News Minnesota becomes 23rd state to ‘opt-in’ to FirstNet 4th October 2017 Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton announces that he has accepted the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) deployment plan offered by FirstNet and AT&T on behalf of his state, making Minnesota the 23rd state—not including two territories—to “opt-in” to the FirstNet system.
Commentary Unanswered questions loom as governors prepare to make ‘opt-in/opt-out’ FirstNet choices 4th October 2017 Most governors have until Dec. 28 to make their “opt-in/opt-out” choices regarding FirstNet. Considerable information about FirstNet is available, but several key data points that could impact a governor’s decision remain unknown as the 90-day decision clock ticks.
News Verizon meets with FirstNet, but interoperability questions remain 3rd October 2017 Verizon officials had “very productive discussions” with FirstNet during the latter part of September, but it remains unclear whether users of Verizon’s announced public-safety broadband offering will be able to interoperate seamlessly and securely with subscribers on the FirstNet system being built and operated by AT&T.
News NTIA releases funding levels, governors have until Dec. 28 to make FirstNet ‘opt-in/opt-out’ decisions 28th September 2017 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) releases construction-grant funding levels to FirstNet, which will deliver the figures to most governors tomorrow—an action that means these governors will have until Dec. 28 to make their “opt-in/opt-out” decisions.
News Louisiana becomes 22nd state to make FirstNet ‘opt-in’ decision 28th September 2017 Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announces that he has accepted the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) deployment plan offered by FirstNet and AT&T on behalf of his state, making Louisiana the 22nd state—not including two territories—to “opt-in” to the FirstNet system.
News Georgia becomes 13th state with an active procurement seeking alternative RAN bids for FirstNet 26th September 2017 Georgia issues a request for proposals (RFP) asking bidders to submit proposals to build and maintain an alternative LTE radio access network (RAN) for FirstNet under a potential “opt-out” scenario, making Georgia the 13th state with an active procurement for an alternative-RAN vendor.
News NTIA funding level still missing through Monday, FirstNet ‘opt-in/opt-out’ deadline pushed past Christmas 26th September 2017 Most governors will have at least until Dec. 25 to decide whether their states and territories will “opt-in” to FirstNet or pursue the “opt-out” option after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on Monday failed to provide key funding information for states that achieve “opt-out” status.
News ‘Opt-in/opt-out’ decisions require governors to consider many factors, panelists say 22nd September 2017 Governors making an “opt-in/opt-out” decision by the end of the year have to consider more than simply whether they like the deployment plans presented by FirstNet and AT&T, including the ability for a state’s vendor to address potential risk factors during the next 25 years, according to panelists on an IWCE webinar.
News NTIA does not release state funding levels, pushing 90-day FirstNet ‘opt-in/opt-out’ deadline deeper into December 22nd September 2017 Most governors will have at least until Dec. 21 to decide whether their states and territories will “opt-in” to FirstNet or pursue the “opt-out” option after the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) yesterday failed to provide key funding information that would apply to an “opt-out” state.
News ESChat works with EF Johnson to provide push-to-talk-over-cellular functionality for DFW Airport 20th September 2017 Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport personnel will be able to utilize the ESChat push-to-talk-over-cellular (PoC) solution to communicate with other PoC users and subscribers on the EF Johnson-built P25 network, according to ESChat President Josh Lober.
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