cons both contrast, the National Fire Protec- tend to go to 1:1 simplex operation ways”, says Mike Brownson, tion Association (NFPA) stipulates with their radios, there is no Vice President DAS Technical 90% general building coverage but network-wide communications.” Solutions at Hutton Communica- 99% coverage in critical areas such The problem is that point-to- tions. “You have to let the applica- as control rooms or pump rooms. point communications, between tion determine the way to go, “With Land Mobile Radio (LMR), command on the ground and crews taking into account the building to move from 90% to 95% coverage 30 stories up, is limited in high-rise size and shape, and the materials is not trivial”, says John Facella, building as the building structure used. Then there are the building principal at Panther Pines Consult- itself greatly limits the RF signal. owner’s priorities, who is putting ing. “It’s a non-linear relationship. In contrast, police use radios the system together, and politics It might mean adding 50% more that are almost all on network and technology, especially when [antenna] sites. I’m not sure if it’s frequencies served by a network you bring in public safety.” worth it.” of towers. They tend to work He adds that with cellular DAS “DAS for public safety is still up better in taller buildings because you pretty much need coverage to in the air. It’s up to the industry they receive signals from land- everywhere. “Public safety doesn’t to agree on what’s needed. based towers or even better, necessarily need full-building cov- In-building wireless buildouts are from antennas installed at similar erage but in large buildings you problematic in general. Tier 1 is elevations on nearby buildings. need to cover stairwells and lower covered by the carriers. Tier 2, the Solutions to improve coverage levels. If you design each one for middle tier, - who will pay for it, and interoperability for public- what’s needed, you probably end nobody knows. FirstNet won’t do safety communications currently up with a lot less equipment.” it”, added Facella. “Implementation exist, and other initiatives are on

12 ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS PUBlIC-SAFETy ImPERATIvE the way. Today’s DAS networks migrate, and a huge embedded nications coverage? can support first responders via base of LMR VHF/UHF radios Robert LeGrande, a former CTO LMR, VHF/UHF frequencies. Now means that the technology will be for the District of Columbia and fast forward a few years and the around for some time. To that current CEO of the Digital Decision, FirstNet requirements are likely to end, in-building DAS solutions will a consultancy for communications provide additional communica- need to be engineered to support initiatives for Federal, State and tions capabilities to first respon- both LMR and LTE frequencies. Local governments echoes the ders through broadband, Said Dowd, “At the end of the aforementioned views that solving LTE-based radios. Broadband day, a cop or firefighter needs to for indoor public-safety communi- capability will indeed open the be able to key-up, ‘I need help!’ cations means thinking about door for public safety to take ad- Will FirstNet mimic the reliability tomorrow, today. “We’re not vantage of technology that the of LMR? It will happen eventually.” trying to solve a problem, we’re general public uses today. Live trying to create a comprehensive video from body cameras and GPS ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS and long term solution. We need location based applications will ImPERATIvE to branch out and look at non- leap communications to new levels. Will it take another natural dis- traditional thinking on both sides – Dowd believes that it will take aster or other tragedy to achieve the commercial and public safety – time for public-safety agencies to vision shared by many including to accomplish that.” adopt LTE handset technology Chief Dowd as well as the Safer Are building owners and equip- and that there will be a period of Buildings Coalition for making ment suppliers up for the challenge? transition as the FirstNet vision buildings safer by developing While technical issues are fairly becomes a reality. The benefits of initiatives that lead to more build- well understood at this juncture, a public-safety broadband network ings being served with commercial the IFC and NFPA fire codes need are significant but the costs to and public-safety wireless commu- to evolve. So building developers and DAS designers are reluctant to commit unless the requirements are clear. Local jurisdictions need to take a stand on what standards and regulations should apply, but they too are being cautious, pending new code releases. Facella comments, “We’re hoping IFC will take a similar stance as NFPA, hopefully with similar numbers. Today’s minimum standards have wide conflicts.” Lastly, there’s the challenge of complying with an unfunded mandate. Is it solely up to the building owner to fund a public- safety DAS in their building? Or is it a shared responsibility among in-building stakeholders including the venue, wireless operators and municipality? What about tax in- centives or insurance discounts CAN yOU hEAR mE? that inspire to comply with what is Police and Fire personnel depend on code-compliant coverage required on multiple frequency bands for two-way radio and emergency Although there are more questions than answers at this communication no matter where they are in your facility – point, it is clear that it is vital not through thick building walls and even underground. to leave buildings behind.

