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

NTIA/FirstNet


News

NTIA issues final rule for its review of FirstNet fees

NTIA issues final rule for its review of FirstNet fees

​The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) publishes its final rule outlining the criteria and processes for it annual review of fees established and collected by FirstNet—a review that will not include an assessment of end-user fees for subscriptions, according to an NTIA spokesman.
  • Written by Donny Jackson
  • 29th August 2017

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today published its final rule outlining the criteria and processes for annual review of fees established and collected by FirstNet—a review that will not include an assessment of end-user fees for subscriptions, according to an NTIA spokesman.

Under the 2012 law that created FirstNet as the entity to build and maintain a nationwide public-safety broadband network, NTIA—the federal agency that houses FirstNet in the U.S. government—is required to review FirstNet’s proposed fees each year, and the fees only may be assessed after being approved by NTIA. One statutory requirement is that FirstNet be a self-sustaining network, and the review process is designed to ensure this is a reality, according to Leonard Bechtel, NTIA’s director of administration and chief financial officer.

“NTIA’s fee-review program will ensure that FirstNet achieves self-sustainability through a reasonable fee structure,” Bechtel said in a prepared statement.

FirstNet CEO Mike Poth echoed this sentiment.

“NTIA’s final rule on review of FirstNet fees is an important step in the process of deploying the nationwide public safety broadband network, and we appreciate all their efforts,” Poth said in a prepared statement. “With our commitment to maintaining a strong financial condition, we stand ready to deliver a reliable, secure, and financially sustainable FirstNet network that meets the demands of public safety, enabling them to better serve their communities.”

With the self-sustainability of FirstNet in mind, NTIA will review only fees collected directly by FirstNet, as suggested by its proposed rules that were released in December 2015. Those fees include payments to FirstNet by nationwide contractor AT&T—estimated to be more than $18 billion over the 25-year contract—as well as payments by “opt-out” states for use of the FirstNet LTE core and FirstNet spectrum.

Not included in the review process will be fees associated with end-user subscriptions or device charges, according to an NTIA spokesman. Indeed, those fees will be collected by AT&T, not FirstNet.

In the Federal Register notification of the new fee-review rule published today, NTIA notes that its FirstNet fee review will be conducted to determine whether all of FirstNet’s revenues meet the statutory requirement that the “total amount of the fees assessed for each fiscal year . . . shall be sufficient, and shall not exceed the amount necessary, to recoup the total expenses of [FirstNet] in carrying out its duties and responsibilities [under the Act] for the fiscal year involved.”

As a result, NTIA will determine only whether FirstNet’s overall assessment of fees is appropriate, as opposed to reviewing that each individual FirstNet fee is reasonable.

“NTIA will approve FirstNet’s fees as reasonable only if FirstNet’s fees—in aggregate and in combination with any FirstNet non-fee-based income—are sufficient to cover, but do not exceed the amount necessary for, FirstNet’s execution of its statutory duties for each fiscal year,” according to the Federal Register notification.

Although FirstNet is supposed to collect only enough fees to fund its operations for each fiscal year, the NTIA rule notes that FirstNet can maintain “necessary reserve funds.” In its rule, NTIA indicates that it will defer to FirstNet in determining the amount of reserve funds that is appropriate.

“Necessary reserve funds means any amount of money identified by FirstNet in its standard financial documentation to meet expected and unexpected future expenses that may arise in the course of FirstNet executing its statutory powers, duties, and responsibilities under 47 U.S.C. 1401 et seq., including but not limited to capital reserve funds, operating reserve funds, maintenance reserve funds, and improvement reserve funds,” according to a definition included in the NTIA rule.

Non-fee-based income—for instance, potential revenue from the proposed FirstNet App store—will not be part of the NTIA review, but NTIA will consider such income sources as it makes its determination whether FirstNet’s fees will ensure that it will meet the self-sustainability mandate, according to an NTIA spokesman.

 

Tags: Legislation Funding Long Term Evolution (LTE) News NTIA/FirstNet Policy Public Safety Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet News

Most Recent


  • Ransomware, data breaches inundate OT & industrial sector
    Three-quarters of industrial firms suffered a ransomware attack in the past year, with far more compromises affecting operational technology (OT) than ever before — representing a surge in attacks driven by both the industrial sector’s vulnerability and propensity to pay ransoms in order to remain operational. In the past 12 months, more than half of […]
  • How and why AT&T selected Fujitsu radios for 5G
    Lost in AT&T’s big $14 billion announcement with Ericsson for open RAN was the fact that it also plans to purchase 5G radios from Fujitsu. The move represents a major win for the Japanese wireless network equipment vendor, which is relatively unknown outside its home market. “In order to support the acceleration of open RAN in AT&T’s […]
  • PSSA asks FCC for FirstNet Authority license at 4.9 GHz, opposes CERCI proposal
    A Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) filing this week reiterates its call for the FCC to award a nationwide license of 4.9 GHz  spectrum to the FirstNet Authority, ignoring a recent coalition filing that asks the commission to approve rules that would let local jurisdictions largely determine how the airwaves are used. Jeff Johnson, executive […]
  • Critical Bluetooth flaw exposes Android, Apple & Linux devices to takeover
    Attackers can exploit a critical Bluetooth security vulnerability that’s been lurking largely unnoticed for years on macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux device platforms. The keystroke injection vulnerability allows an attacker to control the targeted device as if they were attached by a Bluetooth keyboard, performing various functions remotely depending on the endpoint. Tracked as CVE-2023-45866, the flaw exists […]

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

  • NTIA issues final rule for its review of FirstNet fees
  • NTIA issues final rule for its review of FirstNet fees
  • NTIA issues final rule for its review of FirstNet fees
  • NTIA issues final rule for its review of FirstNet fees

Commentary


Things to know about IWCE 2024: The basics 

5th December 2023

Land mobile radio (LMR) systems are just as vulnerable to cyberattacks as any other networks used in the public-safety sector. Here’s what to do about it.

  • 2
7th November 2023

September 3GPP Plenary meetings feature Release 18 progress, Release 19 beginnings

13th October 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.