When I wrote my Public Safety Advocate last week documenting the issues with the FirstNet RFP, I did not realize that for the third time in the history of Public Safety broadband communications I was writing my own death knell. This time it was a contract I have had with a major company interested in bidding on the FirstNet RFP. Ten months ago I joined a team that has been growing ever since. There were Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), attorneys, financial folks, a cadre of well-respected and capable network engineers, and others who all had a place on the team. Our team worked long and hard on what we expected the RFP to look like, our vision of what Public Safety really needs, how our vision might not track 100% with the FirstNet RFP, what we were willing to contribute to building a world class Public Safety network, and making it easier for Public Safety to use the network to assist in their tasks.

Once the RFP was issued it was passed around to each of the sub-teams and we all dug deeply into the RFP and the requirements. Early indications from our numerous meetings provided a high level of optimism and approvals from the upper level executives along the way. Then we all made a much deeper dive into the RFP sections, and under the impression we could submit questions that would be answered promptly, we began to ask questions. Day after day I checked the sites, day after day there were no statements about the answer timetables, and we soon realized that our concerns would not be addressed in time for us to complete and file the Compatibility Statement due in March, much less in time to respond to an intelligent RFP. As we continued to delve further into the RFP, we continued to submit questions, and all we wanted was a signal of some type from FirstNet that some of the issues we were concerned about were, perhaps, negotiable.

Meanwhile, we discovered that no matter how many Public Safety users actually sign up for the network, and no matter how much the spectrum might be worth on a secondary basis, FirstNet wants yearly payments regardless of the uptake. It appeared to us that FirstNet is not interested in taking any of the risk of network uptake but rather wants all of that risk to be assumed by the RFP offeror. In some cases, if FirstNet does not believe the vendor is doing the best it could, FirstNet reserves the right to take over some of the vendor’s activities which, in reality, FirstNet should be responsible for in the first place. The results of our findings were reported up the chain of command and early this week the decision of the company senior executives, based on the continued lack of response from FirstNet indicating some willingness to make changes to the RFP, was exactly as you would expect. They are certainly not risk averse, but they do expect sufficient flexibility in the requirements so that both sides can agree on a win-win RFP response. However, at this point FirstNet has remained mute, which has been perceived as unwavering.

So once again I find myself in an interesting position. I have spent the past eight years of my life trying to make this network happen for Public Safety and I am now, once again, out on the street because the company top brass had to make a go/no-go decision with absolutely no additional information forthcoming from FirstNet. I guess I don’t blame them, they did not get to be a well-run company that makes a lot of money and a great return on investment for its stockholders by taking unnecessary risks. So this is one vendor that will not be responding to the RFP that is on the street. Frankly, I think this company would have provided the Public Safety community with much more than simply a broadband wireless pipe to use for its daily and incident-related needs. The team that was disbanded earlier this week was one of the best I have ever had the privilege of working with. It was the best of the best and each and every team member was dedicated to one thing: making sure the Public Safety community would have the best possible network and related services.

I have to wonder how many other teams are being disbanded. How many companies with high hopes for providing Public Safety with a great network have decided to throw in the towel and walk away from this opportunity? Yes, FirstNet may, in fact, receive a few responses to the RFP, but they won’t receive ones that really want to demonstrate their creativity and understanding of what the Public Safety community really needs. Instead, they may receive responses that promise to meet all of the conditions contained in the RFP but there will be exceptions taken and corners cut in order to provide a business model that will make a response viable for the bidder. This is not what the Public Safety community signed up for nor is it what the Public Safety community deserves. Andrew M Seybold

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FCC chairman touts government broadband in Kentucky – Watchdog.org via Google Alerts Feb  9 16:30 Gabbard argues that’s one reason government intervention is needed in eastern Kentucky. In areas like this, if we don’t have some help it will never …

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Republican senators say FCC’s 25 Mbps broadband standard isn’t fair – FierceTelecom via Google Alerts Feb  8 13:45 The FCC’s 25 Mbps broadband definition is facing more criticism from Republican lawmakers with Senators Fred Upton and Greg Walden claiming the …

Europe considers reserving 700MHz for mobile data – iT News via Google Alerts Feb  7 22:15 EU member states would need to develop and adopt public plans for 700 MHz network coverage, and also conclude cross-border agreements by the …

Should Congress create a FirstNet-like entity to tackle next-generation 911? – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Feb  4 17:31 Some believe the FCC already has overstepped its authority in 911, a public-safety function traditionally handled at the state and local levels.

