Last week’s FirstNet Industry Day was a good event, as I mentioned last week, FirstNet is truly in full “sales” mode to convince as many potential partner bidders as possible to step up to the FirstNet challenge and become a partner. In reality, what FirstNet brings to the party is some very valuable spectrum with some access (no one is sure exactly how much), $6.5 billion in available funding, and a chance for either existing network operators or perhaps someone with a different idea of how to monetize the spectrum to become a partner with FirstNet and of course a chance to support the Public Safety community. The partner or partners will have to step up to the rest of the funding which could be as high as $30 billion + for both capex and 10 years of opex (by my estimate). The reward for this commitment could be secondary access to the 20 MHz of FirstNet spectrum, as well as many other requirements which I still view as, in some cases, onerous to a potential partner.
I guess my major issue with the RFP is that is it not “partner friendly”. I attribute this to the fact that the Federal Government never has partners, but they have bidders for specific things such as a new battle ship, or a new satellite, or even a new communications systems where the government is paying the bill. But in this case the partner will be spending the bulk of the funds, and yet, in the current version of the RFP, the bidders face some severe penalties if they don’t meet certain mile stones and yet FirstNet has not said how the change order process will work.
All of us who have been involved in building both commercial and public safety networks in one way and another know that each and every network requires change orders. We need to relocate a site here or a site there, we need to add more equipment to this site than we committed to, and any number of other issues. If the change order process follows the typical US Government process, then each one will take months to be vetted and accomplished and the delays will then invoke severe penalties. The reality is that this RFP, as it stands, I do not find as “partner” friendly at all.
The FirstNet staff and the FirstNet board are committed to making FirstNet work and want it to be what the Public Safety community wants and needs. I am not 100% sure who is driving the written version of the RFP, but what was said at the Industry day held by FirstNet last week and what the RFP currently states are two very different things. This is a tough call for me. As many of you know I have spent the last 6+ years of my life basically pushing for first the concept and then the reality of FirstNet. I greatly respect the FirstNet Board of directors, and I keep wondering why FirstNet staff who are being paid so little as government employees are working many more hours each week than the typical government employee.
The answer of course is that each and every one of them is dedicated to making FirstNet work, to providing the Public Safety community with what it wants and needs. But if no one shows up with a bid in May of 2016 when we are told that the RFP responses will be due, what is FirstNet going to do to survive? Please note that as of next week our business address and office phone number change. My email and my cell phone will remain the same but our new office contact information will be: Andrew Seybold, Inc. 16402 N 40th Place Phoenix, AZ 85032 Office Phone: 602-788-1530 Office Fax: 602-992-0814 Have a great week-end! Andy
FirstNet sets bar high for cybersecurity while pursuing ambitious timeline – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Sep 1 18:35 With this in mind, it goes without saying that FirstNet’s proposed nationwide broadband network for public safety needs to be secure, because it will …
FirstNet: Partnering is way for wireless providers to gain valuable spectrum assets – FierceWireless via Google Alerts Aug 31 13:50 … to “not only to be on the cutting edge and make a difference in public safety communications, but also, the reality is that this is a great business deal,” …
FirstNet woos potential bidders – FCW.com via Google Alerts Aug 28 14:50 The FirstNet public safety network is one of the most complex technology projects underway in government. The push for the network came in the …
GSMA urges Arab states to be more flexible on 700 MHz band – Telecompaper via Google Alerts Sep 3 16:40 The GSMA said it was pleased with the ASMG’s decision to support a portion of the L-band (1452-1518 MHz) for mobile broadband, but was …
FCC’s proposed rule would let railroad police use public safety radio – Progressive Rail Roading via Google Alerts Sep 3 11:10 … do not have direct access to the first responder radio frequency in the event of an emergency,” Schumer said in a prepared statement issued in May.
