NTIA/FirstNet

Commentary

Public safety anxiously awaits 700 MHz broadband direction

Some of those most instrumental in stating the case for public safety’s need for additional spectrum and funding have been left in a rather uncomfortable limbo while anxiously awaiting word from the nation’s capital about the next steps they should take.

Photo of a police officer helping load city buses after a transformer fire

Article

Power struggle

Public safety is allowed to partner with utilities on its nationwide broadband network, but such partners only are allowed to access the network on a secondary basis. Exactly what “secondary” means is the critical question.

Commentary

For FirstNet, an unpleasant, but essential step toward productivity

By Donald Denning — Shortly the members of the FirstNET board of directors will be selected and they will begin to form their team, which will begin with the always positive and exciting orientation phase. This undoubtedly will lead to the dissatisfaction phase, where individuals will struggle with power, control and conflicting issues.

News

NTIA cautions against early public-safety LTE deployments

Officials for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently asked jurisdictions with plans to deploy public-safety LTE systems during the next year to stop their work to ensure that money is not wasted on equipment that will not integrate into the nationwide broadband network.

Commentary

NTIA has several good candidates for FirstNet board

I’d like to make a few suggestions regarding the makeup of the vitally important FirstNet board. The first is that each of the three major disciplines that make up public safety — police, fire and EMS — should be represented by at least one board member, because these segments will be most affected by the deployment of this network.

NTIA official provides timelines for nationwide broadband network

NTIA has until Aug. 20 to establish the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), the 15-member board that will make policy decisions regarding the public-safety broadband network.

News

Obama makes it official, signs D Block legislation

Bill reallocates the 700 MHz D Block spectrum to public safety and provides $7 billion in federal funding for LTE network buildout.

News

Congress passes D Block legislation

This morning, the House of Representatives voted 293-132 in favor of the measure, followed shortly by a 60-36 vote in the Senate to approve the bill.

NTIA: PSIC grant money can be used for narrowbanding

PSIC grant funds can be used to purchase narrowbanding equipment or to educate users, but not for FCC licensing fees.

News

Public-safety group reinforces D Block positions

But attempts to forge unanimous agreement regarding the best use of the 700 MHz D Block were unsuccessful.

Commentary

Public safety anxiously awaits 700 MHz broadband direction

Article

Power struggle

Commentary

For FirstNet, an unpleasant, but essential step toward productivity

News

NTIA cautions against early public-safety LTE deployments

Commentary

NTIA has several good candidates for FirstNet board

NTIA official provides timelines for nationwide broadband network

News

Obama makes it official, signs D Block legislation

News

Congress passes D Block legislation

NTIA: PSIC grant money can be used for narrowbanding

News

Public-safety group reinforces D Block positions

Commentary

Updated: How ‘sidelink’ peer-to-peer communications can enhance public-safety operations

NG911 needed to secure our communities and nation

How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient

Events

UC Ezines

IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

Twitter

Gallery: The last day of IWCE 2023 dlvr.it/SllQKJ

Video: Opening of the Expo Hall on day three of IWCE 2023 dlvr.it/SlkyNy

Verizon officials highlight role of 5G tech for responders during IWCE keynote dlvr.it/Slkh9n

Day three of IWCE 2023 features the opening of the Expo Hall dlvr.it/Slhgvr

Gallery: The Expo Hall opens on day three of IWCE 2023 dlvr.it/SlhfPT

Rescue 42 launches miniCRD deployable for FirstNet dlvr.it/SlgdtY

RT @IWCEexpo: 📽️ More sights from Day 2 at #IWCE23. It's been a fantastic start so far... Thanks to you! Tomorrow is another awesome spea…

RT @IWCEexpo: Ildefonso De La Cruz Morales, Principal Analyst-Critical Communications @OmdiaHQ takes the stage and kicks off tonight’s Keyn…