Highlights of the news this week: Washington State, Ohio, and Colorado take FirstNet to task in their comments to the FirstNet Draft RFP. It is interesting to read these comments since some that I filed are along the same lines. I took issue with FirstNet’s rural coverage, with its data rate and capacity requirements as too low, and of course, I really balk at making this network into a commercial network with telephony, texting, MMS, plus data and video from the start. What Public Safety needs, I believe, is to have a data and video ONLY network, using the commercial networks for telephony and texting at least until they get their feet wet with the capabilities and learn their way around the network.
It is obvious to me, and I am sure to many others, that the RFP was written in sections by different people with differing views of what FirstNet is and how it should function. The various appendices and requirements documents are not clearly and concisely written, and nowhere did I find what I would call an overview of the objective of what the FirstNet network will be and where it will be operational.
So of course I will provide my own overview below: The purpose of the FirstNet network is to provide data and video services (to start) to both the Public Safety community and to the customers of one or more partners that respond to the RFP. In rural areas it will be built out to provide coverage that matches and exceeds the coverage provided by the two largest commercial operators. This expanded coverage may be provided by the best possible means including LTE RAN with satellite backhaul, boomer sites where appropriate, with the use of high-power mobile modems and vehicular repeaters capable of operating on highly encrypted Wi-Fi in-vehicle devices. Within the major metro areas the network will be built to provide data capacity to provide for multiple personnel responses to incidents within confined areas that are covered by one to two cell sectors.
The network is to be highly encrypted to meet the latest standards available at the time of RFP award and both the basic network and the applications will be encrypted using different encryption methods. It will be up to the RFP respondent(s) to design the network, identify the number of cell sites required, and provide FirstNet, the states, and the Public Safety community with an overview of the coverage that will be provided at the onset and at the 3 and 5-year build-out dates.
I am sure this could be rewritten a hundred different ways but the idea is to provide a concise overview of what the overall coverage and capacity should be. I would also include a section on states and vendors being able to add cell sites, both outdoors and inbuilding at their own discretion and cost as long as they can be integrated into the overall network. I hope FirstNet takes heed of the comments made by the three states and others since the states can choose to opt out. The more potential there is for states opting out the more difficult it will be to find a few partners (bidders) willing to get this network up and running.
In all fairness to FirstNet, a network this ambitious and with such little funding has never been tried before, but the RFP should be cleaner and free of much of the clutter it contains. Let’s focus on the outcome. I think what is lost here is that a typical government RFP is for services or widgets and every single detail needs to be nailed down because the feds are paying the vendor. In this case FirstNet is NOT paying the vendor, the vendor is essentially partnering and spending $billions of its own funds in order to share in the unknown amount of spectrum FirstNet will not be using for Public Safety. The RFP should be more friendly and it should be the starting point for across the table discussions with those vendors that have expressed an interest in this project.
Next up is the drone issue, not only in California at wildfires are private drones a real issue and hazard to the work being done by the helos and air tankers, drones are becoming an issue for all of the Public Safety community across the United States and they have been an increasing threat to commercial airliners landing at airports. Since the FAA let this get out of control, and since drones became readily available without any type of licensing or rules, I don’t think it will be able to stop what is happening. I enjoyed reading about the firefighters who used their hose to bring a drone down over a fire, and I thought the guy who shot one out of his back yard instead of being arrested should get an award! It’s not only the drones we have to face, it’s the idiots who think they can fly them wherever and whenever they want.
There are some “news” articles this week that are really press releases about companies that will be exhibiting at APCO next week in DC. I have included them to show some of the diversity of the vendors that will be there and because I thought some of the projects may be of interest to our readers. Have a great weekend and hope to see you at APCO next week! Andy
FCC Public Notice provides details for incentive auction – Lexology via Google Alerts Aug 14 04:40 … in which the FCC will buy back broadcast licenses in order to free up spectrum in the 600 MHz band for wireless mobile broadband operations.
3 States Outline Concerns, Recommendations in Comments to FirstNet – Radio Resource via Google Alerts Aug 12 20:55 House Hearing Draws Questions of Whether FirstNet Will Replace LMR Networks. The state of Ohio strongly urged FirstNet to consider existing commercial …
FirstNet board to consider $126M proposed FY2016 budget that includes RFP release – Fierce Mobile Government via Google Alerts Aug 12 12:25 The First Responder Network Authority’s finance committee last week recommended a fiscal 2016 budget of up to $126 million that includes the …
Drones called a threat to emergency responders – Boston Globe via Google Alerts Aug 11 01:55 A bill in the California Legislature would raise fines and introduce jail time for impeding firefighters; another would grant immunity to first responders …
For FirstNet, major decisions necessary to reach goal for year-end RFP – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Aug 13 19:45 … carriers, infrastructure entities and/or system integratorswill bid (or not) for the right to develop a nationwide public-safety broadband network.
Nation steps up research into 5G mobile network spectrum – China Post via Google Alerts Aug 13 01:05 A total of 270-megahertz (MHz) of frequency spectrum, in the 700 MHz, 900 MHz and 1,800 MHz bands, was auctioned for mobile broadband service …
Dali Wireless to Showcase Public Safety Platform Selected by Dallas Forth Worth (DFW) Airport at … – Benzinga via Google Alerts Aug 12 19:45 This means the system can easily adapt to changing requirements, including FirstNet, P25 Phase I & II, narrowband and broadband public safety.
