News FirstNet officials say deployment speed, cost effectiveness key criteria for opt-out states, territories 3rd June 2015 States and territories can choose to build the public-safety broadband radio access network (RAN) in their jurisdictions, but they will not be able to keep excess revenues and must meet difficult statutory criteria regarding decision-making and speed-of-deployment timelines, FirstNet officials said during committee meetings on Tuesday..
Commentary FirstNet should leave ‘public-safety entity’ definition to governor of each state/territory 29th May 2015 In its third public notice, FirstNet seeks clarification on the definition of a “public-safety entity” that can be considered for priority access on its nationwide public-safety broadband network. How should we answer the question of “who is public safety/who gets a radio?” Let governors decide.
News Top carriers may have reservations about participating in FirstNet bid, analyst says 28th May 2015 Many public-safety officials believe that commercial wireless carriers are logical partners for FirstNet in its effort to deploy and maintain a nationwide public-safety broadband network, but nationwide carriers may view the endeavor as too risky to participate, one analyst said during a webinar hosted by IWCE’s Urgent Communications.
Commentary Changes in public-safety communications are happening quickly—and acceleration is likely in the forecast 26th May 2015 Evolution in public-safety communications has become noticeably more rapid in recent years, and the pace of change is likely to accelerate during the next several years, driven largely by developments in FirstNet and next-generation 911.
News Rivada Networks CEO Ganley says spectrum should be leveraged, traditional public-safety communications model ‘dead’ 26th May 2015 Government entities should be allowed to leverage unused spectrum resources to help fund public-safety initiatives, which would make obsolete the traditional public-safety LMR deployment model—in which governments provide spectrum and pay millions of taxpayer dollars for networks—according to Rivada Networks CEO Declan Ganley.
Commentary Process for states’ opt-out opportunity complicates FirstNet business model 19th May 2015 FirstNet’s business model promises to be challenging, even under the best of circumstances. But will the processes surrounding the opt-out decision-making process by states and territories create even more problems?
News FirstNet sheds light on financial challenges during Industry Day event 15th May 2015 FirstNet is seeking partnerships that ensure the nationwide public-safety broadband network is financially sustainable in the long term and provides first responders with “the best price possible” for service, officials said during a meeting yesterday with attendees interested in responding to the FirstNet draft RFP.
News States push back against preliminary FirstNet legal interpretations on opt-out alternative 30th April 2015 Several states and territories were outspoken in their criticism of FirstNet’s preliminary legal interpretation of opt-out options, asking for detailed clarity in FirstNet’s state plans and questioning whether the federal entity is legally authorized to take some of the stances its staff has proposed.
Commentary GAO report identifies several FirstNet challenges, ignores multiple key factors 30th April 2015 In its latest report, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) does a good job of summarizing most of the business-model challenges facing FirstNet. However, it missed some big factors that could impact FirstNet, including the potential impact that mission-critical voice over LTE could have on public-safety adoption.
News Los Angeles reps visit D.C., told that time extension for LA-RICS would be difficult 28th April 2015 Representatives from the Los Angeles area last week visited Washington, D.C., to discuss the troubled Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) public-safety LTE project, learning that securing additional time beyond the Sept. 30 deadline would be challenging.
Latest 3GPP standards-development work includes new classes of HPUE, progress on mission-critical services 1 22nd April 2024
Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority? 3 24th March 2024
Video Check out key takeaways from Disaster Management Symposium webinars, register to view archives Video: Opening of the Expo Hall on day three of IWCE 2023 Lynk CEO Charles Miller: The sky’s the limit