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UNDERSTANDING FIRE & BUIlDING CODES FOR PUBlIC-SAFETy COmmUNICATIONS

CODES AND Why ARE ThEy guidelines for building and fire reliable indoor communications. ImPORTANT? safety to protect occupants and Basically, ‘codes’ are what you Navigating myriad international, first responders alike in the event have to do, ‘standards’ tell you national and local building and fire of a fire or other life safety emer- how to accomplish that, and codes for public-safety communi- gency in both new and existing ‘ordinances’ provide the legal path cations can be bewildering and buildings. for getting those functions into confusing to most property own- Common terminology includes place. (Figure 1) ers and building managers. Even ‘codes’, ‘standards’ and ‘ordinances’. A key distinction in public safety experts in the field find it challeng- These terms are not the same even for stakeholders that hail from the ing to stay current with the neces- though they are often used inter- commercial wireless industry is sary changes. changeably. Yet they work together the rigidity of code language: Public-safety codes establish the to accomplish the common goal of public-safety codes stipulate “shall”

14 ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS PUBlIC-SAFETy ImPERATIvE requirements, not “should” guide- lines. Fire alarms and sprinkler systems EXAMPLE CODE PROCESS have been around since the mid to late 1800s, and the codes for those systems were some of the first fire Change Deadline: and building codes adopted in this First working day country. By comparison, model of January code language for in-building wireless public-safety communica- tions are relatively new, less than 10 years. The International Code Council Codes updated on (ICC) introduced in-building a three-year cycle Committee Action requirements for public-safety CODE Hearings: communications into the Interna- Code Development tional Fire Code (IFC) in 2009. in April-May And even then, it only showed up in the appendix, which meant it was a recommendation available for adoption, not necessarily a re- Public Comment quirement in the technical provi- Hearings: sions of the code. Upon further Final Action in modification, that language got October-November moved to the technical provision of chapter five of the IFC in 2012. Figure 1 National Fire Protection Associa- tion (NFPA) requirements also scoped test methods or product codes and standards to create their followed similar timelines. specifications.” own code, so it is imperative that The intent of ICC’s IFC is “to stakeholders understand what is establish the minimum require- CODE DEvElOPmENT PROCESSES required in each jurisdiction. ments consistent with nationally- It is important as an industry to These model codes from the recognized good practice for identify what is really needed for ICC and NFPA are typically providing a reasonable level of life in-building wireless public-safety updated on a three-year cycle, and safety and property protection communications and determine the frequency of change for local from the hazards of fire, explosion how to get modifications and/or codes can vary depending on the or dangerous conditions in new additional requirements into the political climate of the community, and existing buildings, structures model documents for jurisdictions although they rarely go longer and premises, and to provide to adopt via state or local ordi- than six years before modifications safety to fire fighters and emergency nance. This goal is to deliver more are adopted. responders during emergency consistency for everyone involved. Model code language is adopted operations.” ICC and the NFPA publish by the state or local jurisdictions The NFPA stipulates that a model codes and standards for and municipalities through ordi- ‘code’ or ‘standard’ includes “a public-safety in-building wireless nances that then set the rules and wide variety of technical works communications. Model codes regulations for public-safety in- that prescribe rules, guidelines, bring all the issues together, but building radio enhancement best practices, specifications, test there are differences between systems. methods, design or installation what is published by the ICC and procedures and the like. The size, the NFPA. So it is important to be CODE ENFORCEmENT scope and subject matter of codes aware of what is adopted via The person or entity most often and standards varies widely, rang- ordinance in each respective responsible for enforcing these ing from lengthy model building jurisdiction. Public agencies may codes is referred to as the author- or electrical codes to narrowly combine requirements from these ity having jurisdiction (AHJ). Some

