and operations. Communications perspective From the communications perspective a public safety network is a wireless communications network used by emergency services organizations, such as police, fire and emergency medical services, to prevent or respond to incidents that harm or endanger persons or property. Many municipalities are turning to mobile computing and other networked applications to improve the efficiency of their workforce, including public safety personnel and first responders. Consequently, public safety workers are increasingly being equipped with wireless laptops, handheld computers, and mobile video cameras to improve their efficiency, visibility, and ability to instantly collaborate with central command, coworkers and other agencies. Video surveillance cameras and unattended sensors are becoming important tools to extend the eyes and ears of public safety agencies. A pilot study along the US-Mexico border uses a wireless mesh network. The need to access and share this vital new flow of data and images is driving investments in a new kind of network: broadband wireless mesh networks using Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and 4.9 GHz public safety radio frequencies. These networks are metropolitan or regional in scope, can maintain connections with highly mobile workers, deliver large amounts of low-cost bandwidth with extremely high reliability, and support real-time video, voice and data. See also Interorganizational system Information systems Intergovernmental organizations Emergency Communication System IEEE 802.11 Mesh networking Municipal broadband Public safety Switched mesh Wireless LAN Wireless network Wi-Fi 802.16 References External links - The Public Safety Networks Study, projects #IIS-0534877 & #IIS-053488, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. - The National Science Foundation Digital Government Research Program - eGovernment Resource Centre UMass Amherst - National Center for Digital Government - Bentley University Department of Information and Process Management - Syracuse University School of Information Studies - The Pennsylvania State University College of Information Sciences and Technology - Washington & Jefferson College Department of Technology Leadership - The Center for Technology in Government - The Capital Wireless Integrated Net (CapWIN) - Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS) - Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET)