I have two issues on my mind this week. The first has to do with vendors or potential vendors that are going around visiting state FirstNet organizations and the governors’ staff. At first the story was if you opt out then we will build your network and you will reap huge rewards from the secondary users of the network that you, Mr. or Ms. State, can spend for anything. This recently ended when FirstNet issued a definitive statement that funds paid by both first responders and secondary users can only be used for network operations and enhancements after they go to FirstNet for distribution.

Now I have been told that these same vendors are back with two different ideas to convince states to work with them prior to the FirstNet RFP. The first is to tell the state that it can have access to the 12 MHz of spectrum now used by Public Safety for 700-MHz Land Mobile Radio (LMR) that is right above the FirstNet spectrum. When FirstNet came into being, the bill also designated this spectrum as “flexible use” spectrum. However, today there are thousands and thousands of licensed users and many local, regional, and statewide LMR systems operating in this band. Next, of course, is the fact that the spectrum is not licensed by the FCC to FirstNet, it is licensed to each individual entity, usually for a 10-year period with almost automatic renewal. Any state that believes it can take over this spectrum and turn it into for-pay use has not done its due diligence for sure.

The next ploy is gutsier. These same vendors are trying to convince states to write an RFP and go to bid for LTE systems on Band 14 ahead of the RFP from FirstNet and without the state even holding a lease on the Band 14 spectrum. Any state that would fall for this ploy and actually go to bid for a system on spectrum it does not have a license to use would be wasting its time and taxpayers’ money. My advice to the states remains the same. Wait until you know the outcome of the RFP and what FirstNet has in mind for your state. Weigh your options carefully at that point. My final recommendation is that you agree to let the FirstNet partner build out the network planned for your state but negotiate the lease for the spectrum so your local and state organizations can add network capabilities with approved network components.

The next issue will become a problem in the not too distant future. It is the T-Band, which is spectrum used by Public Safety and business users and occupies unused UHF-TV channels in a given area. The T-Band allocations were made in 11 metro areas and while the band is referred to as 470-512 MHz, in reality it is allocated in 6-MHz chunks in each metro area since a TV channel is licensed for 6 MHz of spectrum. So one city might have radios on UHF-TV channel 14’s spectrum, one on UHF channel 15, and so on. In a few cases there are more than one TV channel licensed to a given area. However, when FirstNet was formed, the final bill passed by Congress called for a “give back” of Public Safety spectrum in exchange for the D-Block and what is now a 10X10-MHz portion of the 700-MHz spectrum. During the discussions with Congress and Public Safety, a number of different givebacks were suggested but in the final bill, the Congressional powers decided that taking back the T-Band in the 11 major cities would be good, and would enable more TV stations to be relocated from the 600-MHz band and stuffed into the lower TV channel space.

This was hotly opposed by the Public Safety Alliance, but at the end of the day the feds prevailed. The law reads that by 2022 the 11 areas using the T-Band for Public Safety will have to vacate that band. Interestingly enough, the law does not address business users nor does it fund any of the moves that will be required. NPTSC jumped in at that point and developed a comprehensive paper detailing the number of systems affected, the cost of moving them, and the fact that in most cities there was nowhere to move. It appears as though the assumption by Congress was that it could, by then, simply make use of FirstNet for all needed communications. However, that is not possible at this point for a number of reasons including the fact that LTE is not nearly as close to being a mission-critical network as existing LMR systems. The NPSTC report was submitted to the FCC and accepted on the record. However, the FCC is not in a position to make any changes to the law, only Congress can do that.

I think it is time to dust off this great report and go back to walking the halls of Congress after the election, perhaps using 2016 to prepare. The T-Band issue made me think of several things. The first is in the words of a Kingston Trio Song: “Citizens of Boston hear me out, this could happen to you!” Next on my mind was the thought that it might come down to this: Mr. or Ms. Marathon Runner, would you rather use broadband to stream the race you are running from your GoPro video camera or have the Public Safety organizations be able to communicate to and among each other? If the T-Band system had not been in operation during the Boston Marathon bombings, the first responder communications would not have been so well organized that it led to the apprehension of the suspects. Your choice citizens, I hope you make the right one! As it turns out I will be at the FirstNet Board Meeting next week in Houston and I look forward to seeing and talking to a number of you who will also be there. I would like to welcome our new readers, the list keeps growing! Andy
FCC Allows AT&T to Operate with Increased Power Levels in Missouri – rrmediagroup.com via Google Alerts Dec  4 09:25 In April, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) submitted comments to the FCC regarding AT&T’s waiver request and …

Net neutrality could be on the line in Washington court battle – InfoWorld Dec  4 09:00 The FCC’s Net neutrality rules go on trial Friday as oral arguments begin in 10 lawsuits that could dramatically change the way Internet service providers are regulated. In February, the Federal Communications Commission voted to ban service providers from giving some content preferential treatment. It also reclassified broadband as a communications service, similar to old-fashioned telecommunications except with exemptions from pricing and other regulations. [ Read Bill Snyder’s Tech’s Bottom Line blog for what the key business trends mean to you. | Cut to the key news for technology development and IT management with the InfoWorld Daily newsletter , our summary of the…

