Technical Services Branch Divisions & Services

​Technical Services Branch Divisions

Microwave Engineering Division

• California Public Safety Network Access (CAPSNET)
• Microwave (Legacy Engineering)
• Microwave (Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Engineering)
• Special Projects
  

Telecommunications Services Division

• Drafting Services
• Site Management
• Education & Documentation
• Cost Recovery & Materials
• Central Stores & Warehouse Operations

FCC Licensing & Technical Specifications Division

• Radio Licensing
• Procurement Engineering Technical Specifications

​Microwave Engineering Division

The Microwave Engineering Division, Public Safety Communications is responsible for design, engineering, installation and maintenance of the statewide microwave network used by the State’s public safety agencies’ first responders on a 24 hours/7 days a week/365 days a year basis. Our Mission is to ensure that quality telecommunications services are provided to all state agencies in the most cost-effective, efficient, and timely manner possible. This includes maximizing the use of state resources, and the consolidation and joint use of telecommunications systems and services where operationally, technically, and economically feasible.

Division Chief

Moises Lopez

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Public Safety Communications
601 Sequoia Pacific Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95811-0231
Office Phone: (916) 657-6107
Email: Moises.Lopez@CalOES.ca.gov

Microwave Engineering Division Units:

• California Public Safety Network (CAPSNET) Access Unit 
• Microwave Infrastructure Unit
• Microwave Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Unit
• Special Project Unit
  

California Public Safety Network (CAPSNET) Access Unit

The CAPSNET Access Unit is the public-facing engineering unit for external customers requiring access to state microwave bandwidth and services, offering solutions for and connectivity to bandwidth on the public safety microwave system.

Feasibility study, design and coordination: Assist customers in the feasibility, design and coordination of access to California Public Safety Network (CAPSNET) radio vault facilities and towers and related network equipment that will meet the bandwidth and connectivity needs of its state, local and federal government customers.

Leverage modern technology: Provide recommendations to customers on microwave connectivity and MPLS network transport of data to meet new customer needs for public-safety-grade network access and the CAPSNET Emergency Telephone System.

Coordination and Liaison: Liaison between customers and CAPSNET/MPLS microwave system on connectivity and bandwidth needs and solutions.

System Problem Solving: Assist customers in the resolution of connectivity solutions related to CAPSNET.

Microwave Infrastructure Unit

The Microwave Infrastructure Unit offers a wide variety of services including design and implementation, deploy Microwave (MW) equipment, and Microwave (MW) system equipment problem solving.

Design and implementation: Assist customers in the design and implementation of new radio vault facilities and towers that will meet the needs of California Public Safety Network (CAPSNET) and its customers including customer circuits on existing Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) and Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) microwave paths and systems.

Deploy Equipment: Provide Radio Frequency (RF) terminal equipment, antennas and associated equipment to both replace older RF equipment as well as meet new customer path needs.

Coordination and Licensing: Coordinate license frequency assignments for CAPSNET microwave system.

System Problem Solving: Assist Operations staff in the resolution of problems related to older TDM and FDM microwave system equipment.

Microwave Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Engineering

The Microwave (MPLS Engineering) Unit offers a wide variety of services including Network Design, Equipment Standardization, Service Development, and Traffic Engineering.

Network Design: Responsible for securing routed infrastructure and optimized network for land mobile radio voice communications users.

Equipment Standardization: Responsible for installation, configuration and site deployment standards.

Service Development: Responsible for developing solutions to migrate FDM and TDM services to IP Packet including lease line, T1, Foreign exchange subscriber (FXS), Foreign exchange office (FXO); in addition synchronization of critical latency simulcast transport and conference bridging.

Traffic Engineering: Responsible for engineering bandwidth management; enforcing Service level agreement (SLA) and Quality of service (QoS) for various service offerings.

Special Projects

The Special Projects Unit offers a wide variety of services and products suited to the design, installation and maintenance of telecommunications systems of State and other public service agencies. These services and products include: design and fabrication of unique equipment (both electronic and mechanical), specification compliance testing, and engineering field studies.

Design and Fabrication: Ability to design and fabricate electronic and mechanical items for use in audio, digital and RF systems. Examples of products available are: audio and signaling interface units, power supplies, multi-channel line monitors, timers, unique logic and control equipment, squelch-operated relays; antenna transfer panels, antenna support brackets, equipment shelves, battery trays, cavity mounting brackets, and coaxial cables.

