Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System MPSCS … · ed, “Usually if you don’t bother...

Stay Connected

Brad Stoddard, MPSCS Director

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Contents

1 Technology in Public SafetyDirector Stoddard Reflects on Progress and Expectations

2 Update Your Info for LISTSERVStay informed about MPSCS

3 Lifecycle Remediation Project Enters Final Phase

MPSCS Upgrades Infrastructure

4 Hard Work of Steeplejacks Keeps System Operational

Steeplejacks excel at performing a difficult and important job

5 New Public Safety Paging Map Depicts Growth 192 agencies statewide are now using 800 MHz pagers

6 Cyber SecurityNCC Vigilant About Network Security, VIrus Detection

7 Across MPSCSIntroducing New Employees

8 System Snapshot MPSCS Growth Continues

8 MPSCS Contacts

THE speed at which consum-er technology continues to be

adapted and drive evolutionary changes across public safety is dra-matically faster today than just five years ago, and like the speed of light compared with 20 years ago. There isn’t a trade magazine or online article that does not highlight a new de-velopment that has a viable public safety application.

From the adoption of radio 90 years ago to the most recent ad-aptations of drones, proof has been there for decades that if it works for consum-ers, it can work for public safety. Thank-fully, that mindset is still prevalent today, yet today’s funding models are less likely to support the technology advance-ments.

From the radios and laptops – and plenty of other related accessories and boxes de-pending on the public safety discipline – that packed the vehicle interiors of yes-teryear, to manufacturers integrat-ing those items into the dash or trunk of vehicles, technology con-tinues to evolve. Virtual control technology operates devices no lon-ger located in the cab of the vehicle.

These are all small steps for us in our technology laden universe, but the opportunity is yet to unfold once again as we peek into the fu-ture. Recently we have learned of autonomous vehicles tailored to-

ward public safety use, capable of performing functions such as writ-ing tickets. This might sound far-fetched and hint at scenes from Robocop, but these technologies are closer to reality than many might believe.

Ideas for adapting technology into pub-lic safety are only restricted by funding constraints and policy limitations. As tech-nology evolves, it gets more expensive but also creates greater human resources ef-ficiencies. This raises the question of how will we continue funding technology while balancing it against the need for qualified personnel.

Are we in store for new paradigms?

There is no doubt that, thanks to the development of people’s imag-inations, citizens will have expec-tations for public safety response based on their perceived reality – a

reality formed in part by television and movies that depict capabilities often far removed from current pa-trol cars and fire rigs.

Time will change that, just as the first science fiction radio shows and comic books of decades ago predict-ing our best opportunities for the future require us to think out-of-the box, be challenged to see the poten-tial without restrictions, and weigh accordingly the benefits and possi-ble drawbacks. n

Technological Progress and Public SafetyDirector Stoddard Discusses Technology’s Benefits and Challenges

... If it works for consumers, it can work for public safety ...

Winter 2018 michigan.gov/mpscs

Volume 7 Issue 1WINTER 2018

Michigan’s Public Safety Communications SystemMPSCS QUARTERLY

1Page

AS part of our ongoing effort to provide you with important MPSCS news and information, we’re

asking MPSCS email subscribers to review and update their MPSCS email profile.

The process takes less than five min-utes and ensures that our mail-ing lists are up to date. By keeping your contact information current, you will receive timely notifications about events in your service area and surrounding counties.

Follow the directions below to up-date your profile:

1. On michigan.gov/mpscs, click on the envelope under “Stay Con-nected.”

2. Enter your email address* and answer the Spam Block question. Click Submit. *Use the address you re-ceived in the notification from MPSCS.

Update Your Email Profile; Stay Informed With MPSCS LISTSERV1. Under Subscription Topics, select “Michigan’s

Public Safety Communications System” and click Submit.

2. Answer the four ques-tions listed. Click Submit.

3. The next screen will noti-fy you that you have success-fully subscribed to Michigan Department of Technology Management and Budget.

