IWCE panel: Preparation key to states making good opt-in/opt-out decision on FirstNet

LeGrande likened the challenge that FirstNet state points of contacts face in convincing local public-safety agencies to subscribe to the FirstNet system to the challenges he encountered after building a 3G network as chief technology officer (CTO) for Washington, D.C.

“To get their local adoption, the thing that they asked me was, of course, ‘What is the business plan, and how does that business plan compare to what we’re paying now? What are we going to get that we don’t have now, and how much is it going to cost?’” he said. “The states are going to be faced with that same issue, and if they don’t have that information when they take that plan to the governor, it’s a very painful place that the state representative will be.”

“If you can’t have that business conversation, no matter how good the FirstNet plan is, it will come under scrutiny. And one thing that’s going to hurt this process—and maybe even kill our ability to do this—is if we can’t get local adoption.”

Todd Early, deputy assistant director for the Texas department of public safety, echoed this sentiment.

“As Rob said, the point of contact is going to be asked that question, ‘What does it cost, if we opt out?’” Early said. “We’ve got to be able to provide that information.”

In addition, for FirstNet to be used ubiquitously by first responders, the needs of budget-strapped local agencies must be addressed, Early said.

“Many of these jurisdictions can’t even afford to buy radios. They have bake sales to buy radios to put in their vehicles,” he said. “So, when you talk about deploying this technology and the additional cost that it’s going to be, it obviously raises concern in their area. They have to be assured … that it’s going to be cost effective.”

Darryl Anderson, director of the statewide LMR system in the state of Ohio, said state representatives should not be shy about asking FirstNet officials hard questions while conducting due diligence in preparation for the opt-in/opt-out decision.

“We have a healthy skepticism of FirstNet,” Anderson said. “It’s never been done before, so we can’t all just march along in lock step, salute and say it’s going to work. We’re optimistically skeptical it’s going to work, and we’re demanding that it works for the first responders and the taxpayers of the state of Ohio.

“We want FirstNet to understand that FirstNet works for us.”