News AT&T expresses optimism about FirstNet prospect, might accelerate deployment with tax reform 26th January 2017 Top AT&T executives yesterday noted that the possibility of the carrier winning the nationwide FirstNet award is one of several “potentially very good things” that could happen this year. Another is tax reform that would lead to the telecom giant paying a lower corporate tax rate, allowing the company to invest the money necessary to accelerate the deployment of various initiatives, including the potential FirstNet buildout.
News Commerce Secretary nominee Ross expresses support for ‘concept’ of FirstNet 24th January 2017 Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee members approve President Donald Trump’s Commerce Secretary nominee Wilbur Ross, who expressed support for the “concept” of FirstNet during his nomination hearing last week.
News Newscan: More than half of U.S. adults live in ‘cell-phone-only’ households 19th January 2017 Web Roundup Items from other news organizations More than half of U.S. adults live in ‘cell-phone-only’ households FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai expected to be named interim FCC chairman
News FirstNet officials outline vision for organization’s testing operations in Colorado lab 13th January 2017 FirstNet’s new laboratory will conduct testing to ensure that core public-safety devices, network features, capabilities and services will meet the reliability and performance requirements of first responders, although details will not be revealed until the nationwide contractor award is made, according to FirstNet officials.
Commentary Uncertain delays create timing issues for states, public safety in preparation for FirstNet 10th January 2017 FirstNet officials say they are ready to proceed, but states and first-responder agencies are awaiting the outcome of a legal proceeding to get a better understanding of the timing issues they may need to address related to the much-anticipated nationwide public-safety broadband network.
News Alabama changes RFP deadline for public-safety LTE network to Jan. 31 3rd January 2017 Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) officials decide that vendors wanting to build a statewide public-safety LTE radio access network (RAN) must submit proposals by Jan. 31, as opposed to the previous plan of waiting until after FirstNet announces the contractor for its nationwide public-safety broadband network.
Commentary FirstNet cybersecurity demands just one area that potential opt-out states should weigh carefully 20th December 2016 Many advocates of the opt-out alternative to FirstNet cite the option as a way for a state to exert greater control over the public-safety broadband network within its borders. There is no doubt that an opt-out decision would create much more work for a state, but the level of operational control may not be the kind that proponents envisioned.
News Arizona delays RFP submission deadline to March 30 17th December 2016 Arizona changes to March 30 the deadline for vendors to submit bids to its request for proposals to build and operate a public-safety LTE radio access network (RAN) that would exist only if Arizona’s governor decides to opt out of the nationwide FirstNet buildout next year.
News Rivada claims Altan won Mexico’s Red Compartida award ‘through improper and perhaps criminal means’ 15th December 2016 A South Carolina federal court this week cleared the path for Rivada Networks to depose Richard Keith, a South Carolina consultant whose testimony is expected to support Rivada’s allegations that the winning Altan consortium bid for the Mexico government’s Red Compartida network was prepared in violation of Mexican law.
Commentary IWCE turns 40 in 2017; Will you be there to help celebrate? 15th December 2016 Yes, folks, that is correct: IWCE has been around for 40 years. Boy, has it changed since the beginning of time, when it started in 1977 as the National Business Radio Conference in Denver, Colo.
Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority? 24th March 2024
FirstNet Authority reauthorization needed as public-safety-driven network evolution proceeds 16th March 2024