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safety communication gaps whereby once tenant improvements are required, permitting and code compliance is enforced. mAkE DUST OR EAT DUST Many jurisdictions will enforce “Our best chance to accomplish code compliance through yearly inspections that can uncover code our collective goals will come violations from failing equipment from all of us working together. or poorly maintained networks. If every stakeholder is not PUBlIC SAFETy COmmUNICATIONS involved and invested in the CODE Building owners must adhere to process, the results will continue the applicable municipal fire and to be all over the place. life safety codes, most of which chief Alan Perdue The resulting impact will be an are well-established. But it is a different story when it comes to unnecessary increased cost to in-building projects public-safety communications. in the form of re-do installations, systems that do Claudio Lucente, an independent consultant with Fiorel (Canada) not work as designed and AhJs denying a certificate points out, that there are evolving of occupancy which has a significant impact on t codes for public safety communi- he venue owners says Chief Perdue. “If you are cations. Without clear guidelines, he explained, many firefighters traveling down a dirt road, you can either make operating inside buildings use the dust or eat the dust. It’s about being out front, two-way radios often in simplex mode where the radios communi- engaged and charting your own course.” cate with each other on a one-to- one, or simplex, basis. This means that calls must be handed off to the nearest radio instead of con- cities may empower their fire code a certificate of occupancy. If not, necting to each other over a net- official to enforce these codes then it is back to work to fix the work. If a firefighter gets into while other communities might problems. trouble, they can still get help as delegate the responsibility to the Should an existing building fall the call is passed from radio to building code official. into a grandfathered situation, it radio, but it is not an ideal Code enforcement is done may not be required to meet the arrangement. through permitting of new con- latest code. Grandfathering makes Lucente points out options for struction and maintenance inspec- political sense for the municipality improving in-building communica- tions in existing occupancies. as well as financial sense for the tions for two-way radios. High- With new construction, the venue owner according to Donny powered radio repeaters mounted architectural drawings must be Jackson, Editor at Urgent Commu- on emergency vehicles can boost reviewed for code compliance. nications. On the other hand, he signals high into buildings so first If the design does not meet code, observes that “most structures responders can use their radios in then no building permit is issued. were built long before in-building broadcast mode instead of simplex Once an approved building is codes were implemented, which mode. Repeaters afford some completed, a safety inspection of means they will continue to be improvement but still not an ideal the building takes place. This quite problematic for first respon- arrangement. inspection includes all of the life ders if grandfathering is allowed to The need for establishing effec- safety systems and will include continue.” 1. tive public-safety communications the in-building communications Increasingly, such situations codes is growing. Chief Alan enhancement networks. If all is usually are temporary as codes Perdue, a retired Chief of Guilford good, then the building is granted evolve to address indoor public- County Emergency Services in

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Greensboro, North Carolina and building wireless was mentioned safety solutions. Each set of codes currently the Executive Director in four different NFPA codes and is “custom” and therefore each of the Safer Building Coalition., standards (NFPA 1, 72, 1221, and in-building project is custom. advocates for in-building commu- 5000) and often with conflicting The late Jack Daniel, according nications coverage within the language. NFPA is moving to to Urgent Communications’ code. “If public-safety personnel correct the situation: the 2016 Jackson “advocated the adoption can obtain signals while operating edition of NFPA 1221 will contain of local codes mandating systems outside the building, you must the detailed in-building require- in buildings that would support have them inside in order to ments, and the 2016 edition of public-safety communications complete their mission.” He high- NFPA 72 will contain a reference when first responders were within lights that fact that police, fire and to go to 1221 for the in-building the confines of the structure.” emergency medical service (EMS) requirements details. The NFPA Daniel was a leading authority teams on scene often are commu- previous language referenced who published a clearinghouse nicating on different frequencies BDAs and was not digital (P25) reference database for the current including VHF/UHF and 800 MHz friendly. The changes include local ordinances and codes for trunked radio. This means that adding DAS to the in-building in-building public-safety coverage these different groups “are at times technologies mentioned, and for virtually every municipality. unable to talk to each other.” accommodate both analog and This information significantly Chief Perdue also recognizes that digital P25 technologies. provided clarity to the stakehold- not one communication systems Setting a standard for acceptable ers but, alas, the work has not size fits all because it depends on in-building wireless performance been advanced since his passing. the building and other demo- is a challenge. Facella explains Similarly, venues need to graphics of the jurisdiction. that, in the original language, prepare for public safety. At a Ultimately, first responders “need testing involved measuring the RF minimum, the new building a common public-safety platform, signal in dBm but RF alone does designs should include accommo- regardless of frequency.” not equate to transmission quality. dation for public-safety communi- He points out that the problem “Can my dispatch hear them? Can cations infrastructure: cable is that the codes are not uniform, the rest of my team hear them? runways above ceilings and in they are always in a state of Do they sound excited?” So system cable risers or elevator shafts, continuous improvement, and performance testing specifications potential antenna placements in they take time to develop, adopt now takes into account delivered work spaces or common areas, and implement. For instance, ICC audio quality (DAQ) that does not and space allocations for equip- calls for in-building signal coverage rely on an RF engineer to conduct ment and power. of 95 percent while NFPA stipulates the test, and it actually measures Exactly what type of IBW system 90 percent coverage except in what counts, what the user actu- will be installed depends on the critical areas such as a control ally hears. building, the applicable local room or pump room, then the codes and the specific perform- requirement is 99 percent cover- IBW ImPERATIvE ance requirements. age. Battery backup is another Codes for in-building wireless issue. “What does it need to be, for public-safety communications 12 hours or 24 hours? Twice the are evolving. We all need to get battery capacity means twice the on board. space required.” This starts with demystifying That sentiment is echoed by codes, standards and ordinances, John Facella, principal at Panther and helping stakeholders under- Pines Consulting with deep expe- stand what is required to comply. rience and expertise in public Because codes are not uniform safety. “Providing in-building and, instead, the IFC and NFPA coverage is not trivial,” he says. language is adopted at the state or “There are several technologies local level, no repeatable nation- from which to chose – DAS, wide much less statewide BDAs, passive systems.” processes exist for industry to 1. Donny Jackson, “Incentives Needed to Bolster In-building Communications for First Responders”, He points out however that in- design and deploy indoor public- Urgent Communications (October 15, 2013)

