APCO and FirstNet. The busiest booth at the APCO conference in Las Vegas was by far the FirstNet booth. There was plenty of great activity on the show floor, but the exhibit area was smaller than in previous years simply because APCO has changed over the 30-plus years I have been a member. It is now much more of a dispatch/PSAP-focused organization. To be sure, those who run and work in Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) and dispatch centers are vital to the world of public safety, but APCO’s roots were broadly based on communications in the field, from the dispatch center out.
Both the exhibit floor and the comments I heard while walking it reflect this change. Yes, Motorola, Harris, JVCKenwood/EFJohnson, and Icom were still there with their booths and products but many of the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) vendor companies are no longer showing their wares at APCO. FirstNet and companies that are FirstNet partners were there in place of these vendors. In the FirstNet booth there were demonstrations from Sonim, Sierra Wireless, Cradlepoint, ESChat, RapidDeploy, and more. Time and time again those who were exhibiting told me they did not think anyone walking the floor had purchase decision-making authority.
Unlike in the past, there were only a few tower, antenna, and LMR-associated companies. Several times I was asked why the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), the 911 organization, and APCO don’t simply merge and be done with it. APCO has changed and if it was not for FirstNet as a major sponsor, I am not sure the show could survive. The focus of APCO is now more dispatch and PSAP-oriented but I was not blown away by Next-Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) vendors on the show floor either. NG911 is the next big thing to happen to public safety communications after FirstNet. In reality, the two should have been planned and executed together since both NG911 and FirstNet are based on broadband technologies. However, the feds only saw fit to dribble out a little funding to NG911 and many of the states are still skimming 911 revenue off for their own, non-911 use. Read the Entire Post Here.
Here are the articles I have selected with the help of Discovery Patterns artificial intelligence
AT&T, FirstNet Team With Sonim to Develop Portable Kits for Emergency Comms
GovConWire Aug 8 19:25
TYSONS CORNER, VA, August 8, 2018 The First Responder Network Authority and AT&T (NYSE: T) team has collaborated with Sonim to develop …
Amazon Web Services to partner with investment firm on emergency responder tech program
Smart Cities Dive Aug 9 17:50
In June, AT&T announced that its public safety communications platform FirstNet had received more than 1,000 subscriptions from public departments looking to take advantage of the dedicated public safety broadband network.
FirstNet plans Emergency Drop Kits, creating a ‘Connected Bubble’
The Mobile Globe Aug 9 15:10
In an emergency, communication is critical to response efforts. That’s why former public safety officials and first responders on the AT&T* FirstNet team, …
FirstNet to begin agency-level engagement program with public safety
Urgent Communications Aug 8 19:25
FirstNet is launching a new engagement program that calls for the organization’s officials to meet with public-safety agencies throughout the United …
Nokia Aug 8 19:05
APCO 2018, APCO International’s Annual Conference & Expo, is the premier event for public safety communications officials, from frontline …
Axon (AAXN) Announces Wireless Pact with Verizon (VZ) and Arrangement with AT&T (T) to …
StreetInsider.com Aug 8 15:35
FirstNet is the nationwide public safety broadband network dedicated to America’s first responders. Being built by AT&T in public-private partnership …
FirstNet touts communications ‘bubble’ for responders
Government Computer News Aug 8 09:13
Emergency Drop Kits will create a 300-foot “connected bubble” that allows responders to maintain constant communication to the nationwide public safety network.
FCC adopts one-touch make-ready pole attachment rules
Lightwave Aug 7 06:30
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on August 3 adopted new “one-touch make-ready” (OTMR) rules designed to ease the deployment of wireline broadband access infrastructure. The FCC also noted that states and municipalities are barred from issuing moratoria on broadband deployments, both directly and de facto, in most instances.
good news for telehealth, RPM in FCC approval of $100M Connected Care Pilot Program
Telecare Aware Aug 9 06:45
… approving broadband-enabled telehealth and remote patient monitoring services in underserved rural and remote areas. Funding for the program …
Brazilian regulator says 700 MHz band released in all state capitals
Telecompaper Aug 9 00:55
This frequency band, previously used for TV broadcasting, now allows the transmission of mobile broadband, with greater speeds of up to three times …
FirstNet provides priority network for first responders
TCPalm Aug 8 19:25
FirstNet provides priority network for first responders. CLOSE. Deanna Greiner-Valentine of FirstNet describes what the service is about. Will Greenlee …
Agile Networks, Microsoft working to bring broadband to more rural Ohioans
The Columbus Dispatch Aug 8 17:55
Agile does terrific work for the public-safety network. Canton-based Agile Networks has long been a player in bringing broadband coverage to rural …
Wireless First Responder Net: Monopoly or Competition?
