FirstNet Coverage During the quest to obtain enough nationwide broadband spectrum for public safety, the Public Safety Alliance (PSA) and its member organizations worked industriously to convince members of the U.S. Congress and their staffs, the FCC, and the Executive Branch of the federal government that public safety needed more broadband spectrum than had been assigned to them (10 MHz, 5X5 MHz). The result of this multi-year effort was that Congress listened and in the legislation that created FirstNet, public safety was assigned 20 MHz (10X10 MHz) of spectrum (referred to as Band 14). This spectrum is in the 700-MHz band adjacent to the Public Safety Land Mobile Radio spectrum on one side and Verizon’s 700-MHz spectrum on the other side. It is ideal for longer range and better in-building penetration.
It was always assumed by the public safety community that the winning bidder of the FirstNet RFP would, of course, build out the FirstNet spectrum nationwide. Even with a full 20 MHz of spectrum to which public safety has pre-emptive access, there were still some concerns from a number of us that during an incident contained in a small area served by only one or two cell sectors, there would still be times when the network reached its maximum capacity. When AT&T won the contract and became the partner for FirstNet, it did not specify its build-out plans publicly. However, at the recent Senate Sub-committee, AT&T’s plans for the build-out were presented to those on the committee and picked up by the press. AT&T’s decision is to build out FirstNet spectrum where it is needed for capacity but nowhere else (See Urgent Communications ). Read the entire blog HERE The Discovery Patterns News Recap for the week is below:
New Jersey to Transform Communications for Public Safety; Governor Christie Approves Buildout … – Cellular News via Google Alerts Jul 26 16:30 With his decision, FirstNet and AT&T will deliver a specialized wireless broadband network to New Jersey’s public safety community. This will make …
Chris Sambar: AT&T, FirstNet Focus on Device, App Cybersecurity for Public Safety Network – GovConWire via Google Alerts Jul 24 15:00 TYSONS CORNER, VA, July 24, 2017 AT&T (NYSE: T) Senior Vice President Chris Sambar has briefed lawmakers on the continued collaboration …
LMCC Says FCC Should Include Public Safety in Proposed License Rules – MissionCritical Jul 27 10:05 The Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) urged the FCC to include public safety in its category of licensees subject to the proposed rules on license renewal and discontinuance of operations. read more
Executive Spotlight: Interview with Mike Leff, VP for Strategy and Operations for AT&T – ExecutiveBiz via Google Alerts Jul 27 07:50 … Recently the Commerce Department’s FirstNet awarded AT&T a larger contract to build and maintain a national public safety broadband network.
FirstNet, AT&T network to prioritize first responders – The Sheridan Press via Google Alerts Jul 26 15:30 FirstNet, AT&T network to prioritize first responders …
New Jersey Joins FirstNet – Broadcasting & Cable via Google Alerts Jul 26 13:35 New Jersey has been at the forefront of public safety broadband, and with Governor Christie’s decision to join FirstNet, the state is once again leading …
Verizon Requests Clarity on FirstNet State-Deployed LTE Cores – MissionCritical Jul 26 10:04 Verizon Wireless asked the FCC to clarify whether a state may deploy a separate network core from the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) if it chooses to opt out of the FirstNet and AT&T state plan. read more
Oklahoma, Missouri issue RFPs seeking vendors to build FirstNet RAN alternatives – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Jul 25 19:25 In addition, the Missouri RFP also indicates that the state is open to the RAN vendor transforming 12 MHz of public-safety 700 MHz narrowband LMR …
Is a Verizon FirstNet Plan in the Works? FCC Letter Seeks Clarification – Telecompetitor via Google Alerts Jul 25 14:45 Verizon logo When the Commerce Department earlier this year awarded the contract to build the FirstNet nationwide mobile broadband public safety …
FirstNet Apps Ecosystem is Key to Future Success and is Being Built on Three Pillars – Telecompetitor via Google Alerts Jul 25 14:10 They include: developing a rich set of applications for public safety, ensuring that the applications developed for the network enhance public safety …
FirstNet agrees to fully explore tribal concerns, execute long-term staffing plan – Homeland Preparedness News via Google Alerts Jul 25 13:35 … is charged with establishing a nationwide wireless broadband network for first responders, …
GUEST COLUMN: FirstNet crucial for public safety – News Sentinel via Google Alerts Jul 25 06:55 GUEST COLUMN: FirstNet crucial for public safety …
@SenatorWicker Stresses Rural Broadband Expansion for Public Safety – Yall Politics via Google Alerts Jul 24 16:25 When a major emergency occurs, first responders such as police officers and firefighters …
Iowa set to become fifth state to opt-in to nationwide public safety broadband network – Homeland Preparedness News via Google Alerts Jul 20 08:50 … become fifth state to opt-in to nationwide public safety broadband network …