Specification Compliance Testing: Skillful at testing almost any kind of electronic item: radios (mobiles, base stations, repeaters, portables), remote control consoles, logging recorders, power supplies, batteries, chargers, antennas, duplexers, receiver multi-couplers, transmitter combiners, Intermodulation (IM) panels, public address system amplifiers, speakers, microphones, headsets, sirens, etc. All tests use applicable Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) or Military Specification (MIL-Spec) standards.

In addition to the full-spectrum of electronic tests, the Special Projects Unit can perform environmental tests for temperature, humidity, vibration and shock.

Engineering Assistance: Provide engineering assistance for a variety of tasks: Radio Frequency Interference/Electromagnetic Interference (RFI/EMI) investigations; radio-path coverage surveys; audio and signaling interface problems; transmitter combiner, duplexer and receiver multi-coupler design; general telecommunications systems design, preparation for field work and special studies (investigation into equipment operation, modifications, adaptations).

Field Studies: Special Projects has a van fully outfitted for all types of engineering field investigations. There is equipment for measuring radio frequency field intensity, making maximum permissible exposure measurements to determine susceptibility to hazardous radiation, analyzing the operation of, and designing new transmitter combiner systems and duplexers. There is equipment for making antenna pattern and efficiency measurements; analyzing problems with transmission lines, detecting and locating interfering signals and a cadre of digital and analog record keeping devices, including both audio and video recording and playback. There is equipment for making radio path surveys; a high-powered computer for performing inter-modulation calculations, radio direction finding equipment, and full communications capability on all state public safety radio systems.

System Problem Solving: On-site professional engineering staff with a wide variety (and many years) of experience in engineering public safety radio systems. We can provide a high-level of engineering services to assist you in solving your most complex system or product problems.

​Telecommunications Services Division

The Telecommunications Services Division is responsible for managing PSC owned communications facilities, coordinating engineering technical reviews for telecommunications equipment leases and space agreements, documenting PSC’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), coordinating and managing technical training of PSC staff, maintaining licensing and credentialing requirements for various PSC staff, coordinating Grants for PSC programs and initiatives, and managing drafting services and the Central Records Library for documenting statewide telecommunications projects and system installations.

Division Chief

Corena Hernandez

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services Public Safety Communications
601 Sequoia Pacific Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95811-0231
Office Phone: (916) 657-9876
Email: Corena.Hernandez@CalOES.ca.gov

 Telecommunications Services Division Units:

• Drafting Services
• Site Management
• Education and Documentation
• Cost Recovery & Materials
• Central Stores & Warehouse Operations
   

Drafting Services

The Drafting Services Unit is responsible for the following:

Prepare and revise Radio and Telecommunication Drawings: Responsible for preparing, revising, updating, and maintaining all engineering, technical, and installation drawings for the State’s communication sites and the State’s radio and communication networks.

Manage and maintain the PSC Central Records Library: Responsible for maintaining the full set of the drawings and records for engineering and administrative use. Maintain original drawing control, drawing retention, revision controls, change copy distribution, and electronic AutoCAD records. Maintain the USGS topographical map library. Manage and maintain the Drafting Unit’s computer database and computer request system.

Provide Drawing Reproduction Services: Responsible for providing paper and electronic copies for large drawings and documents for engineering and installation packages and other presentation needs. Reproduction services are provided in-house or by contract.

Provide Signage and Design Services: Responsible for providing signage and other design services as needed. Provide floor plan layouts, name plates, in/out boards, and general signage for PSC facilities.

Site Management

The Site Management Unit is responsible for the following:

Manage PSC Owned Radio Communication Sites: Responsible for managing and coordinating related leases, permits, service contracts, and preventative maintenance agreements for PSC owned sites. Manage and coordinate engineering reviews of vault layouts and antenna assignments. Coordinate intermodulation analysis and investigation or radio interference at PSC owned sites. Manage site access processes.

Process Interagency Radio Vault Space Applications (TDe-310): Responsible for processing and coordination of TDe-310 requests and engineering technical reviews. Manage and coordinate related engineering reviews of vault layouts and antenna assignments. Maintain records of pending, completed, and current TDe-310 agreements.

