FirstNet Coverage and PTT. I hope everyone who was able to take time off for Thanksgiving enjoyed the holiday and I want to thank all the public safety personnel who worked last Thursday so the rest of us could spend time with our families and friends. During our trip east, I was keeping tabs on coverage provided by AT&T where we were traveling and while in several states, I talked with the public safety community about today’s AT&T coverage and what might still be needed. Even though a state such as Arizona or Maine has already opted in to FirstNet, it does not mean the public safety agencies are required to make use of the FirstNet/AT&T broadband network. However, since AT&T has already invested a lot of money in the public safety community, and has allocated more money and resources to bring FirstNet up and operational as soon as possible, AT&T would like to have as many public safety customers onboard as possible.

In Arizona where the overwhelming perception within the public safety community was that AT&T’s coverage is not as good as at least one other network operator’s coverage, those who have acquired AT&T devices and done some testing have found that AT&T coverage has increased since they last looked at it. Granted, there are still some spots that need to be covered but several public safety agencies have stated that the FirstNet/AT&T coverage in their jurisdiction is sufficient to join FirstNet and then work with AT&T, federal grants, or in some cases even self-funding additional coverage that AT&T will then include in its overall footprint. There are still some major differences in coverage in some areas, but while it is not possible to see the official FirstNet/AT&T coverage maps over the build-out period, reviewing coverage maps on FirstNet.com shows that most of the areas of concern will be covered.

One thing I have found confusing not only for FirstNet/AT&T coverage but for the other nationwide networks as well, is that it is difficult to identify where a network operator owns and runs its own network and where it has contracted with rural carriers to provide coverage to their subscribers. This is important to know because some rural carriers have not yet rolled out LTE and are offering only 2G and 3G, and we are not privy to their build-out plans. I believe that because of the increased push for rural coverage for first responders, as well as the need to provide coverage for rural businesses and citizens, we will see a renewed effort by all of the carriers. As I have mentioned before, we are having success with county and tribal governments that know they want and need coverage beyond what FirstNet/AT&T will bring to their rural areas. Read the Entire Blog Here

Vermont becomes 32nd state to make FirstNet ‘opt-in’ announcement – Urgent Communications
Nov 29 19:40 Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announces that he has accepted the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) deployment plan offered by FirstNet and AT&T on behalf of his state, making Vermont the 32nd statenot including two territoriesto opt-in to the FirstNet system.

Rivada Conditionally Wins Colorado Public Safety Network Contract – Telecompetitor
Nov 29 16:40 The first initiative of this alliance is a conditional award from the State of Colorado to build out its public-safety broadband radio access network.

FirstNet, AT&T Launch First Developer Program for Public Safety – Cerebral-Overload
Nov 29 15:55 RESTON, Va., Oct. 11 FirstNet and AT&T* launched the first developer program geared toward America’s first responders. This will encourage public …

Public-Safety Groups Disappointed with OMB Decision Not to Reclassify Telecommunicators – RadioResource Media Group
Nov 29 15:40 The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) then sent a call for action to members to help change the federal classification for public-safety telecommunicators by filing comments and examples of why the designation should be changed to a protective service occupation. We’ve …

New Orleans will send first responders to help Puerto Rico’s recovery – Sushimonster85
Nov 29 14:10 The measure passed nonetheless, but Mr. Sanders’s more ambitious $146 billion bill exclusively for the territories would most likely see a sharp …

FirstNet clarifies position on LTE core use in ‘opt-out’ states, says it also applies to ‘extended … – Urgent Communications
Nov 29 09:35 States or territories that achieve opt-out status must use the FirstNet LTE core network to provide broadband services to FirstNet public-safety users in both the primary and extended primary groups, according to information released recently by FirstNet and published on the organization’s web site.

Colorado selects Rivada-Macquarie team as RAN vendor in potential FirstNet ‘opt-out’ scenario – Urgent Communications
Nov 28 18:45 John Hickenlooper decides the state should pursue the opt-out alternative to the FirstNet nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN).