4. Click Finish — you’re done! If you haven’t sub-scribed to our LISTSERV you

can do so by clicking on the envelope under “Stay Connected” on the MPSCS website. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected] or 517-284-4100. n

The Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division of the Michigan State Police, in partnership with Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System, present the 2019 Michigan’s Statewide Interoperable Communications Conference. This training event is designed for local, state, federal, tribal and private public safety communications experts and emergency response personnel. Interoperability’s advantages and the importance of building strong relationships among system partners will be the focus.

Tuesday, February 19 - Friday, February 22, 2019

Great Wolf Lodge3575 N. U.S. 31 S.

Traverse City, MI 49684

Winter 2018michigan.gov/mpscs2Page



$150 Million Infrastructure Upgrade Enters Final Phase• 41 sites will have new 48-volt DC power sup-

plies with 120-volt AC inverter capability. These will power microwave and Simulcast base sta-tions as well as incidental 120-volt AC equipment;

• Replacement of large UPS units at Zones 1-6 Master Sites with redundant 48-volt DC / 120-volt AC inverter systems;

• An upgrade of the Astro radio network (soft-ware and hardware) – from 7.15 to 7.17.

All towers within a single Simulcast System must be upgraded at the same time. As in the previous phas-es, every effort will be made to min-imize the inevitable outage times and incidents of reduced coverage.

Motorola Solutions has been the prime contractor for remediation of the Astro radio network, DC power and replacement microwave radios. MPSCS staff is overseeing additional work expected to conclude in late 2019, including:

• Replacing five large generators at remote tower sites, with 10 more scheduled for FY 2018;

• 50 800 MHz antennas were re-placed, with 50 more scheduled for FY 2018;

• Replacement is planned for 60 HVAC units at remote tower sites

during FY 2018;

• Renewal of cathodic grounding systems at 15 tower sites;

• Replacement of 50 FAA aircraft obstruction lighting systems with LED lighting technology. The new lights will last up to 20 years.

As in the past, notifications will be sent out to allow agencies to plan for disruption of coverage or service during scheduled times of remediation work. We look forward to continuing our work advancing and upgrad-ing MPSCS to best serve the first responders and citi-zens of Michigan. n

PHASE IV of the $150 million MPSCS life cycle reme-diation project is now underway. To underscore the

complexity, someone once likened this project to re-building an airplane while it is in flight.

Phases I, II and III (2015-2017) involved increasing the microwave system’s bandwidth for future growth, as well as installing modern equipment to replace older components. Upgrades put in place included:

• 1,245 new 800 MHz GTR transmitter/receiver stations affecting coverage in 70 Michigan counties;

• 410 new microwave stations that serve to interconnect towers;

• 178 sites with new 48-volt DC power systems for microwave, which replace large uninter-ruptible power supplies (UPS) at base stations;

• 178 sites with new 48-volt DC / 120-volt AC inverter systems to power remaining incidental equipment;

• Microwave loop closures on several paths, allowing fast network rerouting;

• New alarm and control sys-tems for shelters, tower light-ing, HVAC, and other compo-nents.

The first three phases cover 90 percent of Michigan’s land area. Still, the more complex task will be complet-ing the new microwave network and upgrading the southeast Michigan Simulcast Systems, which enable multiple towers to act in unison. Following are major Phase IV installations and upgrades for the coming year:

• 665 new 800 MHz Simulcast GTR transmitter/receiver stations affecting six counties;

• 443 upgraded 800 MHz Simulcast GTR trans-mitter/receiver stations with affective coverage in eight counties;

• 80 Simulcast sites representing 11 Simulcast Systems;

michigan.gov/mpscs 3PageWinter 2018



FOR many people, the workplace is a desk in a cubicle. But for MPSCS steeplejacks, it is often a perch 400

feet up in the air – as high as a 40-story building.

Some steeplejacks ascend capitol domes or church stee-ples; MPSCS steeplejacks climb radio towers – trouble-shooting, wiring, replacing antennas and transmission lines, or repairing microwave dishes.

