FirstNet tries to be clear but still there is confusion. This week it comes from the Blog posted on the FirstNet site by the FirstNet Director of Outreach. She said states could now modify their state submissions to FirstNet until the end of September. This immediately lit up my email and phone from people who may or may not be responding to the RFP (none of them will admit to it). This time the issue of concern was something not said as opposed to what was said. In the RFP specifications there is a section where each vendor must place a monetary value on the build-out of each state. These build-outs are based on the FirstNet and state’s current coverage requirements. In some cases there are significant differences between what is covered today by existing LTE broadband networks and what some states want. Some states have even asked for coverage beyond their existing LMR coverage. All of this adds up to additional funds that might be needed to build out a state.
If the state opts out, the value of the state’s build-out as provided by the winning RFP bidder can be withheld from the $6.5 billion FirstNet is to pay the winning vendor. This money is then given to the state that opts out once it has met the opt-out criteria. . So the emails and calls I received went like this: If we do bid, and we set the price for a state, say Kansas, and now Kansas is permitted to change its coverage requirements up to the end of September, how do we make sure the deployment cost we set for the State of Kansas is still accurate when we turn in our proposal four months prior to the new state deadline? Based on a number of these types of inquires, I set out to try to determine whether the extension for the states filing their requirements included the ability to change their coverage requirements. What I learned was that no, while the states can, in fact, update the number of first responders in their state and other FirstNet requirements, they are not permitted to change the coverage requirements for their state that have been included in the RFP. This makes sense and protects potential bidders.
However, there are still some states suffering from delusions of grandeur when it comes to coverage they require from FirstNet. So at least the coverage portion of the RFP will not change. However, a requirement I assumed was included is missing from the RFP. This requirement is that states, counties, and cities can negotiate with the winning bidder to add their own increased coverage to the FirstNet network in their jurisdiction. We know that even with all the work the states and FirstNet have done, many cities and counties have not been consulted regarding coverage they would require from FirstNet in order to want to make use of the network. We have discussed this with many counties and cities and find there is a willingness on their part to fund additional cell sites and inbuilding network coverage. Obviously, this would benefit not only the Public Safety community but also the RFP winner that would be able to make use of the excess spectrum provided by cell sites and inbuilding coverage that was paid for by the jurisdiction and that met the FirstNet and vendor’s criteria for network compatibility.
FirstNet by law is intended to provide a network based on a public/private partnership. In reality it should be at least a three-way partnership between FirstNet (the feds), the winning bidder, and the Public Safety community as represented by the cities, counties, and states that will have to decide whether or not to sign up to use the network. Giving these local entities the ability to pay for and expand their local coverage can only add to the FirstNet coverage and enable the winning vendor to capitalize on and monetize the secondary spectrum usage on the FirstNet network.
While I was working with a team that decided not to bid on the RFP, I spent a lot of time on rural coverage requirements. This included coverage provided by rural carriers and other rural organizations, vehicle-mounted satellite systems as mentioned last week, and with several federal agencies to solve the issue of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV or drone) use during wildland fires. Manned fixed-wing equipment and helicopters do not mix well with UAVs and pilots who are trying to drop water or retardant where it is needed do not have time to try to avoid a UAV providing communications at a major fire or other incident. However, there is a way both piloted vehicles and UAVs can work together in harmony to provide the assistance needed by those on the ground whose task is to contain the fire. I am sure other potential vendors have identified this problem as well. These and other issues all need to be addressed by companies and partnerships planning to submit their proposals by the end of May.
Other issues include what to me is the toughest task to face the company selected to provide the network and services: how to build out the network to the point where first responders who are not required to join the network will want to use it. This will be a matter of providing sufficient coverage in a given area to compete with the LTE coverage already available from commercial operators or some way to enable first responders to move quickly and seamlessly between the FirstNet network and one or more commercial network. I believe this will be a key to the success of FirstNet and it is dependent on how the selected vendor approaches both the network build-out and how much they charge Public Safety for its use. Many issues face vendors that are working on their responses to the RFP. According to some at FirstNet, all a bidder has to do is meet or exceed the sixteen points FirstNet has been referring to since well before the final RFP was released. However, the RFP itself also needs to be addressed in detail so the selected vendor will have to be willing to agree to most if not all of the conditions placed on it by the RFP. I also wonder, and hope I am wrong, whether a vendor can simply respond to the RFP promising FirstNet a lot more money than the minimum payments that are required during the twenty-Five-year contract. If the financial aspects of the payments outweigh the needs of the Public Safety community, we have not accomplished the goal that prompted the creation of FirstNet. Yes, money is important, but more important are the needs of the Public Safety community. Promises of future riches by any of the RFP respondents in hopes of swaying FirstNet to an award that is not in the best interests of the Public Safety community should not even be considered.