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FUNDING AND OWNING IN-BUIlDING PUBlIC-SAFETy NETWORkS When the conversation turns to in-building wireless networks, it’s virtually impossible to avoid the topic of funding and ownership – whether commercial cellular or public safety.

Multiple business models exist to change the stakeholder outlook independent, non-profit organiza- for funding and owning indoor paradigm to inspire rather than tion focused on advancing policies commercial cellular networks, and simply require these investments. and ideas that lead to more large these models are evolving based The importance of in-building and medium sized buildings being on factors such as stakeholder wireless communications for served with commercial and market strategies as well as market public safety cannot be overstated. public-safety wireless coverage. conditions and the dynamics of An estimated 80 percent of all Put simply, building occupants various market segments. Address- wireless calls originate or terminate need in-building cellular coverage ing the unfunded mandate for in- inside buildings. Similarly, a major- not only as a matter of conven- door public-safety communications, ity of emergency incidents occur ience or a business requirement, however, reveals the absence of indoors. Creating safer in-building but also as a vital link for public- a business case. Someone will environments for occupants and safety communications. To wit, undoubtedly have to fund the first responders is a clear impera- when faced with an emergency, effort, and therefore precedents tive and it is the mission of the building occupants will turn first and initiatives must be identified Safer Buildings Coalition, an to their smartphone to call or text

