https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookies Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • Microwave/RF
    • T&D World
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookies Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

Commentary


Verizon Wireless: Public safety’s new best friend?

Verizon Wireless: Public safety’s new best friend?

They say Hallmark has a card for everything, but I'm not sure if it has one that says, "I've hated your guts for the past two years, but thanks for making my life so much better"
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 5th November 2004

They say Hallmark has a card for everything, but I’m not sure if it has one that says, “I’ve hated your guts for the past two years, but thanks for making my life so much better.”

If such card exists, public-safety officials may want to send one to Verizon Wireless.

Extending even the smallest nicety to Verizon Wireless may be unthinkable to many public-safety leaders. After all, they have battled the wireless giant seemingly at each turn of the ever-winding road that resulted in the FCC’s 800 MHz reband order, but the fact remains that public safety is much better off today because of Verizon’s unwanted participation in the process.

The Consensus Plan — created from negotiations between Nextel Communications and public safety — was a terrific template for resolving interference problems for public safety, but the $850 million that Nextel agreed to pay likely will prove to be less than the amount needed to do the job.

It also represented a huge spectrum giveaway — an issue public safety couldn’t care less about, but a huge problem for Nextel competitors like Verizon Wireless. Thus, the wireless industry — led by Verizon — offered an alternative proposal, which increased significantly the cash that would be available for the expensive rebanding project.

Public safety widely criticized this plan, saying it would undermine the Consensus Plan, but it was the best thing that could have happened. Without an alternative, the FCC had little or no leverage in its attempt to get Nextel to assume all costs of rebanding — and Nextel’s stockholders would have had a fit if the company’s management did so voluntarily.

Although the 800 MHz process took a painfully long time, this week’s settlement between Nextel and Verizon Wireless means FCC Chairman Michael Powell is one huge step closer to bringing closure to an issue fraught with political and legal land mines.

Given Verizon’s outspoken opposition, the settlement was a surprise to many, but not challenging the 800 MHz order made perfect business sense — something we have said repeatedly in this space. Verizon didn’t want Nextel to be able to enter the advanced wireless services marketplace on the cheap, and the FCC’s $4.8 billion valuation of the 1.9 GHz spectrum for Nextel assured that didn’t happen.

Once that happened, things got relatively quiet at Verizon. Its press release after the FCC approved the order was worded harshly, but it didn’t say the company would file a lawsuit. Though Verizon would never admit it publicly, being cast as an enemy to public safety — a potentially lucrative market for the carrier in a post-CDPD world — would not be good business.

It also wouldn’t be good politics, especially at a time when national security is a priority. Suing the government over an order that delivers many of the items cited in the 9/11 Commission report would have cost Verizon serious political brownie points as it asks federal policymakers for massive deregulation for its wireline division.

We’ve yet to hear from the U.S. Government Accountability Office about its legal opinion, but I’m not sure it’s going to matter. Did the FCC overstep its authority in determining where Nextel’s payment gets spent — the kind of money decision Congress is supposed to make? Probably, and that could set a bad precedent.

But the bottom line is that the FCC apparently has solved this politically charged and technically messy situation, and it won’t cost Congress a dime of public funds — in fact, it may generate new money for the U.S. Treasury, because Nextel will clear broadcasters off 1.9 GHz spectrum that can be auctioned.

Congress has a choice: Let the FCC order be executed (or just rubber stamp it, so Congress can say it passed it), or reopen a huge political can of worms by trying to strike another agreement that would require U.S. taxpayers to pay for rebanding — all the while being blamed for delaying a solution.

I can’t imagine lawmakers want any part of 800 MHz debate, especially if it costs them money they’d rather spend elsewhere in the budget.

Should Congress back off, public safety will emerge the huge winner in all of this.

