The FirstNet Industry half day was held on Thursday August 27, 2015. I was one of about 250 people in attendance and there were, reportedly, another 150 on the web-cast and/or the phone bridge. The event was a very good show by FirstNet, they certainly had they act together, from the New CEO, the Newly Appointed President, the contracting Officer Terrie Callahan, and the rest of the speakers. Mike Poth, the new CEO did a great job of talking about his interest in helping FirstNet succeed, and the business model, and TJ did a great job of showing why an investment in FirstNet was a better bet for potential bidders than the 600 MHz auctions.

It was an interesting pitch with them pointing out the opportunity that partnering with FirstNet provides both existing commercial networks and others who might be interested in partnering with FirstNet. Other speakers included the folks who are leading the effort to get the RFP out on the street, and one of the most important missing part of the RFP, the criteria for evaluation was talked about, briefly by Terrie Callahan, the Contract officer. She gave us some good input on what was expected but left us all waiting for more which may or may not follow prior to the final release of the RFP. I give FirstNet high marks for this event, well planned, well timed and plenty of time for questions. In fact they were willing to stick around until the last question was asked which they did!

The main issue for me and for a number of the others I talked to is that the message that came from this event could be considered as a major shift in the RFP documents. In an effort to clarify what they wanted in a partner many of the FirstNet speakers, including the top brass and the contract officer said over and over again (paraphrased): We want you to be creative, we want you to reply to the RFP and tell us how you are going to meet the 16 key requirements which we have identified as key to the success of FirstNet from a Public Safety Perspective. So, if I was going to submit a response to the RFP would I wade through the 300+ pages of the document, some of which, at this point, contradict themselves, some of which are missing or do I respond as they are asking me to: List each of the 16 requirements and talk about my solution for obtaining that goal and in fact, all of the goals?

I am confused at this point, there is a lot of verbiage in the RFP but we kept hearing that they want innovative ways to meet these 16 objectives. But at this point I am guessing that if I responded and delivered a document which outlined specific ways to meet and in some cases exceed, all 16 of these requirements I would not meet some of the requirements of the RFP and would be disqualified. As much as FirstNet is trying to help, in some cases they are simply throwing more doubt into the process. If they want innovative ways to meet and provide all of the 16 goals why is the RFP 300 pages long? Again I give high marks to the very dedicated people at FirstNet, it is obvious form listening to all of them that this IS about Public Safety and not about anything else. They truly want to deliver the best network they can with the right choice of partners. However, as I said in my comments, this RFP is NOT about the Feds asking for a fixed price bid for widgets or even a multi-million dollar jet.

It should not be onerous with penalties and other means of insuring that the partner does what is required and it is not about the partners funding FirstNet or the network until there is an income stream to help both the partner (s), Public Safety and FirstNet. The slides from the FirstNet Industry day can be found here: http://www.firstnet.gov/sites/default/files/Aug%2027%20Industry%20Day%20Presentation_0.pdf Have a great week-end! Andy

FirstNet woos potential bidders – FCW.com via Google Alerts Aug 28 14:50 The FirstNet public safety network is one of the most complex technology projects underway in government. The push for the network came in the …

Cybersecurity could be the biggest challenge for FirstNet, next-gen 911 – cyber security dojo via Google Alerts Aug 26 13:10 Utilities can identify and address issues in their networks before they …

US agency to seek consensus on divisive, volatile topic of security vulnerability disclosures – Network World Fusion Aug 28 17:00 A U.S. agency hopes to gather security researchers, software vendors and other interested people to reach consensus on the sticky topic of how to disclose cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Beginning in September, the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will host a series of meetings intended to improve collaboration among security researchers, software vendors and IT system operators on the disclosure of, and response to, vulnerabilities. The first NTIA-hosted meeting will be Sept. 29 at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. Registration is open to all who want to participate, and the meeting will also be webcast, NTIA said….

General Dynamics-built LTE Public Safety Network Completes Phase One of New Mexico … – General Dynamics Mission Systems via Google Alerts Aug 28 12:45 The broadband LTE network creates the communications backbone for federal, state and public safety professionals to talk to one another, exchange …

Program provides grants for officer body cameras – Dallas Morning News via Google Alerts Aug 27 22:55 Lawmakers hope a bill to provide $10 million in grants to provide first responders and traffic patrol officers with the cameras, along with necessary …

FCC – Enforcement Bureau Enhances Procedures for Public Safety and Industry Interference … – Colorado Media.Net via Google Alerts Aug 27 20:45 From the FCC: Enforcement Bureau Enhances Procedures for Public Safety and …

