T-Band Revisited, New FirstNet Authority CEO. Just to refresh your memories, the T-Band is the 470–512-MHz spectrum that was allocated to UHF-TV channels 14-20 that has since been made available to both public safety and, in some areas, business Land Mobile Radio (LMR) users. This was implemented in a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) action in 1971 and today there are eleven major metro areas that make use of the T-Band.
When Congress passed the bill authorizing FirstNet it included other provisions as well. One of these was that the T-Band would be available for spectrum auction nine years after the bill was signed. Once the auctions were over, the public safety community would have to vacate the spectrum within another two years. Those in Congress who added this provision to the bill indicated they had to have a “give-back” of some type to help them justify the release of ten additional megahertz of 700-MHz spectrum for public safety. It was not clear in the law who would pay for T-Band users to move off the T-Band nor where the FCC would find spectrum to accommodate them.
Some in Congress at the time FirstNet was passed into law believed FirstNet would be able to absorb all of the existing LMR users in these eleven metro areas. However, as of today, FirstNet is not ready to take over complete public safety-grade services including off-network voice communications and other functions needed by first responders. Therefore, as the deadline approaches, efforts to have Congress review and rescind this portion of the law have been stepped up.
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Here are the articles I have selected with the help of Discovery Patterns artificial intelligence.
FirstNet Authority names acting CEO
Homeland Preparedness News Oct 3 11:50
I am honored being named to the position, to lead the incredible people that we have at FirstNet today, and to deliver the network that public safety …
US Army selects Thales for Leader Radio IDIQ
Shephard Media Oct 3 18:35
The IMBITR solution enables redundancy and resiliency while maintaining ground-to-ground and ground-to-air communications, critical narrowband …
ASTRID Emergency Services Network to Switch from TETRA to Next Generation 5G Technology
The Critical Communications Review Oct 3 18:35
Belgium’s emergency and security services are to move from the current narrowband TETRA system to a telecommunications operator, model based …
Wireless Emergency Alert System Testing
KSFY Oct 3 12:40
Once those notifications are reaching everybody, emergency management teams and first responders will be able to act in a quicker and more …
Telecom Groups Urge FCC to Increase Rural Broadband Focused 2018 USF Budget to At Least …
Benton Foundation Oct 3 07:55
Four telecommunication groups have come together to urge the Federal Communications Commission to increase the Universal Service Fund (USF) …
FirstNet: Edward Parkinson named acting CEO
Critical Communications Today Oct 2 22:40
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and the US Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information …
AT&T (T) Invests $2.3B in Illinois, Enhances Local Networks
Zacks.com Oct 2 21:35
In addition, the FirstNet Project is the first dedicated nationwide wireless network for first responders, which is likely to drive AT&T’s prospects in the …
AT&T FirstNet First Responders Hackathon
IIT Today Oct 2 20:50
FirstNet, built with AT&T, and the AT&T Believe Chicago* initiative will host a public safety hackathon Friday, October 19 at 6 p.m. through Saturday, …
Extending FirstNet coverage indoors
RCR Wireless News Oct 2 20:20
All 50 states and six U.S. territories including the District of Columbia (DC) have opted to participate in FirstNet as their public safety communications …
Public Safety Criticizes Wireless Carriers’ Z-Axis 9-1-1 Indoor Location Proposal
RadioResource Media Group Oct 2 20:20
Public-safety groups took wireless carriers to task in filings with the FCC regarding 9-1-1 location technology, saying a CTIA proposal is …
Telecom Alert – October 1, 2018: FAA Reauthorization; FCC Approves Small Cell Order; NPRM …
The National Law Review Oct 1 20:10
The NPRM also requests comment on proposed rules that would ensure a dispatchable location is conveyed to public safety answering points …
FCC Moves to Free Up More Airwaves
WSJ: Technology Oct 1 17:45
Federal regulators are proposing to free up a broad swath of underused airwaves for Wi-Fi and broadband, as part of their efforts to deploy next-generation 5G wireless technology around the U.S.
Most US cell phones to receive ‘Presidential Alert’ text on Wednesday, October 3rd
The News Center Oct 1 13:15
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and other public safety agencies will use cell …
AT&T tussles with states over FirstNet contracts
Mobile World Live Oct 1 12:25
Sambar told Mobile World Live the situation is preventing some public safety agencies from gaining access to its network after the operator opened …
FCC issues enforcement advisory about noncompliant VHF/UHF radios
Urgent Communications Sep 28 17:30
For example, some can be modified to transmit on public safety and other land mobile channels for which they are not authorized, while others are …
Mass. to pay $12.2 million in dispute over `middle mile’ network
Berkshire Eagle Oct 3 17:25
… will continue to function normally, preserving broadband access to municipalities, schools, libraries and public safety departments across the region.
New FirstNet leadership steps up
RCR Wireless News Oct 2 22:25
The First Responders Network Authority has a new acting CEO and board vice chair, as the public safety communications agency fills spots left by a …
Axon To Unveil Next Generation TASER Weapon and Body Camera on October 6 at IACP
PR Newswire Oct 2 20:20
The Axon booth is officially sponsored by FirstNet, built with AT&T the only nationwide public safety communications platform designed by first …
NTIA Seeks Comments on ‘Desired Outcomes’
Electronic Privacy Information Center Sep 27 09:35
… and information policyreleased a proposed framework for consumer privacy. …
Photonic Chips Harness Sound Waves to Speed up Local Networks
ECNmag.com Sep 27 09:25
“Our demonstration device using stimulated Brillouin scattering has produced a record-breaking narrowband of about 265 megahertz bandwidth for …
Healthcare Informatics Sep 27 09:13
NTIA administers grant programs that further the deployment and use of broadband and other technologies in America, including funding for improved education, public safety, and health care.
Ericsson and Telstra complete ground-breaking long-range NB-IoT connection
Ericsson Sep 27 08:03
Content : Press releases ; Category : IoT ,Smart cities ; HashTags : #Telstra,#NB-IoT,#CellularIoT Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Telstra have successfully deployed and tested Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) data connections up to 100km from a base-station in Telstra’s commercial network – the longest-range NB-IoT connection of its kind, and a key milestone towards increasing Telstra’s LTE footprint in rural and regional Australia.