18 ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS PUBlIC-SAFETy ImPERATIvE for help. Similarly first responders require in-building coverage for COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL PUBLIC their public-safety two-way radio Method: LARGE VENUE MIDDLEPRISE SAFETY communications – particularly in Carrier the places where emergency per- • 3PO sonnel typically operate such as • • stairwells and parking garages. Venue • • • Getting there requires wireless Shared connectivity for both groups: • • • commercial cellular and public Funding sources for commercial cellular and Public Safety in-Building networks. safety. The question and challenge around funding and ownership is whether industry stakeholders can owner (3PO) as a “neutral host” Trust, a Houston, Texas-based find a model where the two can whose network other operators property management and devel- meet to establish a mutually pay to plug into. opment firm that operates 168 beneficial business case. A perfect storm is brewing, communities with more than Jonathan Adelstein, President however, influenced by cellular 62,000 apartments across 10 states and CEO of PCIA - The Wireless device subscribership that eclipses and the District of Columbia. Infrastructure Association, 90 percent, bring your own device Who pays for the DAS? “We do”, observes that the goals of public (BYOD) workplace initiatives and says Stone. “But we are open to safety and commercial wireless saturation of in-building wireless working with someone else who need to be met. “What we want networks within the large venue can make that happen. We don’t to see is a win-win where there market segment, which reveals want to own the system. We don’t is a business case that enables that a new tier of venues is begin- want to touch it. We don’t have [commercial in-building wireless ning to be targeted. Known as the the staff to design it or maintain networks] to be available to “Middleprise” and characterized as it.” public safety but, at the same time, venues having between venues commercial networks do this in between 100,000 and 500,000 FUNDING mODElS FOR PUBlIC- a way that is profitable and that square feet, this segment – which SAFETy IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS ultimately succeeds in the market- consists of hotels, hospitals, colleges, Indoor public safety communi- place with liability protection ex- retail and multi-level class A cations is an unfunded mandate tended to prevent unfair litigation.” office towers – represents a $20B whose financial burden is typically market, of which less than 2% absorbed by the venue owner. A FUNDING mODElS FOR has been tapped. In addition to review of the stakeholders might COmmERCIAl CEllUlAR new technology solution consider- suggest this is appropriate. After IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS ations, funding and ownership all, for new construction, the cer- The in-building wireless indus- models within the Middleprise tificate of occupancy (CO) hinges try is predicated upon the business are also changing. upon compliance with fire and goal of generating revenue and re- Funding and ownership within building codes. Besides, the fund- ducing churn for wireless opera- the Middleprise is likely going to ing of in-building wireless net- tors by keeping customers fall upon the shoulders of the works may already be understood: connected indoors. The ROI venue owner. That’s because consider the aforementioned Mid- model for deploying in-building wireless operator and 3PO business dleprise business model for com- solutions has traditionally focused models, which are often optimized mercial cellular where the venue on very large venues having more to generate revenue through owner will probably pay for the than 500,000 square feet where advertising, won’t correlate to in-building network. Others, how- many people congregate such as drive ROI within the middleprise ever, believe that the cost of pub- stadiums, airports, subways, shop- as successfully as within the large lic-safety in-building networks ping malls, casinos, convention venues space. “It depends on the should be shared. centers and larger hospitals and requirements of a particular area,” Who’s right? hotels. Typically, these networks says Rusty Stone, Telecommunica- Whether for cellular or public have been funded and owned by tions and Technical Project Man- safety, Camden’s Stone believes a wireless operator or third party ager for the Camden Property that, at a minimum, the building

19 ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS PUBlIC-SAFETy ImPERATIvE owner should provide the building in fact, with the venue owner, it is we consider it a moral obligation and fire code-compliant rooms for not without precedent. Chief Alan or a code requirement for building the DAS equipment and pathways Perdue a retired Chief of Guilford occupancy. Donny Jackson, editor for cabling. Stone says that when County Emergency Services in at Urgent Communications, ob- you design a DAS, you need to Greensboro, North Carolina and served that, “This should not be a understand the public-safety part. currently the Executive Director of simple mandate… rather, any such “It doesn’t cost that much more to the Safer Building Coalition sug- rules should include incentives to install an antenna array to accom- gests that in-building networks can spur existing building owners to modate cellular in future, maybe become a life safety system like take such action, such as tax cred- an additional 15-20 percent on the fire sprinkler systems. its and/or insurance breaks. initial installation.” His philosophy Sprinkler systems are common- Frankly, it is surprising that a struc- is, “Let’s pre-wire with coaxial place in nearly every jurisdiction in ture that does not support public- cable, splitters, antennas in the North America. In fact, many even safety communications would pay ceiling, and IDF closets so we are have the requirements for single the same insurance rates as one ready for plug-and-play. Our chal- family residential dwellings. But that does.” lenge as developers is to bring a this was not always the case. As Lastly, as PCIA's Adelstein project from conception to reality sprinkler systems became an occu- suggests, liability protection should in about 24 months. But it’s a pancy requirement, building own- be extended to any venue owner moving target – macros change, ers, engineers, contactors and for deploying an indoor network to DAS technologies change. The tenants recognized the need as fulfill the public safety imperative - question is, What to do?” well as the benefits. Over time, the akin to a "Good Samaritan Law." Is it feasible to share the net- code addressing sprinkler systems work assets as a means to share has been revised and updated, ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS the costs by reducing network and virtually all new construction ImPERATIvE infrastructure costs as PCIA’s and renovations projects within Although today we wrestle with Adelstein proposed? For instance, the large venue and Middleprise challenges that include technol- sharing commercial and public- markets – which are (or will be) ogy, funding, litigation and net- safety network assets within a affected by indoor public-safety work maintenance when it comes building whereby the same communications mandates – are to solving for indoor public-safety network used for commercial required to meet the code. The communications, we believe that cellular can enable the public- cost of fire sprinklers has long ten years from now, we won’t be safety requirement at an approach- been absorbed by the venue thinking about the cost or even able nominal incremental cost. owner. Will the cost for in-building buildings without a public-safety Or – thinking outside of the box – wireless networks supporting pub- wireless network. a citywide establish in-building lic safety in time follow suit? Today’s Imperative is clear. public-safety network operator or A case can be made whereby Codes must be written to ensure an entirely new business model venue owners should benefit for building occupants and first re- where the cost of the system and deploying indoor public-safety sponders can effectively communi- the operation is 3rd party managed. communication networks through cate in times of emergency. Should the financial burden rest, incentives, regardless of whether Technology needs to drive solu- tions with a lower TCO while im- proving performance. And the commercial real estate ecosystem “The discussion is not what it cost to must embrace in-building public- safety and commercial in-building install a DAS, but rather what’s the cost networks, and recognize their value and ROI potential. of not providing an in-building network With FirstNet, we’re at a revolu- to support public safety.” tionary point of change. It is vital that indoors does not get left be- chief Alan Perdue hind. Executive Director of Safer Buildings coalition