NTIA Releases Requirements for Opt-Out Grants, Entering SMLA with FirstNet – RadioResource Media Group
Nov 28 17:40 If a state wants to assume responsibility for the construction, operation, maintenance and improvement of its radio access network (RAN) to interoperate with the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) and has received approval of its alternative plan from the FCC, the state must apply to …

5G Networks Will be Live in 2019, According to Ericsson – SDxCentral
Nov 28 15:30 Ericsson expects applications like critical communications to use 5G IoT connections, but the rest will use LTE. Ericsson also said that it believes more than 20 massive IoT cellular networks have been commercially launched, with those networks based upon technologies like CAT-M1 and narrowband …

AT&T exec expects ‘many’ governors will not make FirstNet ‘opt-in/opt-out’ decision – Urgent Communications
Nov 28 15:20 Stephens noted that no state or territory governors have announced their intentions to pursue the FirstNet opt-out alternative, which would make the state responsible for building and maintaining the LTE radio access network (RAN) instead of letting AT&T handle the deployment and operation of the …

Comcast Spent Millions Repealing Net Neutrality, Now Wants You To Believe It Won’t Take Full, Brutal Advantage – Techdirt Corporate Intelligence
Nov 28 15:04 Despite the nation’s biggest ISP and cable company having spent millions of dollars and lobbying man hours on repealing broadband privacy rules and soon net neutrality protections , executives at the least-liked company in America hope you’re dumb enough to believe they won’t be taking full advantage. Comcast has spent months now falsely claiming that it will still adhere to “net neutrality” once the FCC’s rules are gutted by Ajit Pai. But the company’s pet…

FCC looks to expand $400M cap for Rural Health Care Program – Health Data Management
Nov 28 07:40 The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comment on the agency’s proposal to increase the $400 million annual cap for the Rural Health Care Program, which provides funding for telecommunications and broadband services to rural communities to support telemedicine networks.

FCC Announces Plans to Repeal Open Internet (Net Neutrality) Rules – Lexology
Nov 27 20:25 BIAS refers to services which enable consumers to access the internet at high (broadband) speeds. BIAS providers include wireline telephone companies, wireless carriers, and cable television service providers. In 2015, the then-Democrat-controlled FCC voted (also by a 3-2 vote along party lines) to …

There’s a big math problem with the FCC chairman’s main argument for repealing net neutrality – Tech Insider
Nov 27 18:45 The FCC will vote on a repeal of its net neutrality rules December 14. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has argued that the rules need to be repealed because they’ve caused a decline in broadband investment. But Pai’s own data doesn’t back up this assertion. Ajit Pai says the Federal Communications Commission needs to ditch its net neutrality rules because they’re hindering investment. The rules the agency put in place in 2015 bar broadband providers…

FCC proposal suggests rural broadband expansion is in the works – Healthcare IT News
Nov 27 16:10 As technology and telemedicine assume an increasingly critical role in healthcare delivery a well-designed Rural Health Care Program is more vital than …

Rivada teams up with Australian bank in bid to oust AT&T from state-based FirstNet contracts – Capacity Media
Nov 30 09:00 The pair say they have already won a conditional award from Colorado to build a 4G broadband radio access network for public-safety services. …

Scott decides to opt-in to FirstNet broadband plan – WCAX
Nov 30 09:00 MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) Vermont Gov. Phil Scott says he’s decided to opt-in to the federal FirstNet plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the state’s public safety community. A state commission recently recommended that Vermont join the federal contract with AT&T to build a broadband network …

The FCC Should Not Give Broadband Providers the Keys to Your Internet Freedom – Federal Communications Commission
Nov 30 08:16 November 29, 2017 – 1:00 pm Mignon Clyburn | Commissioner This week, millions of Americans returned to work after spending time with family and friends…

