Let’s start this week with the upcoming (Feb 2, 2016) U.S. House of Representatives, Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology sub-committee hearing to update committee members on FirstNet’s progress and a status report on the Department of Interior’s RFP on behalf of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) which was issued on January 14 (FirstNet Partner RFP). This should be a fairly standard House hearing in that the reports are all pre-scripted, and there will probably not be many questions asked. The result should be a clean bill of health for FirstNet because of the progress it has made.
However, rumor has it that several unidentified network operators have complained to committee members that because FirstNet will lease its excess spectrum it could end up competing with existing network operators. My answer to that is if this is a concern, step up and submit a proposal. The industry loves rumors and bits of information dangled out there for anyone to consume and take to the next level. This is certainly the case when it comes to speculation as to which companies will respond to the RFP.
We know AT&T probably will because it has publically said so. Many in the investment community seem to believe Verizon is already the chosen one because its spectrum is adjacent to FirstNet’s. But within Verizon itself and others on the outside maintain they are not interested in FirstNet as a partner. Rivada has written an op-ed saying we should not preclude non-network operators from stepping up and submitting an RFP, and rumors continue to swirl that companies such as Northrup-Grumman are putting together a response based on a number of partners. Then there are the wild guesses about a foreign network operator or foreign large company swooping in to build the network and establish its presence in the U. S. market. Sprint says it will not respond, and the only peeps out of T-Mobile have been some quotes in a news article about the RFP being problematic.
FirstNet is accepting written questions between now and February 12, 2016. We were told that if we asked questions as we went along they would be answered in a sequential manner, but so far I have not seen any responses to any of the questions already asked. Then there is the pre-proposal industry day in early March (half-day in reality). Anyone who thinks reviewing the questions and/or attending the industry day will shed light on more of those interested in bidding are probably mistaken since I believe most interested entities are busy working behind the scenes rather than in the public eye. It will be interesting to see how FirstNet handles the Capability Statements that are also due in March. If they become public (I don’t believe they should), we should have a better idea of who is interested in the RFP, but that does not mean they will actually submit a final RFP response. So Congress is busy looking for an update, FirstNet is busy with continued outreach and hopefully responding to RFP questions, and an unknown number of companies and consortiums of companies are busy trying to figure out if this is a true opportunity or a sinkhole for $billions of dollars with an extended time period until there is a Return on Investment (ROI). Still, I am encouraged at all the buzz around the RFP and hope it will translate into multiple qualified bids. I don’t think the Public Safety community will be best served if only one bidder shows up and FirstNet has no choices. Time will tell, meanwhile I will continue to watch and monitor the buzz. Have a great weekend! Andy
Want to keep track of FirstNet’s progress? Here are some key dates, milestones to remember – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Jan 28 14:15 … build and operate a nationwide public-safety broadband network during the …
FCC Approves NPRM On Changes To Emergency Alert System – All Access Music Group via Google Alerts Jan 29 08:55 One of the greatest benefits of technology is its potential to improve public safety. This NPRM will help us promote better community preparedness and …
Airbus Defence and Space paves the way for the next generation of Professional Mobile Radio … – MCCResources via Google Alerts Jan 29 04:55 … with French telecommunication companies and universities to develop a mission critical broadband solution for public safety organisations, such as …
FCC drawing clearer distinction between fixed and mobile broadband – Tellus Venture Associates via Google Alerts Jan 28 10:20 Immediate action on advanced broadband deployment is apparently on the table at today’s Federal Communication Commission meeting. That’s the …
House Panel to Probe FirstNet Status – Bloomberg BNA via Google Alerts Jan 27 11:40 According to the RFP, FirstNet must create the public safety network within the …
Status of the Public Safety Broadband Network – Energy & Commerce Committee via Google Alerts Jan 26 20:55 Status of the Public Safety Broadband Network. Tuesday, February 2, 2016 – 10:15am. Communications and Technology. 2322 Rayburn. Background …
Billions of dollars and 20 MHz of spectrum at stake in FirstNet RFP – WJLA via Google Alerts Jan 25 18:25 This month, the First Responder Network Authority issued its final request for proposal (RFP) as it seeks to deploy a nationwide public safety …
Sonim Technologies and Star Solutions partner to provide portable Band 14 LTE networks – OnliNews.Net via Google Alerts Jan 25 16:45 SAN MATEO, Calif., Jan. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Sonim Technologies, maker of the world’s toughest mobile phones and Star Solutions, a leading …
Chicago tests use of first responders’ broadband networks – MyInforms via Google Alerts Jan 24 16:10 This pilot allowed us to test the use of broadband networks for public safety and arrive at conclusions that not only inform the network architecture …
10% of US population still without broadband access – FCC – Telecompaper via Google Alerts Jan 29 05:30 Mobile broadband services are not reflected in the current assessment because the FCC has not yet established a mobile speed benchmark.
