TECHBeat, July/August 2017

• NCJ Number: 251093
• Journal: Techbeat Dated: July/August 2017 Pages: 1-18
• Date Published: August 2017
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2014-IJ-CX-K404
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical); Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Summary); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored)
• Award: A proposal to operate the National Criminal Justice Technology Resource Center.

Annotation

This issue contains feature articles that discuss plans for building FirstNet, the Nation's first nationwide public safety broadband network; describe a law enforcement aviation unit emergency response plan; report the launching of a podcast series by the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence; and profile a resource sampler on unmanned aircraft systems.

Abstract

"FirstNet Moves Public Safety to the 'Access Diamond Lane'" reports that on March 30, 2017, the First Responder Network Authority formally announced that AT&T had received an award to begin building FirstNet, the first nationwide public safety broadband network. Although it will take several years for all of the new infrastructure and features to be in place, the concept becomes operational this fall through use of AT&T's existing spectrum and infrastructure. "Law Enforcement Aviation Unit Emergency Response Plan" indicates that the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) emphasizes the importance of law enforcement agencies with an Aviation Unit to have an aviation emergency response plan (ERP) in place. An ERP can provide guidance to agency personnel with no aviation background who are responding to a law enforcement aircraft in distress, as well as any aviation crash or disaster. A checklist of items that agencies should address in an aviation ERP is provided in this article. "Forensic Technology Center of Excellence Launches Podcast Series" reports on a new weekly podcast series entitled "Just Science," which provides information on innovative forensic technology. "Resource Sampler on Unmanned Aircraft Systems" outlines resources available from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding unmanned aircraft systems' operations, safety, regulation, and guidance. These resources can be accessed at https://www.faa.gov/uas/. In addition to the aforementioned feature articles, this issue of TECHBeat presents an updated "Technology News Summary. "