BEFORE I even get to the news of the week, if you receive a news article or a link to “The History of FirstNet and the Public Safety Broadband Network” with the site LogDD.com.via DO NOT open it. It will take you to a porn site and could infect your computer or smartphone. Just delete it. Does the fact that the porn industry is now using FirstNet as an enticement to gain customers mean that FirstNet has “arrived” on the Internet? I hope not!
Okay, now on to the REAL news! The APCO 2015 Conference held in Washington, DC is now in the history books and it was one of the best I have been to in a few years. Lots of good sessions, and some were repeated so we could go to all the ones we wanted to attend. FirstNet folks were front and center, and the sessions I went to were very well attended and for the most part, had good content. Congrats to APCO!
Next up is that FirstNet is showing signs of truly becoming the “Independent Authority” residing within NTIA it was supposed to be. The first real signs of this were manifested on Monday when FirstNet announced a new CEO, Mike Post, and that TJ Kennedy will be President of FirstNet. Until now those within NTIA who felt the need to run FirstNet as part of NTIA forbad FirstNet from having either a CEO or a President. I truly hope this marks the start of a new independence from NTIA and the federal government so FirstNet can get on with the business at hand. Congrats not only to Mike and TJ but to the new board members as well, and it is with regret that we say thanks to Tim Bryan of NRTC who was a board member and head of the finance committee, perhaps the most thankless job a board member could have. Tim did not seek re-appointment because he was concerned that moving forward there could be some questions about conflicts of interest since NRTC holds a key (I believe) to FirstNet coverage in rural America. I wish Tim well and thank him for his time on the board. NPSTC has done an amazing amount of work this year.
This all-volunteer organization blends Public Safety with vendors, with federal agency representation, consultants, and others, and turns out an incredible amount of important work that is then forwarded to the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) for FirstNet and then on to FirstNet with PSAC comments or changes.
The latest NPSTC work is truly another great accomplishment: Public Safety Needs for Priority and Quality of Service in the Nationwide Broadband Public Safety Network (the report is available here: http://www.npstc.org/download.jsp?tableId=37&column=217&id=3515&file=PQoS15_003_PQoS_Definition_v1_4_20150817_GB_APPROVED.pdf ). It is well worth the time to read it. Congrats to NPSTC for another great job!
The last item is to thank AT&T for sponsoring the yearly APCO block party. I am in awe of AT&T and its staff for renting the entire Smithson Aero Space Museum, and the food and beverages never ended. I don’t have a clue what AT&T paid for this event but I enjoyed it and have to believe its support of Public Safety is not only to show its appreciation, especially since the FirstNet RFP is still scheduled for release in December. If any of our readers would like to review the 30 pages of comments I filed on the RFP document, please let me know and I will be happy to send you a PDF copy of the comments. Have a great weekend and week! Andy
Cox, Horowitz named as new FirstNet board members – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Aug 20 14:45 … building this historic nationwide public-safety broadband network, Pritzker said in a prepared statement. The board will continue the important work …
embracing change for public safety communications – FCC via Google Alerts Aug 20 06:55 Thank you, APCO, and welcome to Washington. I always knew public safety professionals were bold, but traveling to DC in August to get work done is.
FirstNet May Alter Final RFP after Feedback – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Aug 20 04:55 The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) may alter its final request for proposals (RFP) after getting feedback from parties after it is released at …
New York State Launches Statewide Emergency Management System – Emergency Management via Google Alerts Aug 19 17:45 The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials annual conference in D.C. is underway. One interesting item from that event is this reported …
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.
FirstNet plans to release cybersecurity information this fall, Kennedy says – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Aug 21 15:25 With FirstNet being tasked to build a broadband network to support first-responder access to critical health, building and criminal records, organization …
Embracing Change For Public Safety Communications – EDOCS Search EDOCS FCC via Google Alerts Aug 20 20:05 Remarks of FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, As Prepared For Delivery, ‘Embracing Change For Public Safety Communications’, APCO Conference, …
Cyberexpert says OPM hack affected hundreds of millions – Washington Examiner via Google Alerts Aug 20 15:45 … national public safety practice manager, at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials conference in Washington on Wednesday.
