The pace of the news is picking back up when it comes to items of interest to the Public Safety community. It seems that each passing week brings news of yet another country planning to allocate the 700-MHz band for LTE services. This, of course, is good for device prices, and hopefully Public Safety broadband systems as well. Also this week but not featured in the news was the NTIA’s release of the job opening for the Executive Director of FirstNet. This position was called the General Manager but has since been upgraded to Executive Director. Today TJ Kennedy is filling the role of Acting General Manger, and I would have to assume he is in contention for this position. I have a few comments about this particular posting, which can be found here: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/389363200.

The first comment is that the salary range of $120,000 to $181,000 was obviously set at federal standards. The only people who will apply for this job at this salary range and being located in Reston, VA, are people who have already retired so this position would be of interest to them as a second income. Others who will apply are those who understand the importance of FirstNet and getting this network built and will apply in spite of the salary. When I read the job description I was surprised by the first paragraph of the posting. I don’t think this paragraph has anything to do with the job opening, but it was interesting to see someone decided it was important. Hopefully, the Office of the Inspector General’s report on FirstNet has been reviewed and discussed enough now and, except for the interest shown by both houses of the new Congress to hold hearings, I am hoping that the current board and existing FirstNet staff can keep moving forward; perhaps even at a faster and less restricted pace. There will be no Public Safety Advocate emailed the next two weeks during the holidays unless there is some breaking news we feel is important. A big thanks to our growing list of subscribers who now represent a large number of Public Safety agencies, many states, many from within a number of federal organizations, and a growing number from Canada and across both oceans. I wish you all a happy and peaceful holiday season. Andy
Wireless Spectrum Auction Heats Up, Exceeds $44B – Bloomberg via Google Alerts Dec 18 08:35 Dec. 18 (Bloomberg) — Bloomberg’s Phil Mattingly reports on FCC auctions of spectrum for wireless broadband and mobile communications.

2014 Year in Review: Brown Signs Next-Gen 911 Planning Bill – Techwire.net via Google Alerts Dec 19 12:25 The bill will require OES to coordinate infrastructure with FirstNet, the national public safety broadband network that’s under development. The bill also …

Year-end US Carrier Coverage Report – DailyWireless Dec 19 08:31 Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility say their 3G/4G coverage in the United States is now pretty much universal with more than 300 million pops currently covered, mostly due to both carrier’s extensive 700 MHz LTE networks. Now it’s a matter of keeping up with capacity requirements. Sprint says its LTE network now covers 260 million […]

Congress defunds ICANN/IANA governance transition – FierceEnterpriseCommunications via Google Alerts Dec 18 21:25 … “may be used to relinquish the responsibility of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration during fiscal year 2015 with respect …

FCC Delays Vote on Net Neutrality Laws – iplegalforum.com via Google Alerts Dec 18 17:35 Last month, President Obama urged the FCC to “reclassify consumer broadband services under Title II of the Telecommunications Act while at the …

It’s a busy time, but 911 practitioners should share their location-accuracy opinions with the FCC – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Dec 18 14:25 One of the hottest debates in the public-safety industry has revolved around …

FirstNet and the Inspector General’s Report – Andrew Seybold, Inc Dec 17 18:00 Let’s hope that what comes out of this is more independence for FirstNet, leaving FirstNet to pick up the pace and get this network in the ground and operational.

Will the 700 Mhz Band Bring Broadband to Rural Areas – BriefingWire.com via Google Alerts Dec 17 00:25 Parts of rural America have broadband in my area internet access and I guess you could say it is available to everyone if you consider the satellite …

Broadband providers: Net neutrality plan wouldn’t hurt investment – SiliconBeat via Google Alerts Dec 16 20:00 FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler last week said he didn’t buy the investment argument, either: For 20 years, Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, all the …

Net neutrality supporters disrupt FCC meeting | Network World – the Net economy via Google Alerts Dec 12 12:40 Protestors called on the FCC to vote to reclassify broadband as a regulated utility under Title II of the Communications Act. We need to have Title II on …

