Brett Kilbourne, vice president of government and industry affairs for the United Telecom Council (UTC), discusses the notion of utilities partnering with FirstNet in the much-anticipated 700 MHz nationwide broadband network....More
U.S. critical-communications licensees will be able to use Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) technology on a permanent basis, but the technology remains prohibited on public-safety spectrum, according to an FCC order released this week....More
"We definitely got some very strong support from DHS and USDA in terms of the need to have utility companies be part of this discussion," UTC's Brett Kilbourne said. "They actually said they consider us first responders."...More
Utilities officials will discuss the potential for public/private partnerships that would allow the utility sector to access the nationwide 700 MHz broadband network being built for public safety during a Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) workshop....More
Putting politics aside, one of the problems with forging a partnership with utilities is determining who should be at the table to represent the sector's interests....More
"Don't wait for that opportunity; make that opportunity," Matt Schnell, telecommunications supervisor for the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), said at UTC's Telecom 2012....More
Public safety is allowed to partner with utilities on its nationwide broadband network, but such partners only are allowed to access the network on a secondary basis. Exactly what "secondary" means is the critical question....More
This morning, the House of Representatives voted 293-132 in favor of the measure, followed shortly by a 60-36 vote in the Senate to approve the bill....More