FirstNet board initiates public-notice proceeding on relationship with ‘opt-out’ states
As described in a FirstNet press release, other non-funding issues addressed in the public notice include:
- “Technical requirements for equipment to be used on the network, including open standards for connectivity and device competition;
- The nature and application of FirstNet network policies, including those that aim to preserve interoperability in states and territories that assume responsibility for building and operating a RAN;
- The governor’s decision to assume RAN responsibility, and the roles and responsibilities of states and FirstNet throughout the process; and
- Customer and operational considerations regarding state or territory assumption of RAN responsibility.”
As with FirstNet’s public-notice proceeding last fall, the preliminary legal interpretations are those of the FirstNet staff and do not represent the opinion of the FirstNet board, which ultimately will make the policy decisions on the matters.
“I want to emphasize very clearly that this is the beginning of the discussion and not the final pronouncement of a decision,” Swenson said.
FirstNet’s web site includes a copy of the public notice and a list of frequently asked questions about the proceeding.
FirstNet hopes that the public notice will be published in the Federal Register “in the next couple of days,” after which commenters will have 30 days to submit filings, Swenson said. Comments in this proceeding will be made public, according to FirstNet officials.
During the press conference, Kupinsky declined to speculate when the FirstNet board would make a decision about policies associated with questions associated with the second notice. However, such policies need to be in place before FirstNet issues its final request for proposal (RFP), he said
FirstNet Acting Executive Director TJ Kennedy reiterated FirstNet’s plan to release its draft RFP by the end of the month but declined to comment when the final RFP would be issued.