20 QUICk FACTS: DC WATER IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS SOlUTION • System: SOLiD Technologies’ ALLiAncE Multi-carrier DAS • head-end: ALLiAncE head-end with multiple BDA inputs, Main and Backup • Remote Units: 19 ALLiAncE remotes • no. of Sectors: One (1) sector • Fiber cable: More than 20,000 feet, single mode • coaxial cable: More than 10,000 feet • Battery Back-up: Four (4) hours

CASE STUDy: DC WATER AChIEvING QUAlITy RF COvERAGE IN A hARSh UNDERGROUND ENvIRONmENT ThE IN-BUIlDING WIRElESS PUBlIC-SAFETy ImPERATIvE

The District of Columbia (DC)’s was selected by Water and Sewer Authority, called DC Water. Morcom DC Water, operates one of the designed and most advanced wastewater treat- installed the ment plants in the world. It is also ALLIANCE™ multi- a highly visible target according to carrier distributed reports citing anti-terrorist experts. antenna system (DAS) Known as Blue Plains Advanced manufactured by Wastewater Treatment Plant, the SOLiD. Donor system serves more than two antennas were million Washington metro area installed above residents in the District of ground to pick up Columbia along with suburbs in OUC frequencies adjoining Northern Virginia and from several sites in Maryland. the city on a line-of- Blue Plains has a capacity to sight (LOS) basis. Power backup unit with SOLiD ALLiAncE remote. treat 370 million gallons of sewage These radio a day through a series of large frequency (RF) DC WATER WORkERS NOW treatment pools in several buildings signals were fed USE ThE SAmE P25 hANDSETS spread over an expansive site and into bi-directional AS ThEIR D.C. POlICE AND connected by over three miles of amplifiers (BDAs) tunnels and underground facilities. installed at the DAS FIRE COUNTERPARTS. head-end. The head-end equip- underground RF signals could ThE PROBlEm: ment converts the RF to optical radiate above ground and cause The tunnels house all of the signals that are transmitted over interference. Designing a DAS underground facilities for the fiber optic cables to the DAS allowed Morcom more control Treatment Plant – pipes for moving remote units. The DAS remote over antenna placements, and sewage and water, and transporta- units then convert the optical isolation between frequencies tion for workers between the vari- signals back to RF which is fed to in the tunnel system and outside ous facilities. While in the tunnels, indoor antennas that are strategi- frequencies. workers must be able to commu- cally located through the tunnels. A single SOLiD system proved nicate with supervisors and with “The biggest challenge in locating to be a viable way of accommo- colleagues who are both in the the antennas is that the tunnels are dating different frequency bands, tunnels and above ground. not level”, said Manuel Ojeda, both the OUC 760-860 MHz and The workers use handheld Morcom’s President. “Tunnels are public safety 800 MHz. DC Water radios that operate on 700-800 MHz at different elevations with a lot of workers now use the same P25 frequencies licensed by the DC ups and downs between them, handsets (Motorola Solutions’ Office of Unified Communications and sharp curves in the tunnels so APX-4000 and APX-6000) as their (OUC). Workers who were above you do not have very good line- D.C. police and fire counterparts. ground could not communicate of-sight transmission between the More important, the SOLiD with their co-workers in the tunnels. workers’ radios and nearby indoor ALLIANCE system has the capability More important, by code, antennas. We ended putting a lot of to add commercial cellular DC Water must provide communi- antennas throughout the tunnels frequencies in future. cations for public-safety purposes. to achieve quality RF coverage.” Ojeda pointed out that DC Radios must work to allow access RF coverage in the tunnels Water may want to add Wi-Fi to to supervisors and dispatch. Fire could have been achieved using the tunnels at some point. “That and police need coverage whenever radiating coaxial cable but there would be a separate system from and wherever they were on site. was concern that these cables the SOLiD equipment but the would corrode over time in such a Wi-Fi system could use extra fiber ThE SOlUTION: harsh underground environment. strands in the fiber optic cable that Morcom International, a wireless As well, there was a chance that was installed for the DAS”. system integrator, proposed the wireless solution that ultimately For more information, read the detailed case study at: http://www.solid.com/resources/case-studies.html