Without their bravery, hard work and dedication, Mich-igan’s first responders, public safety agencies and emer-gency dispatchers would not enjoy a state-of-the-art trunked radio communication system.

Dan Fitzpatrick has been a MPSCS steeplejack for 18 years. He and steeplejack Doug Rindels are responsible for maintaining and servicing 54 towers covering three quarters of the Upper Peninsula — most of them 475 feet high.

“The most challenging thing for me would be the climb-ing,” said Fitzpatrick, who, prior to joining MPSCS, served 25 years in the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion. As one gets older, carrying up 70-80 lbs. of tools and

components gets hard-er. “Usually, we’re bring-ing up a lift line to hoist stuff up,” he added. “If you’re car-rying the rope, that’s even more weight.”

Most of the work high up on towers is done in the warmer weather months, but occasionally a winter climb is necessary if something cannot wait — replac-ing a burned out light, for example.

“The wind is always our enemy,” Fitzpatrick said, add-ing that days when there’s no wind hundreds of feet up are “few and far between.” The wind can make it diffi-cult to hoist up parts and equipment, as the lift line gets buffeted about. Bird nests and insects can also pose a

problem. Bee nests attached to tower section assemblies are not uncommon. “I’ve gotten stung a couple times,” Fitzpatrick said.

Steeplejack Eric Gibbs, employed with MPSCS for about six years, has seen plenty of beehives, but not-ed, “Usually if you don’t bother them, they don’t bother you.” Gibbs, who works out of the Lansing Radio Shop, gained his climbing experience with Emergency Radio Service, an Indiana-based wireless company. He is re-sponsible for 19 tower sites; his team of four steeple-jacks handles 72 sites in southeast Michigan.

A more serious threat than bees or angry osprey is that posed by lightning, but the Network Communica-tions Center (NCC), with its access to radar and satel-lite imagery, can keep steeplejacks aware of weather threats.

This time of year, simply getting to job sites — towers often are far off the road — is a major challenge. Fitz-patrick can ride a track vehicle provided by the state, but finds transporting it on a 27-foot trailer difficult on the U.P.’s narrow, icy roads. So often, he dons snow-shoes and plods a half hour through 3 or 4 feet of snow, pulling a sled with tools and supplies.

In areas with more towers, “just not enough people for some of the bigger jobs” is a key problem, Gibbs said. Continued on Page 5

Eric Gibbs, 485 feet above Copper Harbor on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.

Kudos to Steeplejacks — High Altitude Heroes

Winter 2018michigan.gov/mpscs4Page



PREVENTING computer viruses from interfering with the operation of MPSCS is one of the critical behind-

the-scenes elements of the Network Communications Center (NCC). The NCC staff is responsible for ensur-ing that connected computers are all equipped with the most up-to-date virus definitions, detection software, and security patches.

MPSCS has established a program to reduce the risk of infection from viruses that exploit software code in Microsoft operating sys-tems. Under the program, longtime partner Motorola purchases McAfee virus de-tection software and tests it within its labs against vari-ous networks consisting of Motorola Astro radios.

Once Motorola has tested and validated for compliance with the MPSCS 7.15 system release, the NCC down-loads the Motorola-approved virus definition files. The files are automatically distributed to the MCC7500 dis-patch console, AIS, CAM and NICE logging computers connected to the MPSCS network. These files replace the old definition files without any user intervention or rebooting required.

Additionally, Motorola obtains monthly Microsoft oper-

Network Security, Virus Detection are High Priorities for NCC

Continued from Page 4A steeplejack may spend six hours up on the tower, and another 4-5 hours working on the ground. This plus several hours of daily drive time between sites means working overtime is sometimes necessary.

Wintertime is when many of the ground repairs are done on shelters, generators, HVAC equipment and the like. In the summer, there are also mundane tasks like site cleanup and applying weed killer.

