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

Urgent Matters


Commentary

Success, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder

Success, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder

Whether FirstNet succeeds in its mission will be subject to interpretations that can vary markedly, depending on one's perspective.
  • Written by
  • 3rd September 2013

This morning, I chatted with Steve Devine, assistant director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Interoperability Center, about a column I wrote a couple of weeks ago. The column focused on FirstNet General Manager Bill D’Agostino’s proclamation that FirstNet will not fail in its mission to build the first nationwide broadband communications network for the public-safety sector. I opined that, while FirstNet has a big job to do—and it will be a grind—it ultimately will complete its mission.

Devine brought up an intriguing question: what constitutes failure, or success for that matter? This is something that public-safety officials might want to mull. If FirstNet doesn’t hit a home run—by  building a network that provides broadband data and, eventually, mission-critical voice, and is affordable in terms of user fees—will it have failed? Devine’s premise is that doubles and triples are okay too. I agree with him.

A lot of people seem to be hung up on the mission-critical-voice aspect of this initiative. And no doubt, it would be wonderful if it comes to fruition some day. That alone might solve the affordability conundrum, because mission-critical voice over LTE eventually could lead agencies to retire their LMR networks, and they then would have the financial wherewithal to join FirstNet’s network.

It also could solve the interoperability problem that still afflicts the public-safety sector, despite the advances made in the Project 25 standard. As Devine—who is a member of our editorial advisory council—pointed out to me, there are many agencies out there that do not care all that much about data, but every agency cares about mission-critical voice communications. Said another way, for many agencies data is nice to have, but mission-critical voice is essential.

But let’s say that FirstNet only is able to pull off the broadband data part. If so, the new capabilities would be light years ahead of public safety’s current data capabilities and would constitute a huge success. Moreover, if this network ushers public safety into an era where it is possible to take advantage of the economies of scale that commercial technologies offer—even if only on the data side—then that also would be a huge leap forward.

Now, let’s consider that some agencies—because of their location and/or a lack of financial/technical wherewithal—will be unable to leverage even the data opportunity. That would be unfortunate, but it would not mean that FirstNet failed in its mission. The simple truth is that there is such disparity between agencies and their capabilities from coast to coast, it might be impossible for FirstNet to come up with a network and business model that ensures ubiquitous usage.

As with most things in life, it will be important for the public-safety community to manage its expectations for this network. Most of the time, reality falls short of the dream. And this likely will be the case regarding FirstNet and its much-anticipated network. But if that does occur, it won’t necessarily mean that FirstNet failed.

For the record, I think FirstNet is going to get this done—and that includes mission-critical voice over broadband. It won’t be easy—in fact, I believe this will be the most difficult challenge that any of those involved in the effort will face in their careers. But I also believe that they are smart and motivated, and when smart, motivated people are involved, success usually follows. Think for a moment about whom these people are, and their egos—and I mean that in a good way. These are people who are not used to losing, and I don’t think they’re going to start here.

The only way that FirstNet will fail is if Congress takes the bat and ball away because it has become frustrated with a lack of progress. I don’t think that will happen, because progress already is being made, even though it might be difficult to see at this point.

I admittedly am going to mix metaphors here, but I’d like to close by reminding that this project is akin to a marathon, not a sprint. So, it’s important that all involved—from Congress to the agencies that will use this network—are patient and realistic. In fact, the effort to design and build this network really looks more like a marathon steeplechase to me, because FirstNet is going to encounter a boatload of obstacles along the way. But I think FirstNet will have the stamina to reach the finish line—though it might take 10, 20 or even 30 years. When it does, this network will be something to behold.

Far more important, this network is going to save a lot of lives, which really is all the motivation FirstNet needs to complete its task. Not only is this going to be the most challenging thing that FirstNet’s board and staff ever have taken on, it arguably is the most vital.

Tags: Public Safety Commentary Long Term Evolution (LTE) Public Safety Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet Regulations Urgent Matters Commentary

Most Recent


  • Panel at SBC event examines significant economic, policy challenges facing in-building communications
    Ensuring that public safety can communicate while responding to emergencies inside buildings is a clear need, but identifying the proper solutions and making them affordable to building owners is a significant challenge, according to panelists exploring the topic during a recent Safer Buildings Coalition (SBC) event. Mike Baltrotsky, assistant chief and technology manager for Montgomery […]
  • Indoor 5G and how to solve it
    We all know the problem: mobile phone service is working fine … until you move indoors. Then, sometimes it works (you don’t notice), sometimes it sort of works (meh) and sometimes it clings on by one tiny bar or drops out entirely (argh). Diagnosing the problem is relatively simple. The loss of mobile service indoors […]
  • Honeywell releases cybersecurity, smart-building tools
    Honeywell has released a series of new tools aimed at improving operational efficiency and sustainability, including an operational technology (OT) cybersecurity tool and a smart building management system. The new cybersecurity tool, Cyber Insights, collects information from multiple OT data sources to identify vulnerabilities and threats.  “Organizations should leverage technology to address worker shortages, while […]
  • Small-cell focus still largely on densification, but private-network opportunity growing
    Some big ambitions for small cells were on display during the annual Small Cell World Summit in London this week. But it’s worth remembering that on the ground, their deployment is still at a relatively early stage. Dean Bubley of Disruptive Analysis, who chaired a panel addressing the issues of value creation and monetization, summarized […]

Related Content

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


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.