Our Safety Depends on Data – Indian Country Today Media Network via Google Alerts Sep 3 08:15 That’s because a nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN) is …
FirstNet in Action: JerseyNet Broadband Network Provides Unobstructed Data Connectivity to First … – HSToday via Google Alerts Sep 2 21:20 … the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP), …
Turbulence Ahead: Domestic Drone Debate Intensifies – Cato Institute via Google Alerts Sep 1 23:35 One thing the FAA will not be doing is wading into the commercial sector privacy debate over drones; it has punted that issue to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). But what about federal …
Do I have to go digital narrowband? – ForestTECH via Google Alerts Sep 1 19:45 Even though narrowbanding is being pushed by some manufacturers as a migration path for the new digital technology, it doesn’t mean that analogue …
US agency to seek consensus on divisive, volatile topic of security vulnerability disclosures – Network World Fusion Aug 28 17:00 A U.S. agency hopes to gather security researchers, software vendors and other interested people to reach consensus on the sticky topic of how to disclose cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Beginning in September, the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will host a series of meetings intended to improve collaboration among security researchers, software vendors and IT system operators on the disclosure of, and response to, vulnerabilities. The first NTIA-hosted meeting will be Sept. 29 at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Registration is open to all who want to participate, and the meeting will also be webcast, NTIA said….
General Dynamics-built LTE Public Safety Network Completes Phase One of New Mexico … – General Dynamics Mission Systems via Google Alerts Aug 28 12:45 The broadband LTE network creates the communications backbone for federal, state and public safety professionals to talk to one another, exchange …
What net neutrality means for Netflix, AT&T, Time Warner — and you – Business Insider Australia via Google Alerts Sep 4 10:10 For this reason, mobile broadband or internet access from any mobile device was included in the FCC’s recently adopted net neutrality proposal, …
Federal Communications Commission Approves Frontier Communications’ Acquisition of Verizon’s Wireline Operations in California, Florida and Texas – Business Wire Sep 3 13:10 NORWALK, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Frontier Communications (NASDAQ:FTR) applauded today’s decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approving its proposed acquisition of Verizon’s wireline, broadband and video operations, including the FiOS® network, in California, Florida and Texas. The company is currently also seeking approval from the California Public Utilities Commission and the Public Utilities Commission of Texas, and has received Hart-Scott-Rodino federal antitrust clearanc
Mosaik: T-Mobile lags on low-band spectrum, hurting LTE coverage overall in U.S. – FierceWireless via Google Alerts Sep 3 11:45 T-Mobile US (NYSE:TMUS) may be plowing ahead with its 700 MHz A …
700 MHz spectrum can power mobile broadband in Latin America – IfG.CC via Google Alerts Sep 2 19:55 Investment in the 700 MHz spectrum is one of the most appropriate options to accelerate adoption of mobile broadband services in Latin America, said …
Public safety officials to descend on Elk River – Star News via Google Alerts Sep 1 22:10 When traditional wireless broadband networks are overloaded, public safety officials need an alternate way to send data, maps, video, and other …
US Military Eager to See MUOS Satellite Network Fully Active – Satellite Today via Google Alerts Sep 1 20:55 MUOS is the U.S. military’s next generation narrowband satellite communications system that supports both legacy Ultra-High-Frequency (UHF) …
FCC Seeks Industry Input On Set-Top Box Security Report – Law360 via Google Alerts Sep 1 18:21 … the FCC Media Bureau on Friday’s report from the Downloadable Security Technical Advisory Committee, which examined various expert proposals …
EAS Workshop Notes Challenges in Providing Equal Access – Radio World via Google Alerts Aug 31 21:45 … director of APCO International, a public safety communications firm. We’re closer than ever to make that integrated approach a very real capability..
AT&T Takes Billions in FCC Subsidies For Broadband Expansion – DSL Reports via Google Alerts Aug 28 16:30 AT&T has accepted up to $3 billion in government subsidies over six years to …
Verizon to activate non-Verizon iPhones on their network – Ledger Gazette via Google Alerts Aug 28 07:30 Additionally, when Verizon purchased its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE service in …
The FCC Imposes Netflix’s Broadband Policy – Wall Street Journal Sep 2 08:04 And the winner is Big Cable, not consumers seeking faster Internet speeds.