https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • IWCE 2022 Winter Showcase
    • IWCE 2023 Pre-event Guide
  • 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
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • 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
    • IWCE 2023 Pre-event Guide
    • IWCE 2022 Winter 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
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • 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 Newsletters


A fine line exists between consensus and repression

A fine line exists between consensus and repression

Certainly, a strong, unified voice has greater resonance than one that is weak and fractious. But sometimes the strong voice shouts down the weaker voice, particularly when the latter is extolling a course of action that the former finds contrary to its own position. That's bad.
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 17th September 2009

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about the need for the public-safety sector to reach consensus on major issues if it wants the federal government’s help — notably the proposed nationwide broadband network that would operate on recently freed spectrum in the 700 MHz band. That’s all well and good. Certainly, a strong, unified voice has greater resonance than one that is weak and fractious. But sometimes the strong voice shouts down the weaker voice, particularly when the latter is extolling a course of action that the former finds contrary to its own position. That’s bad.

This has happened a couple of times in recent memory in the public-safety communications sector. Recall, for instance, the so-called Consensus Plan, which defined an approach to resolve the interference that plagued operations in the 800 MHz band. Those who opposed the plan were vilified. We were among them. Our objection was the $850 million cap on its financial contribution that Nextel sought in exchange for agreeing to reconfigure the band. We argued that there was no way to know whether $850 million would be enough, because such a project had never before been attempted. To date, Nextel has projected that it will spend more than $3 billion on rebanding before the project is finished.

Recall, too, the outrage when some began suggesting that IP technologies could one day be used for public-safety communications. The consensus thinking at the time was that such a notion was tantamount to blasphemy, and those extolling it should be stoned. Some of the extollers were, at least figuratively. I can write this because we were, once again, among those swimming upstream on this issue. Today, the new consensus thinking is that IP won’t just be a part of the future for public-safety communications — it is the future.

Now it seems that history is repeating itself in the debate over how to bring the proposed 700 MHz network to fruition. The major issue is how to fund construction and continued operation of the network. Forget about all of the other policy issues associated with this network, including whether it can be built to public-safety specifications and whether first responders will be given priority access to it. None of it will matter unless the funding issue is resolved satisfactorily.

From what I understand, the majority of the power-brokers in public safety have come together on a single approach. There is one organization, however, that believes there’s another pathway — and it is being roundly criticized for not supporting the consensus.

I’m purposely not identifying the organization in question, because I believe it to be irrelevant. Also irrelevant is whether this organization is correct in its thinking. What is relevant is that the organization’s perspective isn’t dismissed out of hand solely because it goes against the flow. From my perch, unification on this matter is far less important than finding the right approach, and any and all suggestions from credible organizations should be given consideration, without malice. There’s only going to be one chance to get this right. Should the wrong approach be chosen, the result will be catastrophic.

There’s nothing wrong with being the lone voice in the wilderness. Let’s not forget that all of this is happening because of another lone voice, that of Morgan O’Brien. Was there anybody who thought a nationwide broadband network for first responders was possible before O’Brien shared his vision?

However this is decided, the end result must be a sustainable, ongoing source of funding to not only build the network, but to maintain and operate it. If that doesn’t happen, public safety — and the taxpayers it serves — will be stuck with the mother of all white elephants. Avoiding such a devastating outcome is going to require creative, perhaps unconventional thinking. Indeed, it may well require public safety to think far differently about spectrum allocation and network deployment than it has in the past. It also might require public safety to cede control of its spectrum and networks, a scary proposition.

All of this angst could have been avoided had Congress recognized the vital need for this network — which I believe will change public-safety communications in way that will have to be seen to be believed — and taken charge of it. Instead, it has sat on the sidelines.

This can, and should, be corrected. My suggestion would be for Congress to hand over the reins to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a unit of the Department of Commerce. The NTIA has its own spectrum-management office and, more importantly, its own research and engineering laboratory. And, as a unit of the DOC, it certainly would have access to some of the brightest economic minds our country has to offer. It seems as if all of the piece parts are in place for the NTIA to determine the ultimate course of this initiative. (Of course, Congress would have to take legislative action to transfer authority over the 700 MHz spectrum that would be used for this network from the FCC to the NTIA.)

Congress also should pony up the money for this network, rather than rely on a complicated funding scheme that might not work. It can find the money if it wants to. For that to happen, the only consensus needed would be for Congress to join public safety in the belief that this network is not just vitally important, but is essential.

What do you think? Tell us in the comment box below.

Tags: Commentary Newsletters Networks & Systems Commentary Policy & Law Commentary Rebanding Commentary

Most Recent


  • Updated: How 'sidelink' peer-to-peer communications can enhance public-safety operations
    Editor’s note: A previous version of this column was posted that included only the first portion of the article—a mistake by the editor. IWCE’s Urgent Communications regrets the error and apologizes for any inconvenience. When first responders are called to action, they need reliable communications to coordinate an effective public-safety response. Public-safety personnel understand this […]
  • NG911 needed to secure our communities and nation
    As the new Congress begins its work in earnest, we look forward to continued progress in funding the transition to IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) technology. Our nation’s 911 systems are critical to ensuring the safety and security of our communities, and nationwide implementation of NG911 will ensure these systems can leverage the most advanced communications […]
  • How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient
    It’s a scenario we’ve all experienced: an ambulance with a blaring siren racing against time to get a person in medical distress to a hospital through traffic. What we don’t see is 5G connectivity enabling paramedics to communicate with hospital staff via video conference and coordinate care in real-time before arriving at the emergency room. […]
  • 3GPP moves Release 18 freeze date to March 2024
    The latest set of 3GPP Plenary electronic meetings (e-meetings) concluded on Dec. 19, 2022. The meetings focused on the Release 18 (R18) feature progress and schedule. It was decided to extend the R18 freeze date (specifications complete for all R18 features) by three months to March 2024 to ensure the quality of the R18 3GPP […]

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

  • Unlocking the power of ESInets: Different NG911 provisioning approaches exist; level of control is key differentiator
  • Ransomware? Let's call it what it really is: extortionware
  • Redefining communications for today’s mobile workforces
  • Hi-tech sewer can help safeguard public health, environment and economies

Commentary


Updated: How ‘sidelink’ peer-to-peer communications can enhance public-safety operations

  • 1
27th February 2023

NG911 needed to secure our communities and nation

24th February 2023

How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient

26th January 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

State and local leaders can alleviate the burden on public-safety personnel by tackling three workforce trends dlvr.it/SlBH89

20th March 2023
UrgentComm

6G is shaping up to disappoint, and the industry can blame itself dlvr.it/Sl918J

20th March 2023
UrgentComm

Change is coming to the network detection and response (NDR) market dlvr.it/Sl4cts

18th March 2023
UrgentComm

Telcos need to build businesses, as well as networks dlvr.it/Sl4cRR

18th March 2023

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
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 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.