FCC Chief Ajit Pai Chides Hollywood, Silicon Valley – NewsFactor
Nov 30 07:00 The head of the Federal Communications Commission defended his plan to undo the country’s net-neutrality rules by bringing the culture wars to telecommunications policy. There has been constant media coverage since Chairman Ajit Pai last week unveiled his plan to gut the Obama-era net neutrality rules, which were meant to keep broadband providers from playing favorites with websites and apps. Tech companies, including Airbnb, Etsy and Twitter, sent him a letter in support of the current rules. H

Repeal of Obama-era ‘Net neutrality’ means ‘free, open Internet’ – WND.com
Nov 29 20:00 On Dec. 14, the Federal Communications Commission is expected to roll back Obama-era Internet regulations, a move that one commissioner tells WND and Radio America will reinvigorate broadband innovation and reduce the government’s influence over the Internet while keeping important …

Vermont to Transform Communications for Public Safety; Governor Scott Approves Buildout Plan … – GuruFocus.com
Nov 29 18:55 The decision enables FirstNet and AT&T to begin creating an entirely new wireless ecosystem for public safety communications. Vermont’s first …

CommScope offers extensive antenna portfolio – FinancialNews.co.uk
Nov 29 15:45 The US first nationwide public-safety broadband network is moving closer to reality with the majority of states now opting into the proposed First …

The FCC’s Attack On Net Neutrality Is Based Entirely On Debunked Lobbyist Garbage Data – Techdirt Corporate Intelligence
Nov 29 15:04 For several years now one of the broadband industry’s biggest criticisms of net neutrality is that it “utterly devastated” investment into broadband networks. But for just as long, we’ve noted how every time a journalist or analyst actually dissects that claim, they find it’s completely unsupportable . What objective analysts do tend to find is that the telecom sector hires an army of economists, consultants, fauxcademics and lobbyists more than happy to manipulate, distort and…

US Cellular Operators Success in Key M2M Markets Could Be Jeopardized by Distraction and IoT … – IoT Business News
Nov 29 06:00 Of the current 82.65 million cellular connected M2M devices at the end of 2016, 68.5% are related to telematics and other transportation applications. LTE, which includes LTE Cat-M and Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT), is expected to become the largest network standard for the IoT in the United …

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai blasted everyone from Twitter to Cher for opposing his efforts to repeal net … – Recode
Nov 29 04:30 Those rules subject broadband providers like AT&T, Charter, Comcast* and Verizon to utility-style regulation, all in a …

Rivada Networks and Macquarie Capital Announce Joint Effort for Colorado and Other Opt-out States – Business Wire
Nov 28 15:26 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rivada Networks and Macquarie Capital announced today they will jointly pursue opt-out state contracts under the FirstNet legislation. The first initiative of this alliance is a conditional award from the State of Colorado to build out its public-safety …

US Cellular Operators Success in Key M2M Markets Could Be Jeop – Crossroads Today
Nov 28 12:25 Of the current 82.65 million cellular connected M2M devices at the end of 2016, 68.5% are related to telematics and other transportation applications. LTE, which includes LTE Cat-M and Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT), is expected to become the largest network standard for the IoT in the United …

How a bot made 1 million comments against net neutrality look genuine – Quartz
Nov 28 12:00 Dear Mr. Pai, In the matter of the future of the Internet. I strongly urge you to undo President Obama’s decision to take over broadband. Citizens, as opposed to the FCC Enforcement Bureau, ought to use the services we desire. President Obama’s decision to take over broadband is a distortion of net …

County investigating 911 radio-Life Flight concerns – Sunbury Daily Item
Nov 28 11:40 The new $12 million digital narrow band 911 communication system has had a host of issues before and after it went live at the end of May after multiple delays. It replaced the outdated analog wide band system in Northumberland County. It is designed to increase communication capability for first …

Justices ponder need for warrant for cell phone tower data – Sentinel-Tribune
Nov 28 03:00 The Supreme Court is hearing a case on Friday about privacy in the digital age that tests whether police generally need a warrant to review cell phone tower records. Police use the records to help place suspects in the vicinity of crimes. Rights groups across the political spectrum, media organizations …