The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau today sought comment on a waiver petition filed by the Alaska Wireless Network LLC seeking a one-year extension of the requirement that it be capable of providing text-to-911 service to public safety answering points (PSAPs) within six months of a valid PSAP request. Carriers were required to be capable by Dec. 31, 2014, of providing text-to-911 service. Comments on the waiver request are due May 14 and replies May 19 in PS dockets 10-255 and 11-153.
Month: May 2015
EWA, PDV Submit Proposed Rules for 900 MHz Broadband Service
The Enterprise Wireless Alliance and Pacific DataVision, Inc. (d/b/a pdvWireless) have submitted to the FCC proposed rules for realigning the 900 megahertz band to enable the deployment of broadband service. The filing, dated yesterday in Rulemaking 11739, came in the wake of recent meetings that EWA and PDV had with representatives of the American Petroleum Institute, the Association of American Railroads, the Utilities Telecom Council, and the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative.
“The Petitioners drafted proposed rules to provide interested parties with a more detailed description of how the PEBB [private enterprise broadband] allocation being considered in the above-identified proceeding might be implemented. The rules reflect constructive input from representatives of the American Association of Railroads, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative, and the Utilities Telecom Council; however, those organizations have not endorsed these rules in their entirety and likely will have further comments on them,” EWA and PDV said in a cover letter to the proposed rules. Continue reading
Furth Emphasizes Importance of Addressing 9-1-1 Outages
The FCC wants to move quickly to implement provisions to help prevent future 911 outages, David Furth, deputy chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, said today at the Association of Public-Safety Communications-International’s Public Safety Broadband Summit in Washington.
Last November, the FCC adopted a notice of proposed rulemaking that proposed requiring 911 communications service providers to provide public notice of major outages and requiring potential new providers to certify their technical and operational qualifications (TRDaily, Nov. 21, 2014). The NPRM came after a “sunny-day” outage in April 2014 that affected more than 11 million people in seven states.
A myriad of industry entities criticized the NPRM, while some state, 911, and public safety entities said that while they supported some of the FCC’s proposals, they opposed any FCC actions that would usurp state and local control over public safety answering points (PSAPs) (TRDaily, March 24).
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Number Association asked the FCC to consider a public safety-industry consensus approach to the issues raised in the NPRM if one could be achieved, and it said it would seek to reach such a consensus. Continue reading
End of 2016 FirstNet Contracts
First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) acting Executive Director TJ Kennedy said today that it’s too early to predict whether the authority might be able to award a contract or contracts by the end of next year to deploy a nationwide public safety broadband network.
At PCIA’s Wireless Infrastructure Show in Florida last week, Glenn Reynolds, chief of staff at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said that FirstNet hopefully will be able to award a contract or contracts by the end of 2016 (TRDaily, April 29).
“We’ve really focused on the time lines we’ve put out, and meeting those few time lines, and we’re really focused on getting the RFP out by the end of the year,” Mr. Kennedy said in response to a question at a session this morning at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International’s Public Safety Broadband Summit in Washington. “I think we’ll know more after draft RFP comments come in and we get that RFP out on the street. But I can tell you, we’re moving with urgency.” Continue reading
FCC to Provide Direct Dialing to 9-1-1
The FCC by June will allow employees and visitors to dial 911 directly rather than having to dial “9” first, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioner Ajit Pai announced today. Today’s statement said that people will be able to dial 911 directly or continue to dial 9-911 to get emergency assistance.
Mr. Pai and Commissioner Mike O’Rielly had urged Mr. Wheeler to direct that the FCC’s MLTS (multi-line telephone system) equipment be modified so people could dial 911 directly, but Mr. Wheeler had resisted until now.
“Whenever Americans dial 911, they expect and deserve to reach emergency personnel who can assist them in their time of need. And over the course of the past year, we have seen tremendous progress in ensuring that dialing 911 always works. Facilities across the country have been configuring their multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) so that consumers do not need to dial a ‘9’or any other access code before dialing 911,” Messrs. Wheeler and Pai said in their statement. Continue reading
DHA and NASA Technology Helps Save Four in Nepal Earthquake Disaster
Washington, D.C. – Four men trapped under as much as 10 feet of bricks, mud and other debris have been rescued in Nepal thanks to a new search-and-rescue technology developed in partnership by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The device called FINDER (Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response) uses microwave-radar technology to detect heartbeats of victims trapped in wreckage. Following the April 25 earthquake in Nepal, two prototype FINDER devices were deployed to support search and rescue teams in the stricken areas.
Interested in learning more? Read the full S&T Press Release.
LA-RICS Cleared to Resume Construction After Approval of Revised Project Plan
The suspension of further construction by the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) under its Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant has been lifted, a National Telecommunications and Information Administration spokeswoman said late today.
“On the recommendation of NTIA, the NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] grants office today lifted the suspension of the LA-RICS Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant, enabling the project to immediately resume construction,” the spokeswoman said. “NTIA, in close consultation with FirstNet, determined that the revised LA-RICS project plan submitted on April 20 would deliver substantial benefits to the Los Angeles public safety community and could be completed by the statutory deadline of September 30, 2015.