Broadband Service Aims at Folks Who Hate Their Cable Company – Advertising Age Jan 29 05:01 Chet Kanojia is a man who likes to buzz in the ears of the biggest, most entrenched players he can find. On Wednesday, the founder of the failed internet television service Aereolaunched Starrya company that aims to replace the wired broadcast access sold by cable and phone companies like Time Warner Cable and Verizon with a new type of wireless network. Starry will sell $350 Wi-Fi routersStarry Stationsthat will allow gigabit speeds. That’s far faster than most wired connections. Starry plans to launch in Boston this summer, and the company will announce other markets later this year. It has asked…
Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, RCOM may not bid for 700 MHz spectrum – Telecom Lead via Google Alerts Jan 29 04:10 India telecom network operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Reliance Communications may not bid for 700 MHz spectrum during the …
FCC signs off on broadband report – The Hill via Google Alerts Jan 28 21:40 … 34 million Americans still lack access to wired high-speed internet service. …
Pai Agrees With FCC Sec. 706 Finding – Multichannel News via Google Alerts Jan 28 15:30 –“Fact #5: Americans rely more and more on mobile broadband service. This is particularly true of low income and minority consumers. Americans use …
apco.ca | public safety canada – similarurl.co via Google Alerts Jan 28 07:50 APCO Canada, The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, Canada, Inc. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, …
The Snow Wall – FirstNet via Google Alerts Jan 28 06:10 … to Boston this week, FirstNet would like to acknowledge public safety’s efforts to make their communities safe before, during, and after the storm.
New SAFECOM-NCSWIC Blog – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Jan 27 20:55 If you have relevant public safety communications information you would like to highlight or share with the public safety stakeholder community, please …
Strickling: Challenges remain but the future of Internet governance is bright – FierceGovernmentIT via Google Alerts Jan 27 18:35 As the debate on who “runs” the Internet continues, the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration said he believes …
Verizon FiOS default speed now 50Mbpsdouble FCC’s broadband definition – Ars Technica via Google Alerts Jan 27 12:40 Verizon FiOS default speed now 50Mbpsdouble FCC’s broadband definition …
Sonim Technologies & Star Solutions partner to provide LTE to US and Canadian Public Safety … – lte-applications.com via Google Alerts Jan 27 00:10 The dedicated Band 14 LTE network provides a high-speed wireless data …
Wireless Group Tells FCC Mobile Broadband Being Deployed – Law360 via Google Alerts Jan 26 22:01 Law360, Washington (January 26, 2016, 4:01 PM ET) — The leader of a wireless industry group pushed Federal Communications Commission …
Overnight Tech: Google to help candidates with rapid response during GOP debate – The Hill via Google Alerts Jan 26 18:30 We continue to monitor FirstNet’s progress toward deploying this nationwide public safety network, said subcommittee chair Greg Walden (R-Ore.) …
House Schedules FirstNet Checkup – Broadcasting & Cable via Google Alerts Jan 26 15:20 That is the interoperable broadband first responder network born out of the communications failures on 9/11 and funded by FCC incentive auctions.
Six Ignorant Senators Want To Slow Down High-Speed Internet – Gizmodo Jan 26 13:30 Last year the FCC had us all rejoicing when it upped the minimum requirements for broadband from 4Mbps to 25Mbps. It means that many internet service providers can no longer classify their service as broadband. So while it didn’t instantly improve speeds, it did shame ISPs and cost them in tax breaks and grants that come with this classification. Read more…
Sonim Adds Two New Members To Public Safety Advisory Council (PSAC) – SYS-CON Media via Google Alerts Jan 26 11:50 … as well as FirstNet’s Band Class 14 spectrum, today’s first responders are closer than ever to realizing the full potential of public safety broadband.”.
Low power wide area network connectivity augmented for IoT – IoT Tech News via Google Alerts Jan 26 11:35 The industry is also working towards the standardisation of LTE variants, such as Narrow-Band IoT (NB-IoT), which will form part of LTE Release and …
FCC Petition: Better Rural Broadband Means More Telehealth Services – MyInforms via Google Alerts Jan 25 17:55 A coalition of telehealth and health IT organizations is petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to improve wireless and broadband …
Senators Whine About FCC’s 25 Mbps Broadband Standard, Insist Nobody Needs That Much … – Techdirt via Google Alerts Jan 25 16:01 This, of course, annoyed the nation’s mega providers, since the higher standard highlights the lack of competition and next-generation upgrades in …
AT&T, Gogo trade barbs over power levels in 800 MHz band – FierceWireless via Google Alerts Jan 25 14:20 As Gogo explained during the meeting, narrow-band technologies such as GSM …