FirstNet official clarifies evaluation process, public-safety pricing goals – Myinforms via Google Alerts Apr 26 20:30 After receiving bids from offerors on May 31, FirstNet evaluators will engage in a lengthy, negotiation-filled process in an …
FCC Adopts Innovative Spectrum Sharing Regime as Step Forward for Licensed and Unlicensed Use – Public Knowledge Tech News and Comment via Google Alerts Apr 28 13:50 There is a finite amount of spectrum, but a seemingly infinite appetite for mobile broadband, Wi-Fi, and Internet of Things devices that overwhelmingly …
FCC nixes TETRA use on 800 MHz, 700 MHz public-safety bands – Myinforms via Google Alerts Apr 26 16:15 In this Report and Order, we adopt rules that guard against interference to critical public safety communications in the 800 MHz National Public Safety …
T-Mobile Bows Out of FirstNet Bidding to Focus on Spectrum, LTE Network – Wireless Week via Google Alerts Apr 26 16:05 Network loading, Ray said, continues to effectively double year over year. You have …
FirstNet looks ahead to selecting private partner to build first public safety communications network – Homeland Preparedness News via Google Alerts Apr 25 17:01 The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) will continue to accept proposals from private partners for deployment of an innovative nationwide …
Take that, ISPs: FCC declares war on data caps – InfoWorld Apr 29 06:45 The FCC is about to let the third-largest cable company in the United States buy the second-largest — and there’s actually a silver lining in that news for consumers. Charter will become the second-largest broadband provider , behind Comcast, once its merger with Time Warner and a related purchase of Bright House Networks are complete. [ Read ’em and weep: 5 ways your ISP is screwing you | Cut to the key news in technology trends and IT breakthroughs with the InfoWorld Daily newsletter , our summary of the top tech happenings. ] While it’s hard to cheer further consolidation in the cable industry — some reports…
Commissioner Rosenworcel Joins Stellar Broadband Summit Program (APCO – Association of … – Newsoneplace.com via Google Alerts Apr 29 00:00 Source: APCO – Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International Inc) APCO is pleased to announce that FCC Commissioner …
GSMA asks TC to slash base price of 700 Mhz airwaves – Economic Times via Google Alerts Apr 28 09:15 … of adjusting the reserve prices for India’s forthcoming 700 Mhz spectrum auction to meet the objectives of increasing mobile broadband penetration.
Huawei and Vodafone open narrowband IoT lab – ZDNet Apr 28 06:45 A lab dedicated to the development of narrowband Internet of Things applications and technology has been opened in the UK by Huawei and Vodafone.
Telenor promises lowest tariff in 4G services – Economic Times via Google Alerts Apr 28 01:35 That’s why it is important for us to venture into narrow-band LTE (4G),” Telenor India Communications CEO Sharad Mehrotra told after launching pilot …
APCO International Conference & Expo – Assn of Public-Safety Communications Officials in … – Local.com via Google Alerts Apr 27 22:45 Find event times, reviews and photos on Local.com for APCO International Conference & Expo – Assn of Public-Safety Communications Officials, …
Overnight Tech: ‘Overdue’ email privacy bill gets its day – The Hill via Google Alerts Apr 26 18:50 The committee will consider several public safety bills and three FCC …
Huawei lance l application NB-IoT dans les secteurs verticaux en promouvant l innovation et la … – Malaysia News via Google Alerts Apr 26 18:30 LONDRES, 26 avril 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Au congr s mondial M2M de Londres, Huawei a expos sa strat gie et ses innovations Narrow-Band Internet …
PSA Discovery Patterns Weekly Summary – Andrew Seybold, Inc Apr 25 18:01 Fri Apr 22 12:04:54 2016 I read with interest the current version of FirstNet’s Tech Talk: Updated Vehicular Network System Vison which can be found […]
The Charter-Time Warner deal just got approved with a bunch of caveats (TWC, CHTR) – Finance Apr 25 15:00 The Justice Department and the FCC have approved Charter’s proposed takeover of Time Warner Cable. Shares of both companies moved higher after initial reports that the DOJ was about to approve the deal. Among the conditions of the deal are that Charter would not be allowed to impose prices and data caps based on usage, and it cannot limit access to streaming video. Both companies would account for 34% of the US cable broadband…
The number of internet cordcutting homes in the US has doubled in three years – Quartz via Google Alerts Apr 25 13:11 … to data released last week by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) from a survey of nearly 53,000 households.
Airways Plan by Ligado, the Former LightSquared, Advances at FCC – Bloomberg via Google Alerts Apr 22 20:35 Regulators on Friday asked for comments on Ligado Networks’ plan for a new broadband network, marking a step forward for the company formerly …
Broadband Rate-Blocking Bill on Senate Calendar – Multichannel News via Google Alerts Apr 22 10:15 Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act, sponsored by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), which would prevent the FCC from regulating the monthly …
Analysis of the FCC’s Proposed Broadband Privacy Regulations – JD Supra via Google Alerts Apr 22 01:20 The FCC’s proposed rules would require broadband providers to give clear and …