FCC sets 10 Mbps as new rural broadband starting point – FierceTelecom via Google Alerts Dec 12 11:00 … access broadband service from cable TV providers or via wireless 4G service. Residents in pockets of the state without cable or wireless broadband …

Labour spells out opposition to emergency services tender – Government Computing Network via Google Alerts Dec 12 10:40 … radio network replaced by a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) broadband voice and data network. Labour contends that the speed of the tender process is likely to put public safety at risk, arguing that there is an “unseemly haste” to …

Senator Ron Wyden Calls ‘Baloney’ On Claim That Title II Will Increase Taxes On Your Internet Bill … – Techdirt via Google Alerts Dec 19 10:35 We recently wrote about a very questionable study that argued that if the FCC does, in fact, reclassify broadband under Title II, it would lead to “$15 …

LTE 700 MHz (BC14) – Canada Bid Network provides construction bids and government via Google Alerts Dec 19 06:05 1-Site/3-Sector LTE Proposal LTE 700 MHz (BC14) Network-in-a-box Equipment and Services.

Government to make LTE testing on 700 MHz band – Convergencia Latina via Google Alerts Dec 19 06:05 The Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones, Ifetel (Telecom regulator) awarded the “single private license to use, develop and exploid frequency …

TIA Strongly Supports Roadmap Proposal for 9-1-1 Location Accuracy – Telecom Reseller via Google Alerts Dec 19 00:30 … the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the initiative of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, …

T mobile tri band – Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com – Android Central via Google Alerts Dec 18 19:40 Read on tmonews that magenta is coming out with 5Ghz LTE to augment their 700 mhz low band and AWS spectrum in crowded areas like stadiums, …

FCC’s year in the spotlight may be just the beginning – FedScoop via Google Alerts Dec 18 16:45 … the next-gen emergency response network FirstNet and modernized programs aimed at improving high-speed Internet connectivity in the country’s …

FCC Considers Nearly 100 Comments on Location Accuracy Agreement – MissionCritical Communications, Radio Resource International, and Public Safety Report … via Google Alerts Dec 18 12:40 The FCC received nearly 100 comments in response to an agreement crafted by commercial wireless carriers and public-safety agencies to address …

July 2014: Net Neutrality Meets Muni Broadband – Government Technology via Google Alerts Dec 18 12:35 The FCC’s net neutrality ruling has turned into a bigger conversation about broadband’s future and how far the FCC’s authority reaches. Some light will …

Uninor plans narrow-band LTE trials in India – Telecom Lead via Google Alerts Dec 18 12:00 Speaking at an event organized by Ericsson, Pankaj Sharma, head of regulatory at Uninor, said the company is planning narrow-band LTE trials due …

Emergency services to join forces in 2016 – The Daily Telegraph via Google Alerts Dec 18 10:05 The single department means the end of SAFECOM the SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission. It was established nine years ago for …

Closing the 911 Location Accuracy Gap – National Journal via Google Alerts Dec 18 06:25 This puts American lives at risk and requires swift action from the FCC, from wireless carriers, and from public safety officials. Next Wednesday marks a …

FCC – Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Market-Based Applications Action – Colorado Media.Net via Google Alerts Dec 18 02:50 From the FCC: Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Market-Based Applications Action …

T-Mobile Band 12 700 mhz LTE Support? – OnePlus Forums via Google Alerts Dec 17 21:40 Hi, T-Mobile has been turning on Band 12 700 mhz LTE in a number of major cities recently. I live in the Washington, DC area and people are …

Consumer Privacy Groups Raise Concerns Over Need for Protections in E-911 Roadmap – Bloomberg BNA via Google Alerts Dec 17 16:30 … Sprint Corp., T-Mobile US Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. along with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and …

Everyone Has to Play Nice – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Dec 17 15:35 The FCC and the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) which is made up of the FCC certified Industrial/Business and Public Safety …