Once A State Has Opted In. There still seems to be some confusion about how a state opting into FirstNet will impact the agencies within the state. AT&T has been awarded the FirstNet 25-year contract, a number of states have already opted in, and more are lining up to do so. Rivada is still trying to make a case for states to opt out and build their own Radio Access Network, and now Verizon is promising to build out a parallel network to compete and keep its existing agency customers. I am concerned about these activities not because I don’t believe Rivada or Verizon has the right to compete, but simply because in order for FirstNet to work as envisioned it has to be the dominant public safety broadband network.

FirstNet was envisaged as a nationwide dedicated public safety broadband network to help ease the interoperability issues the public safety community has faced for more than forty years. Incidents such as 9/11 and Katrina made us acutely aware of the need for a public safety communications system all first responders can use as they come together at incidents. The FirstNet law require any public safety agency within an opt-in state to switch to AT&T.

In fact, the law says that no agency has to sign up for any FirstNet services—ever. However, I am hopeful that over time the FirstNet/AT&T network will be expanded so there will be few if any differences in either real or perceived coverage with other commercial broadband networks. It is not realistic to believe FirstNet/AT&T can, today, provide complete coverage for all of the first responder agencies in a given state, or that other broadband networks fighting for the public safety business will prove beneficial for the public safety community and its city, county, and state governments. To be honest, my vision continues to be focused on one FirstNet—one network that can meet the requirements of the public safety community from coast to coast and border to border. Read the entire bloghere.

Arkansas opts into FirstNet service – KAIT Aug 23 00:50 FirstNet is forming the first nationwide public safety broadband network to provide …

Arizona opts into plan for specialized first responder broadband network – Phoenix Business Journal Aug 21 19:35 The priority service is available now anywhere AT&T offers services, with expanded services for fire, police and other public safety workers planned by …

Nevada to Transform Communications for Public Safety; Governor Sandoval Approves Buildout … – GuruFocus.com Aug 17 12:50 … to accept the FirstNet and AT&T* plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the …

Nevada CIO: State’s Major IT Initiatives Are Moving Forward – Government Technology Aug 23 22:35 CIO Shanna Rahming explains some of the key focus areas her team is working on, including FCC-compliant public safety communications …

Firstnet band 14 spectrum – hostme.top Aug 23 20:11 It is the spectrum licensed to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to create a United States nationwide public-safety wireless 14, Upper B …

AT&T issues statement regarding position in debate on public-safety-grade defiiniton – Urgent Communications Aug 23 02:45 AT&T will meet FirstNet’s requirements for its nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN), but the carrier is hesistant to say that there is …

FirstNet officials say advocacy for public safety is key role in the future – Urgent Communications Aug 22 18:40 FirstNet will continue to work with public-safety representatives to ensure that its nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) evolves to …

Verizon developing FirstNet competitor – Police News Aug 22 16:25 DENVER Verizon is in the early planning stages of building a dedicated public safety communications network as a competitor to FirstNet.

Advancing UAS technologies in all public safety disciplines – Fire Chief Aug 22 15:25 I can take that video from the drone and connect it to the FirstNet network and be streaming live video to all those people that are decision makers …

FirstNet Efforts Slowly Picking Up Steam – Firehouse.com Aug 22 13:25 A dedicated wireless communications network for first responders …

Verizon takes on AT&T with its dedicated first responders network – Wireless Estimator Aug 17 11:50 FirstNet Chairwoman Sue Swenson informed Congress in 2015 that the broadband network for first responders will be successful if the private sector …

GWTCA Asks FCC to Release 800 MHz Spectrum in Regions that Completed Rebanding – MissionCritical Aug 17 10:03 The Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association (GWTCA) urged the FCC to release new 800 MHz National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) frequencies in all other remaining areas other than the Mexican border where rebanding has been completed. read more

9-1-1 Groups Release Resource on NG 9-1-1, FirstNet – MissionCritical Aug 17 10:03 The National 911 Program partnered with the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) to create a resource to help state and local authorities understand how next-generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1) and the nationwide public-safety broadband network governed by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), are similar, different and how they can work together to improve emergency communication. read more

Get Those EAS Test Forms In, Advises Law Firm – Multichannel News Aug 24 08:50 The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau has also released the latest edition of the EAS Operating Handbook (available here) and …

Huawei and Telenor successfully trial Lean BCCH solutions in India to help offer affordable … – Firstpost Aug 24 08:35 … scarcity, broaden the scope of Narrowband-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) ecosystem and offer affordable mobile broadband services to customers.

Turkcell Rolls Out NarrowBand-IoT Network across Turkey – Crypt0 News Aug 24 07:35 Aug24. Turkcell Rolls Out NarrowBand-IoT Network across Turkey. NarrowBand technology is an upper segment of IoT (Internet of Things) which …

Narrowband Internet-of-Things (IoT) Chipset Market: Commercialized IoT Devices List Expanding … – Digital Journal Aug 24 03:16 The global narrowband internet of things chipset market so far held a highly consolidated competitive landscape, according to Transparency Market …

Deal with Chinese telecoms giant to drive Stellies innovation – Independent Online Aug 22 21:30 For us this is a win-win, as together with MTN and the university we are providing the Narrowband IoT (a new way of communicating with ‘things’ that …

Telecom Alert: August 21, 2017 Court Upholds One-Touch Make-Ready; FirstNet Update … – The National Law Review Aug 21 19:35 Verizon is looking to establish a viable alternative to FirstNet’s nationwide public safety broadband network being built and maintained by AT&T.

Arizona opts into plan for specialized first responder broadband network – xmlpush Aug 21 18:00 The priority service is available now anywhere AT&T offers services, with expanded services for fire, police and other public safety workers planned by December.

Nevada to Transform Communications for Public Safety; Governor Sandoval Approves Buildout … – Broadway World Aug 17 12:25 FirstNet and AT&T worked with the Nevada Public Safety Communications …

APCO Releases Project 43 Report on Broadband in PSAPs – MissionCritical Aug 17 10:03 The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released the report for Project 43: Broadband Implications for the PSAP during its annual conference in Denver. read more

Kansas Opts in to FirstNet – MissionCritical Aug 17 10:03 Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback announced his decision to accept the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and AT&T plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the state’s public-safety community, making Kansas the 14th state or territory to opt in to FirstNet. read more

IBM’s Watson to Listen in on 911 Calls – MeriTalk Aug 17 09:45 The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, which has more than 29,000 members, tapped IBM to bring Watson …

Verizon to Compete With AT&T’s FirstNet Emergency Network – DSL Reports Aug 17 08:35 AT&T has said the wireless carrier will invest $40 billion, along with federal subsidies, to support public safety communications via 20 megahertz of …

IoT achievements make smart, sustainable cities a reality – Your Industry News Aug 17 06:40 In another example, Taiwan’s largest telecommunications provider, Chunghwa Telecom, recently announced that it will use a Narrow-band IoT …