MPSCS towers – with a very few exceptions – have a built-in safety cable to which the steeplejack attaches his harness. A braking device enables the harness at-tachment to move up the cable with no resistance, but downward pressure on it pulls the clamp tightly against the cable to prevent a fall.

MPSCS Steeplejacks: Hard Work, Dedication Keep System Reliable

ating system patches to resolve exploited software code or operating system functions. The monthly update is also tested in the Motorola labs for compliance with the multiple Astro systems. Upon compliance validation, the NCC downloads the Motorola tested and approved Microsoft software, giving it the name “MotoPatch.”

The NCC performs weekly audits of the dis-patch consoles on the radio network and, as required, pushes the lat-est MotoPatch to each console. Each week, the Field Resource Center notifies agencies that just received a new Mo-toPatch, instructing them to reboot their dis-patch consoles.

The new MotoPatch is activated when the user logs out of the application and forces a reboot of the console. If a console is found to be delinquent by three or more patches, the console may be remotely disconnected from the network to reduce the risk of a security breach.

These practices support the overall health of the system, providing Michigan’s first responders with the most se-

cure and reliable communication network possible. n

The hard work and productivity of MPSCS steeplejacks do not go unnoticed. “It is a pleasure and privilege to supervise what I believe is the hardest working and most dedicated group of state workers,” said Rodney Anway, site maintenance supervisor based at MPSCS headquarters in Lansing.

“Even though we only have 10 steeplejacks for over 250 towers and a growing communication system, they take great pride in ensuring system maintenance. These are the guys who respond to temperature alarms at 2 a.m. when it’s 25 below zero outside. Then get to the site and find out they will have to park in the road and walk in because a snowplow has blocked the driveway with a hard, frozen bank. They never fail to do whatever it

takes to maintain our excellent system.” n

Winter 2018 michigan.gov/mpscs



Page

Updated Map Illustrates 800 MHz Pager Growth

4,256PAGERS LIVEJANUARY 2018 (2,593 in August 2017)

192AGENCIES LIVEJANUARY 2018(137 in August 2017)

321STATIONS LIVEJANUARY 2018(212 in August 2017)

Rapid Growth:Less than two years ago, MPSCS went live with its 800 MHz fire pag-ing. Already, more than 4,200 800 MHz pagers are in use by nearly 200 agencies. Advantages in-clude clearer audio, im-proved range, easy use, and public safety agen-cies’ avoidance of the cost and responsibility of maintaining a separate paging system.

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ALGER

ALLEGAN

ALPENAANTRIM

ARENAC

BARAGA

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BENZIE

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WEXFORD

Michigan’s Public SafetyCommunications System

Public Safety Paging

*State, federal, tribal, and private first responders utilize MPSCS communication in all 83 counties.

# MPSCS Towers (253)

Majority of Local Paging MPSCS

Pending Implementation of MPSCS Paging

One or More Agencies on MPSCS Paging

Testing MPSCS Paging

Local Radio System for Primary Paging

One or More Agencies on MPSCS Paging(Pending Implementation)

MPSCS Internal Data02/14/18

michigan.gov/mpscs Winter 2018



New Employees

Across MPSCS

Josh RumptzJosh Rumptz has joined MPSCS as a Radio Communi-cations Technician at the St. Ignace Radio Shop. Josh will be responsible for installing, repairing, program-ming and maintaining in-vehicle and infrastructure equipment.

He received extensive electronics and communications training while serv-ing in the U.S. Air Force. Josh was deployed in support of Operation En-during Freedom/Iraqi Freedom, and served as a cyber communications pro-ject manager and ground radio technician. Additional-ly, he earned degrees in electronic systems technology and human resources.

A St. Ignace resident, Josh enjoys spending time with his two teenaged daughters and girlfriend Angela. His pastimes include hunting, fishing and woodworking. n

Wone Bae KimWone Bae Kim has been hired as a Radio Communica-tions Technician at Northville. He will support MPSCS

subscribers including MSP, MDOT and DNR in metro Detroit.