No Jitter via Business Communications Review Aug 8 06:30
By Michael Finneran While AT&T won the exclusive right to build FirstNet, the wireless broadband network for first responders, Verizon has its own idea.
FCC Launches $100 Million Telehealth Pilot Program
Global Media and Communications Watch Aug 8 06:10
The program aims to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by promoting broadband-enabled telehealth service adoption among …
FirstNet Plans Emerg Drop Kits, As a ‘Connected Bubble’ for Public Safety
107.180.56.147 Aug 8 02:30
In an emergency, communication is critical to response efforts. That’s why former public safety officials and first responders on the AT&T* FirstNet team, …
General Dynamics Unveils 4G LTE Public Safety Comms System at 2018 APCO Expo
GovConWire Aug 8 01:35
TYSONS CORNER, VA, August 7, 2018 General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) is launching a new 4G LTE communications platform at the 2018 APCO …
Dedicated priority network FirstNet can support data needs of advanced biometrics for US agencies
Biometric Update Aug 7 17:50
Dedicated priority network FirstNet can support data needs of advanced …
FCC commissioner looks at Alaska’s broadband challenges
KTVA Aug 7 11:40
… search and rescue operations before heading to Dillingham to see how broadband is changing health care with more telemedicine capabilities.
What is FirstNet? What Do You Need to Connect?
Officer Aug 7 03:45
With 1,500 public safety agencies (and rising) adopting FirstNet, …
AT&T Alabama invests more than $1.2 billion for wireless and wired networks
Yellowhammer News Aug 7 01:20
FirstNet is a new nationwide communications platform dedicated to America’s public safety community. In Alabama, FirstNet builds on AT&T’s current …
Cradlepoint LTE Network Solutions Certified FirstNet Ready Delivering Secure and Resilient …
Business Wire Aug 7 01:20
FirstNet is the nationwide communications platform dedicated to America’s public safety. It helps first responders connect to the critical information they …
Cradlepoint Certified FirstNet Ready to Deliver Connectivity to First Responder Organizations
IoT Evolution World Aug 6 23:15
Cradlepoint, a cloud-delivered 4G and 5G wireless network edge solutions, …
FirstNet liaisons will help states manage network’s mobile assets
StateScoop Aug 6 21:50
FirstNet will soon offer state-level public safety offices control over …
Motorola Solutions Announces New Mission-Critical Devices and Software for First Responders
Citizentribune Aug 6 18:15
The LEX L11 public safety LTE device is AT&T certified and designed for the U.S. broadband First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) or similar …
PCTEL announces Trooper II antenna for public safety
GPS World magazine Aug 6 18:15
Our Trooper antennas have been broadly deployed on public safety fleets, notably in support of the leading FirstNet public safety broadband network …
NICE Recognizes 2018 PSAPs’ Finest Award Winners at APCO 2018 Conference
Business Wire Aug 6 16:12
#APCO</a>–NICE (Nasdaq: NICE) will recognize the recipients of its 2018 PSAPs’ Finest Awards today in a special ceremony in Booth #529 at the APCO 2018 Annual Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. The PSAPs’ Finest awards is a long-standing Public Safety recognition program sponsored by NICE. Awards are presented annually to winners in seven categories: Director, Line Supervisor, Technician, Trainer, Telecommunicator, Innovator and PSAP of the Year. Over the last thi
Motorola Solutions’ FirstNet Readyâ„¢ LTE Device Enables Secure Real-Time Data Sharing
Business Wire Aug 6 16:12
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) continues to support the rollout of FirstNet with the FirstNet Readyâ„¢ LEX L11 handheld device. The company’s public safety LTE device is designed for use on FirstNet ” the nationwide public safety LTE communications platform dedicated to America’s first responders ” or similar global public safety networks. FirstNet is being built by AT&T in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority). Mot