FirstNet Eyes BYOD Policy for Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network – ExecutiveGov via Google Alerts Dec  3 14:01 CellTower The First Responder Network Authority currently works to develop a bring-your-own-device policy that covers support for personal devices …

FCC’s Rosenworcel says non-service-initialized (NSI) phone policy for calling 911 should be … – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Dec  2 19:00 But the NSI functionality increasingly is being used to call public-safety answering points (PSAPs) with thousands of non-emergency callssome …

Tech Week Ahead: Net Neutrality Showdown at D.C. Circuit – Bloomberg BNA via Google Alerts Dec  2 15:05 At stake is the FCC’s reclassification of broadband Internet providers as …

FirstNet seeks feedback on incumbent relocation proposal – FierceGovernmentIT via Google Alerts Dec  1 11:55 The organization hopes to relocate incumbent public safety communications systems operating in the 758-769 and 788-799 MHz spectrum band, …

WRC-15 Protects UHF Broadcasting – Broadcasting & Cable via Google Alerts Nov 30 17:00 The conference agreed on allocating spectrum above 700 MHz (technically 694 to 790 MHz) in to mobile broadband in region 1, which includes …

public notice – FCC via Google Alerts Nov 30 15:25 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov. TTY: 1-888-835-5322. DA 15-1369. Released: November 30, 2015. PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY …

Illinois – National Telecommunications and Information Administration – Department of Commerce via Google Alerts Nov 27 06:55 … Statewide Interoperable Executive Committee (SIEC), and Illinois Terrorism Task ForceNational Public Safety Broadband Network Working Group …

Vermont – National Telecommunications and Information Administration – Department of Commerce via Google Alerts Nov 27 06:55 Vermont will establish the Vermont Public Safety Broadband Network Commission (Commission) to implement the State and Local Implementation …

Michigan | NTIA – Michigan | NTIA – Department of Commerce via Google Alerts Nov 27 06:25 The State plans to update its Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan as part of SLIGP, and will use an expanded Public Safety Broadband …

Court Preview: Activists Expose Net Neutrality’s Biggest Legal Problems – Western Free Press via Google Alerts Dec  4 12:20 Net Neutrality Do not let the FCC’s likely unlawful means of broadband Internet regulation, i.e. Title II, distract you from the additional likelihood that two …

City facing replacement of core radio system in FY17 – Ocean City Today via Google Alerts Dec  4 10:01 In the past, the 700 MHz systems were for broadcast TV, but the FCC moved that range to public safety radio, Theobald said. There were only seven …

U.S. Navy accepts MUOS satellite for secure communications – UPI.com via Google Alerts Dec  3 15:50 The U.S. Navy’s Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) is a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system designed to assist …

Frontier Communications Receives Final Regulatory Approval in California to Acquire Verizon Operations – Business Wire Dec  3 15:20 NORWALK, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: FTR) announced today that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously voted to approve Frontier’s proposed acquisition of Verizon’s wireline, broadband and video operation in California, including the FiOS® network. Frontier has received all other necessary regulatory clearances, including those from the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Public Utility Commissi

FirstNet Enabled Devices for First Responders Set to Revolutionize Public Safety Landscape – McAfee via Google Alerts Dec  3 09:40 … the development of FirstNet, a first-of-its kind broadband network dedicated to public safety, providing a single, interoperable platform for emergency …

Cities and the presidential tech agenda – Brookings Institution via Google Alerts Dec  2 12:55 Broadband adoption problems are particularly acute in cities, but early next year the FCC will vote on how to modernize the Reagan-era phone …

House, Senate conference committee reaches agreement on FAST Act – RailwayAge Magazine via Google Alerts Dec  2 12:35 … real-time, and electronic train consist information (e.g., the location of hazardous materials on a train) to first responders on the scene of an accident.

Regulators Should Take ‘Yes’ for an Answer to Broadband Competition – TheStreet Dec  2 12:00 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulators, purportedly eager to promote competition, keep stifling the investment needed to advance it meaningfully.

US Awaits Court Verdict This Week on Net Neutrality Rules – Zacks.com via Google Alerts Dec  1 15:06 On Feb 26, 2015, in a historic decision, the FCC had approved net neutrality rules after a majority voting. The new laws classify high-speed broadband …

Congress reaches deal on 5-year highway bill – Politico via Google Alerts Dec  1 14:35 Y.) didn’t sign off on the package because the first responders bill was left out, the source said, adding that Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Ron …

Telecom Business Alert Pole Attachments, FirstNet, NG911, USF, FCC Enforcement, Vol XII … – Keller Heckman via Google Alerts Dec  1 06:40 FirstNet hopes to allow public safety users to access the NPSBN on …

Pole Attachments, FirstNet, NG911, USF, FCC Enforcement – The National Law Review via Google Alerts Nov 30 18:55 However, the Op-Ed argues that many of the gains the FCC hoped to achieve will prove illusory without adequate funding to enable public safety …

FirstNet Preparedness: What Public Safety Agencies Can Do Now – NetMotion Wireless, Inc. via Google Alerts Nov 30 16:25 Posted on 30 November 2015 by NetMotion Wireless …

Madden: 5G IoT is late to the party – FierceWireless via Google Alerts Nov 30 15:50 Other proprietary systems such as LoRa and Huawei/Neul narrowband IoT standards are also ready to ramp up. While 3GPP committees are still …