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Glossary of Terms: In-Building Wireless for Public Safety

1221 Committee - A national Fire Protection appropriate public resources. Mandated by the components that degrade the quality of the Association (nFPA) committee focused on creat- Fcc, it requires that mobile caller be identifiable signal, typically caused by poor manufacturing ing a standard for the installation, maintenance, by the dialing number and their location. quality of materials or environmental corrosion and use of emergency services communications FirstNet - First Responder network Authority: of connectors and cabling. systems. created as an independent authority within the RRU - Remote Radio Unit: A radio node on a DAS 1802 Committee – A national Fire Protection national Telecommunications and information network providing RF power and connectivity to Association (nFPA) committee focused on creat- Administration (nTiA) to establish, operate, and the distributed antennas. ing a standard for personal portable (hand-held) maintain a high-speed, nationwide interoperable RSSI/RCPI - Receive Signal Strength indicator two-way radio communications devices used by public safety broadband network for emergency /Received channel Power indicator: RSSi is the emergency services personnel in the hazard and daily public safety communications. arbitrary measurement of the received signal zone. Head-end - Generic term for the demarcation power in a wireless network (think “bars”, but 4G LTE - A term used to describe the 4th genera- point of a DAS network where much of the the bars are not exact values and vary between tion of cellular network technology, considered equipment resides that receives communica- devices and network). RcPi is a more exact the Long Term Evolution strategy of mobile tions signals for distribution to a local region. measure and is exclusively associated with iEEE’s high-speed data networked for mobile commu- IBC - international Building code: A model build- 802.11 WiFi protocol. nications. ing code developed by the international code Safer Buildings Coalition - An independent, 700 MHz D Block Band 14 - A 10Mhz portion council (icc) that establishes minimal regula- non-profit organization focused on advancing allocated in the upper 700Mhz spectrum tions for building systems. A large portion of the policies and ideas that lead to more large build- adjacent to the current licensed public safety iBc deals with fire prevention. ings being served with commercial and public band that is not yet in service. Public safety iDAS – A distributed antenna system (DAS) that is safety wireless coverage. could use the added spectrum to support a deployed indoors. Signal Booster - A device used for boosting the nationwide broadband network and expand IFC - international Fire code: A comprehensive cell phone reception to the local area by the the current public safety spectrum. fire code that establishes minimum regulations usage of a reception antenna, a signal amplifier, 800 MHz Trunked Radio – A unique radio for fire prevention and fire protection systems and an internal rebroadcast antenna. These are repeater system that allows semi private using prescriptive and performance-related similar to the cellular broadcast towers used for communications between more groups of provisions. it addresses conditions hazardous to broadcasting by the network providers, but are users than there are allocated frequencies. This life and property from fire, explosion, handling much smaller, usually intended for use in one enables many users to communicate over fewer or use of hazardous materials and the use and building. frequencies by sharing the bandwidth of the occupancy of buildings and premises. Small Cell - Low-powered radio access nodes trunked system. In-Building Wireless - A generic phrase to cover that operate in licensed and unlicensed spectrum BBU - Base Band Unit: Acts like a “digital” BTS multiple RF networks that provide coverage that have a range of 10 meters to 1 or 2 kilometers. and functions like a switch or a router at the DAS within a structure or building. They are "small" compared to a mobile macro- connection to the network. Indoor Antenna - An antenna that is mounted on cell, which may have a range of tens of kilometers. BBU Hotel – A network topology concept that the wall or ceiling and can be omni-directional. They transmit and receive cellular frequencies centralizes multiple BBUs to provide access to Middleprise - The new industry term for the and require a backhaul communication link to multiple DAS and small cell locations networked enterprise market defined as venues having the network. Small cells are a vital element to with a fiber backhaul. 