“To ensure timely construction of the project and enable continued robust grant oversight, NTIA and NOAA are also requiring LA-RICS to follow a new Corrective Action Plan,” the spokeswoman added. “We appreciate the continued commitment of the LA-RICS staff and Los Angeles City and County officials to seeing this project to fruition, giving first responders in the Los Angeles region the most advanced communications tools to protect the public and save lives.” Continue reading
TR Daily Reports: NPSTC–FCC Should Reject or Condition AT&T Bid for Cell Service Power Limit
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council has told the FCC it should address changes to cellular service power limit rules through a rulemaking proceeding rather than through waiver requests, but if the Commission does grant such a request sought by AT&T Services, Inc., it should require reporting of any interference to public safety operations and compensation for investigating and resolving such issues.
AT&T had asked for a limited waiver to allow use of power spectrum density measurements for certain 800 MHz band cellular operations in four Missouri markets until the FCC completes action in a proceeding on modernizing its cellular licensing rules. AT&T specifically requested a PSD limit of 250 watts/MHz in non-rural areas and 500 watts/MHz in rural areas.
In comments on the waiver petition (WT docket 15-86), NPSTC recommended that the FCC deny AT&T’s waiver request and that it “take the same action on any similar waiver request that might be submitted during the pendency of the rulemaking proceeding.
“Given the technical complexity of issues in the [pending further notice of proposed rulemaking], the real concern about potential interference to public safety systems from the 800 MHz band cellular service and the need for new rules to ensure Part 90 licensees are fairly compensated for expenses incurred as part of investigating and resolving interference from cellular service operations, NPSTC recommends against jumping ahead of rulemaking process with such waivers,” it said.
If the FCC grants AT&T’s waiver anyway, it should be conditioned to specify that: “a) AT&T must investigate and resolve interference complaints from Part 90 licensees in the 800 MHz band expeditiously; b) AT&T must notify the Commission of any interference complaints received, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 22.970-22.973 of the cellular service rules; and c) AT&T must compensate public safety entities that receive interference for legitimate costs incurred as part of the investigation and resolution of the interference complaints.” – Brian Hammond, brian.hammond@wolterskluwer.com
Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, May 1, 2015
First of all, the draft RFP for FirstNet partnerships has been released, or at least most of it has, and it is a large number of documents. The cut-off date to submit questions is May 27, 2015, which is 30 days after the draft release, and the filing date is July 27, 2015 (90 days after release). After the comments are received FirstNet, as well as the NTIA and DOC attorneys I am afraid, will go over the comments and make changes to the RFP. Should be interesting to see who files comments and who does not.
Also the deadline has passed (April 28th) for the comments on the Second notice of inquiry for questions regarding the State Opt-in and Opt-out wording in the law. According to a recent Urgent Communications article, some states are pushing back on the FirstNet interpretation of the law, and this could be a major sticking point for the network. We need for all of the States to realize that this is not just about their State but about all of the states, territories, and tribal areas and for the good of the whole some give and take is going to be necessary. I hope that all of these issues can be resolved so that FirstNet is not hindered in their efforts to provide a NATIONWIDE network. If States opt out that will have a decidedly negative impact on the interest of potential partners to work with FirstNet on a nationwide basis.
The Competitive Carriers Association (rural and smaller carriers except for T-Mobile and Sprint) have issued a press release saying that FirstNet needs to work with them to achieve coverage in the rural markets and I fully agree. I have written many articles about both the CCA Members as well as the Rural CO-OP power companies which will also make for great FirstNet and/or a major bidding partner a good and solid set of partners for rural areas. Have a great week-end Andy
Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, April 24, 2015
Interesting developments this week, not only for Public Safety but for the entire telecommunications industry. On the Public Safety side the FirstNet Board of Directors voted to release a draft of the upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) for partners and permit comments for a 90 day period. FirstNet says they are still on track to release the final RFP by the end of the year.
This RFP is a make or break event for FirstNet: If they do not attract some qualified partner bids, I am not sure they have any alternative plans. They stressed the desire not only for nationwide responses but regional responses and those including multiple partners as well. Having listened to the discussion I have to wonder who has come up with the valuation they are using for excess spectrum leasing. According to FirstNet they expect that these payments will push them into the Black. I hope they are correct!
Next up is great news from our friends to the North. The Canadian Government recently approved 20 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum and $3 million in funding to take the initial steps to the foundation for the network. There has already been discussions about cross border issues and I am sure that there will be an agreement. Canada appears to be moving slowly with the first funds allocated for planning over a 3 year period but hopefully, based on the lessons learned from FirstNet, the Canadian’s will move forward more quickly.
Also this week is the announcement that Comcast is withdrawing their over $45 Billion bid for Time Warner. It appears as if both Justice and the FCC are said to have voiced strong concerns. What is most interesting to me is that it is not the cable business that the Feds are having a problem with but rather the delivery of the Internet! They feel that if the merger was permitted to happen too many of us would have to deal with a single company for Internet access and that the new company could impact the price of Internet delivery. The Feds did not say that the cable TV portion of the merger would be approved, just cited as their reason the Internet issue which I thought was interesting considering these are two of the largest cable TV companies in the U.S. The other news and a few more comments are below, enjoy your week-end! Andy Continue reading