FirstNet pushing ahead with BYOD plans for public broadband network,newshitechdigital – News magazine via Google Alerts Feb  4 04:40 FirstNet pushing ahead with BYOD plans for public broadband network,newshitechdigital. FirstNet pushing ahead with BYOD plans for public …

CCA CEO Concerned FirstNet Framework Could Stiff Small Carriers – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Feb  4 04:01 National Public Safety Telecommunications Council …

Cable, phone industry urge FCC to limit Internet privacy protections – Reuters Feb 11 16:15 WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A group of trade associations representing major cable and telephone companies on Thursday urged the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to limit protections in forthcoming broadband privacy rules.

Mexico seeks bids for nationwide 700 MHz wholesale LTE network to serve competitive market … – lte-applications.com via Google Alerts Feb 11 14:30 Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transportation announced the …

Certified Agencies – APCO International via Google Alerts Feb 11 11:16 APCO International, Leaders in Public Safety Communications and 9-1-1. …

Politicians are fighting an FCC rule that requires your broadband service be fast – Tech Insider via Google Alerts Feb 11 10:10 They joined six of their colleagues from the Senate who wrote a similar …

APCO – Association of – Newsoneplace.com via Google Alerts Feb 11 03:15 Source: APCO – Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International Inc) Practitioner-led effort prepares for the paradigm shift in public.

Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) – APCO International via Google Alerts Feb 11 01:15 APCO International, Leaders in Public Safety Communications and 9-1-1. …

Advanced Communications – National Institute of Standards and Technology via Google Alerts Feb 10 21:15 opment of a seamless, broadband public safety communications network across …

FCC – Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Seeks Comment on Region 33 – Colorado Media.Net via Google Alerts Feb 10 17:45 From the FCC: Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Seeks Comment on …

NTIA Updates $4 Billion Broadband Stimulus Program Results – Benton Foundation via Google Alerts Feb 10 14:20 In 2009 and 2010, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which administered the BTOP program, awarded …

FCC Part 90 Narrowband Compliance – ZuLar via Google Alerts Feb 10 12:25 TECHNIQUES FOR MEASURING NARROWBAND AND BROADBAND EMI SIGNALS USING SPECTRUM ANALYZERS The proper interpretation of …

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Without net neutrality, ISPs would abort US broadband speeds – WebTechReview via Google Alerts Feb  9 17:35 In arguing for a snail-slow internet, Verizon challenged the actual admiral that underlie the draft net neutrality rules the FCC appear endure …

IoT predictions for 2016 by Strategy Analytics – Telecom Lead via Google Alerts Feb  9 11:55 The standardized 3GPP path to Narrow Band IoT via LTE-M with Release 13 will provide real competition to LPWA vendors in the market, offering …

AT&T fights to keep your internet as slow as possible – Daily Kos Feb  8 21:30 Last February, the Federal Communications Commission made history by taking sweeping action to promote a fast, fair, and open internet. Their net neutrality ruling made the most headlines, but a second ruling preventing states from blocking localities seeking to develop municipal broadband was nearly as huge. Both have been fought tooth and nail”and taken to court”by industry. That’s made Chattanooga, Tennessee, ground zero in a war financed by AT&T. Chattanooga, Tenn., is more than…

Integrated Microwave Technologies Acquired by xG Technology – TV Technology via Google Alerts Feb  8 16:20 xMax is said to provide a FirstNet-ready public safety-grade communications layer, and has been field-tested in demanding military environments.

Peru sets base price for forthcoming 700 MHz tender – Telecompaper via Google Alerts Feb  8 13:02 The newly released spectrum will be used to complement existing 4G LTE services offered by Movistar, Claro, Entel and Bitel using the AWS band.

Net Neutrality Again Puts FCC General Counsel at Center Stage – New York Times via Google Alerts Feb  7 16:45 His job: Defend in court the F.C.C.’s most contentious policy rules to classify broadband Internet providers as utilities, widely called net neutrality.

Bi-Partisan Group Launches Rural Broadband Caucus – CED via Google Alerts Feb  4 08:35 In the wake of a critical FCC report that found the rollout of broadband in rural and …

Senators Blast Comcast, Other Cable Firms For “Unfair Billing Practices” – Slashdot Feb  4 08:15 An anonymous reader writes: Six Democratic US senators [Wednesday] criticized Comcast and other TV and broadband providers for charging erroneous fees, such as cable modem rental fees billed to customers who bought their own modems. The senators have written a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler asking the commission to ‘stop unfair billing practices.’…..Last year, more than 30 percent of complaints to the FCC about Internet service and 38 percent of complaints about…

T-Mobile’s LTE Wireless Network Faster than Verizon — But Not Much – Mobile Tech Today via Google Alerts Feb  4 07:30 The firm attributed this performance to T-Mobile’s recent network build out in the 700 MHz airwaves. The 700 MHz range lets signals travel farther in …

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