100k to 500k square feet, where neither conven- data offloading, and many mobile network BDA - Bi-directional Amplifier: Also known as a tional DAS nor Small cells offer optimal solutions. operators see small cells as vital to managing cell phone signal booster or amplifier in the cell MIMO - Multiple input-Multiple Output: LTE Advanced spectrum more efficiently than phone industry, it is a device used for boosting A method for multiplying a radio’s capacity using using just macrocells. the cell phone reception to the local area by multiple transmit and receive antennas. SNR – Signal-to-noise ratio: A measure used to using a reception antenna, a signal amplifier, and NEC - national Electric code: A regionally adopt- compare the level of a desired signal to the level an internal rebroadcast antenna. able standard used as the benchmark for safe of background noise. it is defined as the ratio of BICSI - Building industry consulting Services in- electrical design, installation, and inspection. signal power to the noise power, often ternational: An organization that established it was published by the national Fire Protection expressed in decibels. A ratio higher than 1:1 best practices and standards for in-building Association for the safe installation of electrical (greater than 0 dB) indicates more signal than structured cabling systems. wiring and equipment in the United States. noise. C-RAN - centralized Radio Access network: NEMA 4 - A standard for equipment housings and Splitters/Combiners - components of the A centralized, cloud computing based new radio enclosures that stipulates watertight construction physical coaxial infrastructure used to distribute access network (commonly known as cellular capable of withstanding 65GPM of water from a RF signals to the antennas while balancing and network) architecture that can support , 3G, 1” nozzle from a distance of no less than 10 feet maintaining the required signal power. 4G system and future wireless communication for 5 minutes. UHF - : The designation for standards. it provides access to multiple wireless NFPA 1 - The national Fire Protection Association radio frequencies in the range between 300 Mhz technologies to increase capacity issues of tradi- code that covers a complete range of life safety and 3 Ghz, commonly used for television broad- tional macro cell networks. criteria for fire protection systems equipment casting, cell phones, satellite communication in- CPRI - common Public Radio interference: and occupant safety in new and existing buildings. cluding GPS, personal radio services including A standard that defines the interface of base sta- NFPA 72 - The national Fire Protection Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, walkie-talkies, cordless tions between the Radio Equipment controllers Associations code that covers emergency phones, and numerous other applications. UhF (REc) in the standard, to local or remote radio communication systems and signaling. it specifies radio waves propagate mainly by line of sight; units, known as Radio Equipment (RE). it is a pro- the application, installation, location, performance, they are blocked by hills and large buildings al- prietary protocol that each manufacturer uses to inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire though the transmission through building walls enable communications between BBU’s and RRU. alarm systems, fire warning equipment, emer- is high enough for indoor reception. DAS - Distributed Antenna System: A network of gency warning equipment, and their components. VHF - Very high frequency: The range of the spatially separated antenna nodes connected to oDAS - A distributed antenna system (DAS) that is the band extending from 30 a common source via a transport medium that is deployed outdoors. Mhz to 300 Mhz. common uses are FM radio provides wireless service within a geographic P25 - (also known as APcO-25 or Project 25) A broadcasting, television broadcasting, and area or structure with improved reliability. long standing partnership between the public two-way LMR radios for public safety and A distributed antenna system may be deployed safety communications community and industry commercial business use. indoors (an iDAS) or outdoors (an oDAS). manufacturers established with a common goal Wi-Fi - Wireless Fidelity: A term used to describe Donor Antenna - An antenna located on the of meeting the requirements of mission critical any type of 802.11 standard wireless network. exterior of a structure that is used to relay the in- interoperable LMR systems to allow for commu- Products tested and approved as "Wi-Fi certi- building networks traffic to a known public safety nication between agencies and mutual aid re- fied" (a registered trademark) are certified as base station or repeater tower or cellular tower. sponse teams in emergencies. interoperable with each other even if they are E-911 - Enhanced 911: A system used in north PIM - Passive intermodulation: A form of signal from different manufacturers. America that links emergency callers with the distortion or interference that occurs in passive

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