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.”

Construction was suspended last month after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles City Council voted to half LA-RICS construction of cell sites on government-owned land in their jurisdictions, including fire and police stations (TRDaily, April 3).  LA-RICS subsequently filed an amended plan for constructing the network under which it would construct 46 permanent hardened sites and two microwave-only installations for backhaul purposes as part of a baseline deployment (TRDaily, April 15). LA-RICS also would deploy 15 new sites that are owned by the state where cells on wheels (COWs) can be deployed.

LA-RICS faces a Sept. 30 deadline to complete spending under its $154.6 million BTOP grant. LA-RICS is one of five early builder sites partnering with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). – Brian Hammond, brian.hammond@wolterskluwer.com