Job: Emergency Preparedness Program Coordinator — Grants – Emergency Management via Google Alerts Aug 26 13:25 FirstNet is, indeed, a First Responder wireless network. That said, Congress specifically authorized use of the FirstNet wireless network by any entity …

FirstNet Cites SPOC Progress on Data Collection – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Aug 25 12:55 The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) said that a recent survey of state single points of contact (SPOC) indicated good progress in …

FirstNet plans to release cybersecurity information this fall, Kennedy says – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Aug 21 15:25 With FirstNet being tasked to build a broadband network to support first-responder access to critical health, building and criminal records, organization …

Verizon tops two reports on mobile service quality in Colorado – The Denver Post via Google Alerts Aug 28 17:00 On Thursday, T-Mobile announced its 700 MHz network was now available in …

AT&T Takes Billions in FCC Subsidies For Broadband Expansion – DSL Reports via Google Alerts Aug 28 16:30 AT&T has accepted up to $3 billion in government subsidies over six years to …

‘Emergency Alert Workshop” in DC Covers Range of Alert Topics – Emergency Management via Google Alerts Aug 28 11:50 David Simpson, chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, seemed to be melding alerting with the work and technology of public …

Verizon to activate non-Verizon iPhones on their network – Ledger Gazette via Google Alerts Aug 28 07:30 Additionally, when Verizon purchased its 700 MHz spectrum for LTE service in …

NTCA: Affordable video content will drive competition, broadband investment in rural markets – FierceTelecom via Google Alerts Aug 27 12:21 The NTCA (National Telephone Cooperative Association) says in a FCC filing that the ability for smaller telcos to get access to competitively-priced …

Did NTIA notify Congress it unilaterally changed the IANA functions contract? – Sonoran News via Google Alerts Aug 26 21:20 On August 4, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) quietly modified its ongoing contract with the Internet …

Harris County Public Information Officer Re-Appointed to FCC Committee – FireEngineering.com via Google Alerts Aug 26 18:50 CSRIC members represent a diverse and balanced mix of viewpoints from public safety organizations, federal, state and local government agencies, …

FCC’s Wheeler: Pirate Radio Problem ‘Can’t Be Solved By Enforcement Alone’ – All Access Music Group via Google Alerts Aug 26 10:50 Thus, matters posing an imminent threat to public safety or directly harming large numbers of consumers must take precedence over other matters, …

Does The Tumble In Broadband Investment Spell Doom For The FCC’s Open Internet Order? – Forbes via Google Alerts Aug 26 05:55 The FCC’s Open Internet Order could be in trouble. …

THE NET NEUTRALITY REPORT: Where we are now, what happens next, and why mobile is central to the debate – Tech Aug 25 18:30 Americans are increasingly ditching their desktops and reaching for their mobile devices to access the internet instead. For this reason, mobile broadband – or internet access from any mobile device – was included in the FCC’s recently adopted net neutrality proposal, making it subject to many of the same constraints and regulations as the wired internet. This has added another layer to the hot-button debate on net neutrality – the concept that all data transmitted over the…

700 MHz Spectrum Key to LTE’s Successful Progress in Latin America – Wireless Developer Network Aug 25 18:00 The 700 MHz band, often referred to as the Digital Dividend, has technical features ideal for providing wireless service coverage in rural areas and offers better signal coverage for inside buildings

FCC Commissioner pushes next-gen 911 – RCR Wireless News via Google Alerts Aug 25 09:50 In a speech to the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials conference last week, the Federal Communications Commission chairman …

FCC maps intersection of broadband and health in Virginia – GCN.com via Google Alerts Aug 21 13:50 Relatively little searching for online health information about chronic …

THE NET NEUTRALITY REPORT: Where we are now, what happens next, and why mobile is central to the debate – Business Insider Aug 21 13:15 Americans are increasingly ditching their desktops and reaching for their mobile devices to access the internet instead. For this reason, mobile broadband – or internet access from any mobile device – was included in the FCC’s recently adopted net neutrality proposal, making it subject to many of the same constraints and regulations as the wired internet. This has added another layer to the hot-button debate on net neutrality – the concept that all data transmitted over the…

Dish Network Loses Out on $3.3 Billion of Spectrum Discounts – Sentinel Republic via Google Alerts Aug 21 09:10 … of mid-band AWS-4 spectrum, 10 MHz of 1900 PCS H Block spectrum and 6 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum. In addition, Dish Network claimed that it has …

Finally: Non-Verizon iPhones, Nexus 6 allowed on the carrier’s network – ZDNet Aug 26 12:01 It’s about time: Those “open access” requirements on Verizon go back to the 2008 auction for 700 MHz spectrum