https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-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
    • Events
    • 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
    • Galleries
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Events
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • WHY ATTEND
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Registration Opens April 2019-Join Our 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

Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet


News

FirstNet board approves spectrum-lease agreement with state of Texas

FirstNet board approves spectrum-lease agreement with state of Texas

FirstNet board members approve a three-year spectrum-management-lease agreement (SMLA) with the state of Texas, providing some spectral stability to the public-safety LTE network deployed in Harris County, Texas—the first such operational network to be established in the United States.
  • Written by Donny Jackson
  • 15th August 2014

FirstNet board members approve a three-year spectrum-management-lease agreement (SMLA) with the state of Texas, providing some spectral stability to the public-safety LTE network deployed in Harris County, Texas—the first such operational network to be established in the United States.

The SMLA with Texas is “similar in content and focus” to other SMLAs approved by FirstNet, FirstNet Chairwoman Sue Swenson said during a special meeting of the FirstNet board.

“Texas can move on,” Swenson said at the conclusion of the meeting, which was conducted via teleconference.

Harris County has been operating its public-safety LTE network—built by Motorola Solutions—for more than two years on 700 MHz spectrum that currently is licensed to FirstNet. During that time, the FCC repeatedly has granted the state of Texas—on behalf of Harris County—special temporary authority (STA) to continue network operations, the latest of which was set to expire on Aug. 24.

While FirstNet has supported the STA applications by the state of Texas, officials in the state and in Harris County wanted an SMLA agreement with FirstNet to provide more long-term certainty about the county’s ability to continue operating the network and pursue possible expansion plans. Representatives of Texas and FirstNet negotiated for more than a year before reaching a deal.

“The goal is to have a three-year SMLA to allow the lessons learned to be continually gained from this system and to make sure that we are leveraging the investment that has been put in place with the Harris County, Texas, system,” FirstNet Acting General Manager TJ Kennedy said during today’s meeting. “The overall goal is to make sure that this is leveraged and that FirstNet can have all of the good lessons learned that will come from having this network and continue to expand how it is used by the first responders in Texas.”

Todd Early, deputy assistant director at the Texas Department of Public Safety and the state’s single point of contact (SPOC) for FirstNet, echoed this sentiment.

“The state of Texas is pleased to have reached an agreement with FirstNet on the spectrum lease,” Early said in a prepared statement. “Both sides have worked very hard to reach an agreement that will benefit first responders in Texas and provide key lessons learned to FirstNet regarding the buildout of the nationwide public-safety broadband network.

“We appreciate the work and dedication of the entire FirstNet team and support of the board in reaching this agreement that supports the planning, investments, build-out and commitment made by Harris County ITC, the Harris County Judge’s Office and Commissioners Court, Houston Ship Channel Security District and the State of Texas.”

With the assured access to spectrum through the SMLA, Harris County will be able to expand its public-safety LTE network from 14 sites to 93 sites, Early said during an interview with IWCE’s Urgent Communications.

After Congress passed legislation establishing FirstNet in February 2012, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) instituted a freeze on all public-safety LTE deployments until the FirstNet board was created and decided what policies would be appropriate for jurisdictions attempting early deployments of public-safety LTE.

In early 2013, the FirstNet board—led by Swenson, who was just a board member at the time but charged with heading spectrum-lease deals—began negotiating with these “early mover” jurisdictions in an effort to reach spectrum-lease agreements. The first spectrum-lease agreement was with LA-RICs in August 2013, and deals with the state of New Mexico, the state of New Jersey and Adams County, Colo., followed in the fall of 2013. Adams County launched its public-safety LTE network in June.

All previous spectrum-lease agreements approved by FirstNet were with jurisdictions that received federal funding through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) administered by NTIA. The Harris County deployment was different, in that its federal funding came from sources other than BTOP.

Tags: News Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet News

Related


  • FirstNet board members approve a three-year spectrum-management-lease agreement (SMLA) with the state of Texas, providing some spectral stability to the public-safety LTE network deployed in Harris County, Texas—the first such operational network to be established in the United States.
  • FirstNet board members approve a three-year spectrum-management-lease agreement (SMLA) with the state of Texas, providing some spectral stability to the public-safety LTE network deployed in Harris County, Texas—the first such operational network to be established in the United States.
  • FirstNet board members approve a three-year spectrum-management-lease agreement (SMLA) with the state of Texas, providing some spectral stability to the public-safety LTE network deployed in Harris County, Texas—the first such operational network to be established in the United States.
  • FirstNet board members approve a three-year spectrum-management-lease agreement (SMLA) with the state of Texas, providing some spectral stability to the public-safety LTE network deployed in Harris County, Texas—the first such operational network to be established in the United States.

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

  • Microsoft adopted 'aggressive' strategy for sharing SolarWinds Attack intel
  • How SolarWinds busted up our assumptions about code signing
  • Senate American Rescue Plan calls for more than $60 million in direct aid for counties
  • NTIA seeks potential new FirstNet Authority board members

Commentary


Ransomware? Let’s call it what it really is: extortionware

21st February 2021

Redefining communications for today’s mobile workforces

18th February 2021

Hi-tech sewer can help safeguard public health, environment and economies

18th February 2021
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Intel, Microsoft aim for breakthrough in DARPA encryption project dlvr.it/RvFcRV

9th March 2021
UrgentComm

Ericsson pulls the plug on MWC Barcelona again dlvr.it/RvFcQM

9th March 2021
UrgentComm

Intelsat and SES: C-band calm hides a brutal legal storm dlvr.it/RvCnwl

8th March 2021
UrgentComm

Securing the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) dlvr.it/RvCllK

8th March 2021
UrgentComm

ADRF targets smaller facilities with new in-building public-safety repeater dlvr.it/RvClgF

8th March 2021
UrgentComm

Microsoft adopted ‘aggressive’ strategy for sharing SolarWinds Attack intel dlvr.it/Rv9vmp

8th March 2021
UrgentComm

How SolarWinds busted up our assumptions about code signing dlvr.it/Rv25kB

5th March 2021
UrgentComm

Senate American Rescue plan calls for more than $60 million in direct aid for counties dlvr.it/Rv1wGF

5th March 2021

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 © 2021 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