Process Radio Vault Space Applications (TDe-311 and TDe-312): Responsible for processing and coordination of TDe-311/312 requests and engineering technical reviews. Manage and coordinate related engineering reviews of vault layouts and antenna assignments. Maintain records of pending, completed, and current TDe-311/312 agreements.

Coordinate with State and non-state entities: Responsible for Coordinating related CRUISE Requests Space Action Requests (Std. 9), and Direction Construction Work Requests – coordinate requests with the Department of General Services, Client Agencies, and non-state entities.

Coordinate PSC Microwave and CMARS radio space agreement/contracts: Responsible for coordinating with space agreements/contracts with for occupancy in non-state owned radio communications facilities on behalf of PSC Microwave and PSC CMARS programs.

Provide Telecommunications Facility and Site Management consulting services: Responsible for providing site management consultation and related services to internal programs and client agencies on a fee-for-service basis (TDe-860). Serve as the State PSC subject matter expert on telecommunications facility and site management to State executives at all levels.

Education & Documentation

The Education and Documentation Unit is responsible for the following:

PSC Standard Operating Procedures: Responsible for facilitating and documenting Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) for Public Safety Communications, including project/program processes and work flows, administrative processes and work flows, and engineering and technical standards. In addition, this unit is responsible for creating, updating, and maintaining all forms utilized by PSC to facilitate services. The PSC Standard Operating Procedures are documented in the Telecommunications Division Manual (TDM).

PSC Training: Responsible for developing, coordinating, and providing training opportunities for Public Safety Communications engineering, technical, and administrative staff. Role includes documenting, maintaining and tracking licensing and credentials requirements for PSC professional staff. Training is provided by using in-house subject matter experts and contracted resources.

PSC Grants: Responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and tracking all grant funds that support the Public Safety Communication programs and initiatives. Role includes searching for and applying for federal, corporate, and other grants and coordinating efforts with the CalOES Grant’s Management Branch.

Cost Recovery & Materials

Cost Recovery and Materials includes the Client Billing and Cost Recovery Unit which processes billing, generates invoices and oversees the cost recovery of services rendered for statewide telecommunication projects, annual maintenance, California Multiple Agency Radio Services, and consulting services. Also included is the Client Agency Materials Unit which operates three warehouses that provide storage of telecommunications equipment, a central store which maintains an inventory of frequently needed parts, and conducts shipping and transportation services for statewide communication projects.

​FCC Licensing and Technical Specifications Division

The FCC Licensing and Technical Specifications Division is responsible for managing FCC licenses for State agencies and for interoperability frequencies for all public safety agencies in the state, maintains records of frequency use agreements between State and local Public Safety organizations, and assists in the development of engineering technical specifications for the procurement of radio communications equipment.

Division Chief

Deneke Mattewos

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services Public Safety Communications
601 Sequoia Pacific Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95811-0231
Office Phone: (916) 657-6153
Email: Deneke.Mattewos@CalOES.ca.gov

Radio Licensing

FCC Licensing: Obtains and manages the FCC licenses for all State agencies, as well as the FCC licenses for the statewide and nationwide interoperability frequency licenses for all public safety agencies in the state, all in the name of the State of California.

Engineering Studies: Conducts frequency availability studies to identify and recommend frequencies for licensing. Provides radio frequency coverage engineering for licensing purposes. Provides assistance and guidance to State, county and local agencies on the use of radio spectrum.

Frequency Use Agreements: Maintains records of frequency use agreements between State and local Public Safety organizations.

Regulatory Participation: Participates on National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) working committees, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO), and the Regional Planning Committee’s for 700 and 800 MHz spectrum. Through these and other organizations, lobbies regulatory committees and the FCC to promote and defend the public safety communications needs of State agencies.

Procurement Engineering Technical Specifications

Equipment Specifications and Bidding: Assists the Radio Communications Branch and client State agencies in the development of technical specifications for radio communications equipment. Once the specifications are developed, facilitates the processing of client state agency purchase estimates and the bidding process by the California Department of Technology, Statewide Telecommunications Procurement Branch.

Contract Development: Participates with the Department of General Services, Procurement Division as technical subject matter experts on the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) Public Safety Communications Equipment contract team developing and managing public safety communications equipment contracts with multiple manufacturers covering multiple types of communications equipment, associated accessories, and infrastructure.