Yes, Verizon’s not-so-veiled threat that FCC commissioners might be subject to criminal prosecution and its support of the First Responders Coalition that tried to derail the 800 MHz order may be borderline unforgivable to some. But there’s little question that those tactics ultimately helped Nextel feel fortunate to pay all rebanding costs, instead of resisting the notion — something it might have done if there were no opposition to the Consensus Plan.

Sure, Verizon was acting in its own self-interest the entire time, as was Nextel. But, for public safety, Verizon’s unwanted actions have led to a deal that looks like a dream come true.

And that may be worth a thank you card.

E-mail me at [email protected].

Tags: Commentary Commentary Newsletters Networks & Systems Commentary News Commentary Wireless Networks

Most Recent


  • Sesame Solar leverages mobile solar, hydrogen to power efforts beyond the grid
    Michigan-based startup Sesame Solar recently launched the latest version of its easily deployable nanogrids that promise to deliver electric power indefinitely—without the need for diesel-powered generation—via complementary solar and hydrogen-fuel-cell technologies, according to company co-founder and CEO Lauren Flanagan. “What we’re announcing is the world’s first 100% renewable, mobile emergency-response nanogrid,” Flanagan said during an […]
  • Verizon Wireless: Public safety’s new best friend?
    Newscan: On front lines, communications breakdowns prove costly for Ukraine
    Web Roundup Items from other news organizations On front lines, communications breakdowns prove costly for Ukraine Recording between dispatcher, firefighters gives new insight into human-smuggling tragedy Updated digital forensics database speeds criminal investigations Frontier Communications facing questions after rural Arizona 911 outage 911 center software can interpret any language used in text message CISA: Switch […]
  • Samsung fills its 2G hole in new challenge to Ericsson and Nokia
    “If you can make gigabit speeds through software on vRAN, how difficult can 2G be?” said Woojune Kim, Samsung’s global head of sales, when confronted at this year’s Mobile World Congress with the 2G hole in its product portfolio. Three months since then, “not that difficult” seems to be the answer, although the virtualized 2G […]
  • Militarized drone swarms coming
    The effectiveness of drones in combat has been proven with deadly effect in the war in Ukraine, where single, unmanned aerial vehicles have been used for observing the enemy or deploying weapons against them. The effectiveness of multiple drones working together in combat, however, has yet to be seen, due to the technology’s current limits, […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • The battle over connected cars drags on
  • UK officials revamp ESN plans again, target Airwave-to-LTE transition for end of 2026
  • PSCR: Dereck Orr highlights features of June 21-24 virtual event
  • FirstNet buildout on pace for March 2023 completion, AT&T official says

Commentary


LTE and liability: Why the fire service must move forward with digital incident command

  • 2
6th May 2022

Partnership and collaboration must be the foundation for emergency communications

18th April 2022

FirstNet success means no hypothetical ‘shots’ need to be fired, Swenson says

22nd February 2022
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Sesame Solar leverages mobile solar, hydrogen to power efforts beyond the grid dlvr.it/ST8m3K

1st July 2022
UrgentComm

Newscan: On front lines, communications breakdowns prove costly for Ukraine dlvr.it/ST7fnC

30th June 2022
UrgentComm

China-backed APT pwns building-automation systems with ProxyLogon dlvr.it/ST6q7m

30th June 2022
UrgentComm

Samsung fills its 2G hole in new challenge to Ericsson and Nokia dlvr.it/ST6hBK

30th June 2022
UrgentComm

Militarized drone swarms coming dlvr.it/ST6dNz

30th June 2022
UrgentComm

Take American City & County’s budgeting survey dlvr.it/ST6Yxb

30th June 2022
UrgentComm

Final cases made about Airwave, ESN, before CMA issues provisional decision on Motorola Solutions dlvr.it/ST4Q6X

29th June 2022
UrgentComm

Polaris Wireless: Manlio Allegra talks 911 Z-axis tech, future IoT opportunities dlvr.it/ST1384

28th June 2022

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • Microwave/RF
  • T&D World
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X