Wone Bae previously was a Telecom/Network Specialist in Ventura County, Calif. From 1995-2008, he was a sys-tem engineer with Samsung — design-ing, installing and maintaining TRS in-frastructure for military, police and fire

organizations in South Korea.

Wone Bae holds an associate’s degree in computer sci-ence, as well as an FCC general radiotelephone operator license. He is married and has two teenaged children. nJosh Drazkowski Josh Drazkowski has joined MPSCS as a Radio Commu-nications Technician in the Network Communications Center. He will support the statewide P25 radio system.

Josh came to MPSCS from Motorola Solutions, Inc., in Lanham, Md., where he provided support to feder-al customers. He gained his communications expertise

during six years of service in the U.S. Army.

Born and raised in the Upper Peninsu-la, Josh is excited to be living in Mich-igan again. In his spare time, he en-joys cooking meat and poultry in his Weber Smoker. Weather permitting, Josh likes to shoot off professionally choreographed fireworks. n

Tom BlackTom Black started Jan. 2 as an Outreach and Commu-nications Specialist. He will spread the word about MP-SCS achievements and initiatives through social media, newsletters and web page content. He has worked in public affairs and me-dia relations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Michigan State Police Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division, and the Michigan House of Representatives.

Tom holds a B.A. in journalism from Michigan State University. He lives in East Lansing, is married and has a 25-year-old son. He enjoys reading, skiing, tennis, and taking long walks. n

Anthony NewtonAnthony Newton has joined MPSCS as a Radio Com-munications Technician in the Southwest Region. His primary responsibility will be maintaining radio infra-structure and subscriber radios.

He previously worked for Radio Communications, Inc., in Battle Creek, and spent 20 years in the military. While in the U.S. Navy, Anthony honed his skills as an F-4 and F-14 aviation electrician. He also served as an F-16 avionics technician while active in the North Dakota Air National Guard.

A native of Vermontville, Mich., An-thony is married with two grown sons,

both in the military. He loves hunting and fishing in his spare time. n

michigan.gov/mpscs 7PageWinter 2018



Contact MPSCS

Brad Stoddard | [email protected]

Theron Shinew | DEPUTY [email protected]

David Hayhurst | ENTERPRISE [email protected]

Pat Kenealy | ENGINEERING [email protected]

Buzz Leach | BUSINESS [email protected]

Ralph Liddle | NCC [email protected]

Dan Robinson | SUPPORT SERVICES [email protected]

Mark Sandberg | [email protected]

Tom Black | COMMUNICATIONS & [email protected]

Randy Williams | PUBLIC SAFETY ENTERPRISE SERVICES [email protected]

NCC Phone TOLL FREE: 1-888-554-4622 | LOCAL: 517-333-5050

MPSCS AddressMichigan’s Public Safety Communications SystemState Police Headquarters7150 Harris Dr. Dimondale, MI 48821

MPSCS Quarterly is produced by MPSCS Commu-nications and Outreach. For questions, corrections, or story ideas contact Tom Black, Communications Representative at [email protected].

89,177RADIOS

59,415SQUARE MILES

1,665PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES SERVEDIncludes State, Local, Federal, Tribal & Private Public Safety

253TOWER SITES64 sites locally owned but integrated into MPSCS

74911 DISPATCH CENTERSSupporting 330 console positions

12 million PUSH-TO-TALKS PER MONTH

System SnapshotNumbers current as of January 2018

MPSCS’s cutting edge network provides interopera-ble statewide coverage for over 89,000 radios used by Michigan’s first responder community. MPSCS serves over 1,600 agencies at all levels: state, local, federal, tribal & private public safety agencies all rely on MPSCS for critical public safety communi-cation services. We provide world class infrastruc-ture, expertise and 24/7/365 support to public safety agencies within Michigan.

ABOUT THE SYSTEM

Winter 2018michigan.gov/mpscs



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