Bryan does not seek reappointment to FirstNet board, cites potential perception for conflict of interest – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Aug 20 12:50 … as a conflict of interest that might jeopardize the organization’s procurement as it tries to build a nationwide public-safety broadband network.
FCC Plans to Launch Public Safety Center Soon – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Aug 20 00:45 The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau plans to launch soon a beta version of a Public Safety Support Center, which will allow public …
Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials – iKey via Google Alerts Aug 20 00:45 APCO hosts a number of events and conferences throughout the year designed to provide members and public safety communications professionals …
Drone Rules: Interim Update on Interim FAA Policy – Radio World via Google Alerts Aug 19 23:36 As we reported earlier this year, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has opened a proceeding looking at best …
FCC maps intersection of broadband and health in Virginia – GCN.com via Google Alerts Aug 21 13:50 Relatively little searching for online health information about chronic …
THE NET NEUTRALITY REPORT: Where we are now, what happens next, and why mobile is central to the debate – Business Insider Aug 21 13:15 Americans are increasingly ditching their desktops and reaching for their mobile devices to access the internet instead. For this reason, mobile broadband – or internet access from any mobile device – was included in the FCC’s recently adopted net neutrality proposal, making it subject to many of the same constraints and regulations as the wired internet. This has added another layer to the hot-button debate on net neutrality – the concept that all data transmitted over the…
Dish Network Loses Out on $3.3 Billion of Spectrum Discounts – Sentinel Republic via Google Alerts Aug 21 09:10 … of mid-band AWS-4 spectrum, 10 MHz of 1900 PCS H Block spectrum and 6 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum. In addition, Dish Network claimed that it has …
Global Public Safety LTE & Mobile Broadband Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and … – Zkoop via Google Alerts Aug 20 20:05 The wide acceptance of commercial long term evolution (LTE) networks is driving the public-safety solution on their mobile broadband. Traditionally …
FirstNet shuffles execs, USIS forfeits $30M, DOD eyes Ashley Madison and more – FCW.com via Google Alerts Aug 20 17:30 The First Responder Network Authority added two new members to its board of directors and renewed the terms of two more. Houston Mayor Annise …
Comments on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s Consultation Paper on a National … – Telecom Regulatory Authority of India via Google Alerts Aug 20 15:30 Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on a National Broadband Plan for …
US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Announces Members to Serve on FirstNet Board – Department of Commerce via Google Alerts Aug 20 12:55 The Commerce Department works with the FirstNet Board’s Governance Committee to select members who bring considerable public safety, network, …
Privatization of Domain Name System Postponed – Techwire.net via Google Alerts Aug 20 07:35 Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence Strickling made the announcement in a NTIA blog post …
Should the FCC provide Internet vouchers? – Washington Examiner via Google Alerts Aug 20 01:20 Democrats have been pushing for programs to ensure universal broadband access, saying that access is unequal between the poor and the middle …
Did NTIA notify Congress it unilaterally changed the IANA functions contract? – Conservative Republican News via Google Alerts Aug 19 22:20 On August 4, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) quietly modified its ongoing contract with the Internet …
FirstNet and the Public Safety Broadband Network to Privatize! Love the idea! – The Myers Model – Blogger via Google Alerts Aug 19 20:05 I’ve been following all the articles and press clippings on the progress or lack there of related to FirstNet and the National Public Safety Broadband …
What net neutrality means for mobile’s biggest stakeholders – Tech Aug 19 14:30 Americans are increasingly ditching their desktops and reaching for their mobile devices to access the internet instead. This shift has ushered in the widespread growth and transition of online activities like video watching, banking, and online purchasing from desktop to mobile environments. For this reason, mobile broadband – or internet access from any mobile device – was included in the FCC’s recently adopted net neutrality proposal, making it subject to many of the same constraints and…
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 …
Rockwell Collins Introduces ARINC UrgentLink, the First Nationwide Network Exclusively for … – MarketWatch via Google Alerts Aug 18 10:45 The new solution will be demonstrated for the first time at the Annual Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) 2015 in the