First Early Builder State New Jersey Opts in to FirstNet – MissionCritical Jul 27 10:05 Gov. Chris Christie opted in to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). A statement said FirstNet and AT&T will deliver a specialized wireless broadband network to New Jersey’s public-safety community, although details about the state’s early builder project integration are scarce. read more
Senator Doesn’t Buy FCC Justification For Killing Popular Net Neutrality Protections – Techdirt Corporate Intelligence Jul 26 15:05 So we’ve noted for years now how incumbent ISPs love to breathlessly insist that net neutrality protections “stifled broadband industry investment,” despite the fact that publicly-available SEC filings, earnings reports, and the ISPs’ own public statements on this subject have repeatedly proven this claim false . Traditionally, large ISPs like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast and Charter have employed industry-friendly economists to massage and cherry pick the data until it looks like a slowdown occu
Worldwide Narrowband IoT Chipset Market: Entry of New Players to Intensify Competition … – satPRnews via Google Alerts Jul 26 14:30 The Asia-Pacific Narrowband IoT Chipset market report examines this market on the basis of its market sections, major geographies, and present-day …
New Jersey opts-in to FirstNet network – Telecompaper via Google Alerts Jul 26 11:25 With the decision, FirstNet and AT&T will deliver a wireless broadband network to New Jersey’s public safety community. The network will carry the …
New Jersey becomes sixth state to ‘opt-in’ to FirstNet – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Jul 25 19:35 New Jersey has been at the forefront of public-safety broadband, and with Governor Christie’s decision to join FirstNet, the state is once again leading …
Sky and Space Global Kicks Off Services with First 3 Nanosatellites – Satellite Today via Google Alerts Jul 25 16:50 … dubbed the Three Diamonds, to provide its first few customers with preliminary services as it prepares to launch the rest of its narrowband fleet.
FCC, FEMA Schedule Next Emergency Warning Test – Multichannel News via Google Alerts Jul 25 14:45 The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau have also released the latest edition of the EAS Operating Handbook and recommended …
Why Is DISH Network Focusing on Its Spectrum Holdings? – Market Realist via Google Alerts Jul 25 14:25 DISH intends to build out its narrow-band network by March 2020. The company intends to build out its 600 Mhz spectrum as a connectivity network or …
Verizon urges FCC to confirm states’ right to opt out of FirstNet – FierceWireless via Google Alerts Jul 25 11:45 … the company clearly views the FirstNet rollout as an opportunity to build on its momentum as a provider of wireless communications for public safety …
Why IoT as a service will provide businesses with the tools necessary for implementation – IoT Tech News via Google Alerts Jul 25 11:40 While there are licensed cellular variants such as Narrowband IoT (Nb-IoT), currently being used in pilot projects in Eastern Europe and southern …
FCC task force seeks input on broadband health care solutions – American Hospital Association Jul 25 08:05 The Federal Communications Commission’s Connect2Health Task Force will convene several virtual liste…
Narrowband Internet Of Things (NB-IOT) Market Will Reflect Significant Growth Prospects during … – Transparency Market Research – WordPress.com via Google Alerts Jul 25 06:35 Narrowband internet of things (NB IoT) is an emerging IoT technology which is being developed to meet challenges of future cellular IoT.
Industry VoicesEntner: From Dish/Amazon to Crown Castle/Lightower, it’s merger mayhem – FierceWireless via Google Alerts Jul 24 23:45 Amazon, with its $21.5 billion cash hoard, could help Dish build a narrowband-IoT network that would fit its needs to track every item and package on …
FirstNet to build ‘apps ecosystem’ for first responders – FierceWireless via Google Alerts Jul 24 14:45 FirstNet said the initiative aims to ensure that public safety drives new applications for the network and provides capabilities over the entire life cycle …
FCC Requests Comment on WiMAX Forum’s AeroMACS Petition – MissionCritical Jul 20 10:03 The FCC requested comment on a petition filed by the WiMAX Forum that proposed service rules for the Aeronautical Mobile Airport Communications System (AeroMACS). AeroMACS refers to a collection of high data rate wireless networks that are used in accordance with international standards for airport surface operations to provide broadband communications between aircraft and other vehicles, as well as between fixed critical assets. read more
The challenge of connectivity in remote/rural areas – Business Review Europe via Google Alerts Jul 20 05:26 One answer lies in investing in narrow-band connectivity services provided by nano-satellites. Building a constellation of nano-satellites which covers …
FCC Noms Grilled On Net Neutrality, 5G At Senate Hearing – Law360 via Google Alerts Jul 20 04:10 … for her tenure: public safety networks, universal access furthered by broadband deployment and promoting competition and consumer protection.