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
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • 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
  • 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

RFP competition should improve chances that FirstNet vision can become a reality for public safety

RFP competition should improve chances that FirstNet vision can become a reality for public safety

It may have been the worst-kept secret in the public-safety communications industry, but AT&T announcement that it is leading a FirstNet bidding team means that the RFP process has at least three competitors, which should be good news for public safety.
  • Written by Donny Jackson
  • 26th July 2016

It may have been the worst-kept secret in the public-safety communications industry, but AT&T last week officially announced that it is leading one of the bidding teams vying for the right to build and maintain FirstNet’s nationwide public-safety broadband network for the next 25 years.

This came as a surprise to no one, as AT&T expressed interest in the FirstNet opportunity even before the request for proposals (RFP) was released in January. But some industry observers had wondered whether AT&T may have had second thoughts about leading a bid team when the carrier giant remained silent as Rivada Mercury and pdvWireless publicly announced their respective bids during the past several weeks.

AT&T’s announcement should put that speculation to rest.

Meanwhile, industry sources continue to wonder what next moves two other industry giants—Verizon and Motorola Solutions —may take in association with FirstNet.

Both companies potentially have a lot at stake in the FirstNet RFP process, but neither has announced exactly what role they may be playing in the FirstNet sweepstakes. Motorola Solution has said it is participating in some way, while Verizon has remained completely silent.

There is remarkably little speculation that Verizon or Motorola would lead an offeror team, but that is still possible. Meanwhile, the most popular theories are that they are part of at least one team led by another company—many believe both could be on two teams.

It is fun to speculate on such things, and I’d love to know the truth. But the key here is that the more good companies are part of these three announced teams—and maybe there are others—the better the chances are that the RFP evaluation team will be able to make a choice that meets the multilayered criteria that the FirstNet board wants fulfilled before entering into a 25-year deal with the contractor team.

It’s hard to believe that it was only five months ago when many in the public-safety industry questioned whether there would be legitimate bidders for the FirstNet initiative. The concern was understandable, given the fact that the FirstNet RFP basically provides no money to the contractor on a net basis over the long-term deal, while the contractor is obligated to pay an estimated $40 billion or more to build, maintain and upgrade the system.

But FirstNet officials understood the value proposition for a contractor team to make money, as we have at least three bidders vying for the right to build this much-anticipated nationwide network. AT&T and Rivada have been upfront and engaged in this process from the beginning. The interest from pdvWireless was a bit of a surprise while the company pursues its 900 MHz private broadband proposal, but it certainly should understand public-safety needs and economics of the venture, as Vice Chairman Morgan O’Brien and other company officials were part of a failed effort to pursue something similar almost a decade ago.

Meanwhile, the way the RFP is structured, FirstNet will have an assured annual revenue stream from the contractor, so FirstNet's financial sustainability—a major concern when this initiative was started in 2012—should not be an issue.

Of course, it’s possible that none of the bids meet the goals that FirstNet has established for this key public-safety network, from the technical and/or financial standpoint. But I don't think that's the case. I like the odds of FirstNet being able to provide first responders with the kind of broadband system they need, given the backgrounds of the announced bidding teams and the fact that there are at least three of them competing.

 

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

Related


  • It may have been the worst-kept secret in the public-safety communications industry, but AT&T announcement that it is leading a FirstNet bidding team means that the RFP process has at least three competitors, which should be good news for public safety.
  • It may have been the worst-kept secret in the public-safety communications industry, but AT&T announcement that it is leading a FirstNet bidding team means that the RFP process has at least three competitors, which should be good news for public safety.
  • It may have been the worst-kept secret in the public-safety communications industry, but AT&T announcement that it is leading a FirstNet bidding team means that the RFP process has at least three competitors, which should be good news for public safety.
  • It may have been the worst-kept secret in the public-safety communications industry, but AT&T announcement that it is leading a FirstNet bidding team means that the RFP process has at least three competitors, which should be good news for public safety.

Related Content

  • Five 5G takeaways from Samsung's new phones
  • Biden relief plan includes $350 million for local and state government
  • Businesses struggle with cloud availability as attackers take aim
  • Public safety needs a better way to triage emergency calls

Commentary


Public safety needs a better way to triage emergency calls

13th January 2021

In challenging year, working with public safety to move FirstNet forward

30th December 2020

Communications solutions must evolve quickly to meet needs of a changing world

31st October 2020
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

RT @IWCEexpo: 📆 Mark Your Calendars: IWCE will be returning to Las Vegas this September and registration is slated to open in April 📆 Wa…

15th January 2021
UrgentComm

RT @IWCEexpo: ⚡FLASH SALE: Don't miss this exclusive offer! Passes to #IBFVirtual are now 50% off with code TWITTER50. Take advantage of th…

6th November 2020
UrgentComm

Get ready for part 2 of "Ensuring Public Safety Emergency Communications" next week! @PCTEL_inc will explore… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

3rd November 2020
UrgentComm

Over the past few months, we’ve seen the world transform, and it's clear that cities will be affected in the long-t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
UrgentComm

Florida state & local agencies subscribing to the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) will be able to co… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
UrgentComm

Tune in to @slacorp CEO Josh Lober as he explains how the company has fully integrated its #PTT application to work… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
UrgentComm

.@SierraWireless announced the commercial availability of the AirLink MG90 platform, which they tout as the first m… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
UrgentComm

Attorneys for #Hytera and #MotorolaSolutions this week submitted final written arguments, apparently clearing a pat… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

22nd October 2020

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