1. November 2005
THE 4.9 GHZ PUBLIC SAFETY MARKET
This bulletin examines a few commonly asked questions about the 4.9 GHz frequency band allocated
in the United States for public safety applications. Topics range from processes to apply for 4.9 GHz
licenses, the availability of grants for deploying 4.9 GHz wireless networks, must-have and enhanced
service applications that run on these networks, and which agencies are driving the demand for
licensed public safety spectrum.
What are the processes for municipalities to apply for 4.9 GHz
licenses?
The process to obtain a 4.9 GHz license from the FCC is simple and quick. Licenses are obtained by
the municipality through the FCC’s online Universal Licensing System (ULS). Prior to filing, the
municipality has to register for an FCC Registration Number (FRN) and password. There is no charge
for licensing and the applications are generally processed within hours.
A license provides the licensee access to all frequencies within the 4.94-4.99 GHz frequency band
anywhere within the municipality’s jurisdiction. In the case of point-to-point wireless links each
endpoint has to be licensed separately.
Part 90.1207 of the FCC rules spells out the licensing criteria. Proxim’s online Knowledgebase
(http://www.proxim.com/) explains the procedure in detail.
What is the availability of DHS grants? What is the process for
applying for them?
The Department of Homeland Security’s website offers several different grants
(http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=18). Likewise, additional federal sites
(www.fedgrants.gov and www.grants.gov) list many more. Process and availability of these grants
vary and each site should be consulted to determine the process for application.
What is the breakdown of applications required for public safety?
Although it will likely be priortized for such use, it is important to understand that the band is not
reserved for first responders alone. The licensee has the right to allow any civil organization to
operate in the band. Likewise, they can also allow private companies (typically those supporting
critical infrastructure) use of the band provided there are no fee-based services traversing the system.
Therefore, it is suitable for a multitude of applications.
4.9 GHz Public Safety <1> Copyright© 2005
November 2005 Proxim Wireless Corporation

2. Sales Bulletin > 4.9 GHz Public Safety
Public Safety Applications
Agency Basic Needs Enhanced Services
Police • Mobile office • Mobility
• Computer Aided Dispatch • Database access
• DL checks • File sharing
• Field reporting • Email and Instant Messaging
• Mug shots • Inter-agency coordination
• Hi-res imaging
• Wireless printing
• On the spot citation
• Resource tracking
• Whiteboarding
• VoIP and Streaming video
• Real-time multicast video
Medical • Mobile office • Mobility
• Computer Aided Dispatch • Hi-res imaging
• File sharing • Database access
• Field reporting • File sharing
• Inter-agency coordination
• VoIP / Streaming video
• Email
Fire • Mobile office • Mobility
• Computer Aided Dispatch • Database access
• Field reporting • File sharing
• Instant Messaging Email
• GIS data
• Resource tracking
• Inter-agency coordination
• Streaming video
• Whiteboarding
• VoIP
• Real-time multicast video
4.9 GHz Public Safety <2> Copyright© 2005
November 2005 Proxim Wireless Corporation

3. Sales Bulletin > 4.9 GHz Public Safety
The ability to prioritize traffic in real-time is critical for a successful 4.9 GHz implementation. Proxim’s
4.9 GHz mesh product (ORiNOCO AP-4900M) is capable of supporting multiple VLANs by which it
can logically separate different users from each other on the network providing security and enabling
prioritization of certain sets of users.
The most popular installation scenarios appear to be as leased line alternatives between agency
buildings, mobile connectivity to police, fire, and rescue vehicles, and temporary high speed point-to-
point and point-to-multipoint wireless connections during major incidents and special operations.
The ORiNOCO AP-4900M was designed to fit into just about every network topology. By the virtue of
mesh we are able to create point-to-point and point-to-multipoint networks, and provide redundancy.
Likewise, mesh provides mobility to vehicles that need to be deployed temporarily and in a hurry.
ORiNOCO AP-4900M dual-radio mesh
There are a wide variety of applications served by each of these types of installations. The most
popular of these applications seem to be video and data related. These range from real-time
surveillance of a high-crime area to access of online resources such as license plate and hazardous
material information.
4.9 GHz Public Safety <3> Copyright© 2005
November 2005 Proxim Wireless Corporation

4. Sales Bulletin > 4.9 GHz Public Safety
Which department - police, fire, EMS - are driving the applications?
Each of the departments has their own needs. Most of the interest appears to be from a police
standpoint, although the solution is equally effective among all three. In the case of the police
agencies they are anxious to add broadband mobile data services, upgrade from an existing outdated
low speed data service, or find an alternative to expensive leased mobile data services. The police
agencies undoubtedly spend the most time in the mobile environment and rely on data services to
provide:
• police report information on a particular subject
• license plate information
• Be On the Look Out (BOLO) information
• mug shots
One of the key things that high-speed connectivity to the vehicle affords them is more time in the
vehicle and consequently, more time in the public’s eye. With broadband connectivity to the vehicle
they can also pull streaming video from intersections, inside banks and schools, high-crime area,
along with the ability to push video back to a central location, like dispatch, from a dash mounted
camera.
The fire service has equally important needs for fast transfers of GIS data, building pre-plan
information, streaming video, and access to online resources. EMS is very similar, but also adds the
capability to push pictures from the scene of an accident and possibly streaming video to the waiting
doctors and nurses while enroute to the hospital.
Are the 4.9 GHz licenses also available for non municipal agencies
including Border Patrol and Coast Guard?
As previously mentioned, the band is available primarily to public safety agencies and government
entities. Any of them can apply for the licenses. Private industry can be granted use of the band by
the local licensee provided the user isn’t charging for services. In other words, a wireless ISP couldn’t
traverse a 4.9 GHz wireless system.
Ideally, a single wireless system would be deployed to support several different types of users. The
ORiNOCO AP-4900M can be installed on light poles, rooftops, water towers, and radio towers through
a community. As long as each radio can see a neighboring radio they will create an autonomous
wireless cloud throughout the community with complete redundancy. This single wireless system,
however, can serve each public safety agency along with the other civic organizations while keeping
the traffic from each group of users isolated from the other. Since the ORiNOCO AP-4900M has two
radio interfaces, the municipality has the option to leverage the economies of scale of commercially
available IEEE 802.11b/g equipment (that is many times already integrated into portable computing
devices), while using 4.9 GHz as a transport or backhaul mechanism. Along with the ability to provide
different logical networks over a single physical medium (aka VLANs), the ORiNOCO AP-4900M can
also support multiple security profiles. This means that you can have one or more VLANs that are
encrypted using WPA2 with 802.1x authentication, and possibly a different VLAN that is completely
open for public Internet access.
4.9 GHz Public Safety <4> Copyright© 2005
November 2005 Proxim Wireless Corporation