Chief Counsel, First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) – All-Acad.com via Google Alerts Aug 12 12:55 Position: Chief Counsel, First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) …
Incoming APCO President Defends Narrow Public Safety Definition – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Aug 11 22:50 The incoming president of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International today defended the group’s insistence that the First …
NPSTC issues response to FirstNet draft RFP – CriticalComms via Google Alerts Aug 10 20:55 The biggest challenge for FirstNet’s national public safety broadband network is the need to balance the procurement process against the flexibility to …
Drones hinder response crews – Butler Eagle via Google Alerts Aug 10 19:55 One bill would raise fines and introduce jail time for anyone who impedes firefighters, and another would grant immunity to first responders who …
FCC Approves Net Neutrality Rules, Classifying Broadband Internet Service as a – Currudu via Google Alerts Aug 8 17:45 Bandwidth Explained!.txt News FCC Approves Net Neutrality Rules, Classifying Broadband Internet Service as a …
Continuing APCO’s Leadership with Public Safety Apps – Public Safety Communications – APCO International via Google Alerts Aug 14 06:55 APCO has engaged in several efforts to ensure that apps for public safety and emergency response are as safe and effective as possible, including …
WISPA Responds to FCC’s Unlicensed TV Band Spectrum Ruling – Benzinga via Google Alerts Aug 13 21:15 WISPA is disappointed that the new rules do not go further to enhance the ability of fixed wireless broadband providers to use unlicensed TV band …
FCC Approves Vehicular Repeater Use on Six Channels – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Aug 13 20:45 The FCC released a report and order amending its part 90 rules to permit the licensing and operation of vehicular repeater systems (VRS) and other …
Airbus DS Communications to Demonstrate P25 Phase 2 Solution at APCO 2015 – Virtual-Strategy Magazine via Google Alerts Aug 13 14:45 “With our P25 Phase 2 system, agencies can expect enhanced and seamless call coordination between public safety officials — it’s a smarter way to …
Avtec To Debut RIC-M Solution at APCO 2015 – GlobeNewswire via Google Alerts Aug 13 13:50 Though P25 standards have been widely adopted by public safety …
Kodiak to Demonstrate Solutions for Interoperable Communications at APCO 2015 Annual … – Benzinga via Google Alerts Aug 13 13:50 … interoperability enhancements for its Broadband PTT solution at APCO (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials) 2015 in Washington, …
Vendors to Highlight JerseyNet Public Safety LTE Deployment at APCO – LTE Applications via Google Alerts Aug 13 12:45 Mutualink, Inc. has developed an interoperable communications platform …
eFORCE Software Planning to Make an Impression at APCO 2015 Conference – Consumer Electronics Net via Google Alerts Aug 13 04:05 At this years Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) conference, eFORCE will be demonstrating its user-friendly, mobile CAD …
Will the FCC’s Net-Neutrality Rules Hurt Minorities’ – USA via Google Alerts Aug 13 01:45 Will the FCC’s Net-Neutrality Rules Hurt Minorities’. Civil rights groups share the goal of guaranteeing broadband access to low-income and minority …
GAO: Privacy regs needed for facial recognition – SecureIDNews via Google Alerts Aug 12 23:35 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency with the U.S. Department of Commerce charged with advising the …
Panic Buttons Approved For 1000 Arkansas Public Schools As Part Of State’s 2015 School Safety Act – iSchoolGuide via Google Alerts Aug 12 16:55 “The more information first responders have when they arrive, the faster and more effective the response,” said A.J. Gary of Conway, Arkansas, …
Zetron’s updated video management software at APCO Conference in Washington, DC – SourceSecurity.com via Google Alerts Aug 12 12:10 … given in Zetron’s booth at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Conference in Washington D.C., August 17-18, 2015.
The Public Safety LTE & Mobile Broadband Market Opportunity And Forecast 2015 – prsync.com via Google Alerts Aug 12 11:25 Due to the bandwidth limitations of their traditional voice-centric LMR (Land Mobile Radio) networks, public safety agencies are keen to leverage …
Key Cross-Agency Emergency Communications Effort Requires Stronger Collaboration pdf … – bookpdf.org via Google Alerts Aug 12 07:35 Are you searching for Project SAFECOM: Key Cross-Agency Emergency Communications Effort Requires Stronger. Collaboration Books? Now, you …
NICE to Demonstrate its NG9-1-1-ready Solutions and New NICE Inform Audio Analytics at APCO … – PR Newswire via Google Alerts Aug 11 12:10 NICE Systems (NASDAQ: NICE) today announced that it will present and exhibit its portfolio of NG9-1-1-ready public safety solutions, including the …
Florida Public Safety Telecommunicators Study Guide – shockbook.org via Google Alerts Aug 10 22:50 APCO International, Leaders in Public Safety Communications Buyer’s Guide; …
Public Safety Bureau Chief of Staff Named – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Aug 10 20:40 Lauren Kravetz has been named chief of staff of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. Previously, she was deputy chief of the …
APTA Transit News – Statement by APTA President and CEO Michael Melaniphy on Positive Train … – NewsReleaseWire.com via Google Alerts Aug 8 15:45 APTA has asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allocate free spectrum for commuter railroads as a public safety priority, but so far …