This week there is a lot in the news about LA-RICS and how it will “transform” the LA Police Department. One headline even went so far as to say, “Why the Police will be able to communicate better than you.” I am not sure exactly what caused this spurt of news activity but, once again, I am concerned that these types of articles are setting the bar far too high and will set false expectations. LA-RICS and all of FirstNet has a long way to go before any of what is purported to be coming soon will actually happen. Even then it will be about adding capabilities and not some magic new way to provide services that consumers have had available for many years. Public Safety is playing catch-up, not taking magical leaps forward.
Next up is the FirstNet RFP once again. It is due out at the end of December of this year if FirstNet is to make its promised deadline. I have been working on my comments on the RFP as have a number of others. Still, we won’t have a good idea of who will respond to the RFP by looking at the list of who has filed comments, if we are permitted to do so. No company or group of companies would signal their interest to the rest of the pack so the first indication will be when the RFP responses start coming back in for evaluation.
I expect that FirstNet will give everyone at least 3 months if not more to respond and then the decision process could easily take up to a year, assuming there are one or more bidders willing to partner with FirstNet and commit the $Billions that will be required to build out and operate the network. There is one more wrinkle here. If I were a network operator and I knew the incentive auctions for the 600-MHz spectrum were really going to happen in 2016, would I really commit over $30 Billion in funds to FirstNet over 4-5 years to make use of the excess network capacity? Or would I save that money to bid on 600-MHz spectrum? If I won the bid, I would have a clear license to that spectrum and my accounting department could add to the asset side of the corporate ledger.
THEN, of course, I would need to spend more $Billions building out my new spectrum holdings. It would be unfortunate for FirstNet if the 600-MHz auctions really take place in 2016. I was hoping they would be delayed a year or more and make the FirstNet spectrum look like a much smarter and better bet to add more network capacity sooner rather than later. Perhaps it won’t be an issue, network operators seem to spend $Billions over and over again and never run out of available money for the when the next $Billions are needed. So on this one issue, I hope I am wrong and there are many solid responses to the FirstNet RFP. Have a great rest of the weekend and week. Andy
Government agency initiates vulnerability disclosure discussions – SC Magazine via Google Alerts Jul 11 06:45 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) …
FCC Outlines Proposed Rules For Copper Wire Transition – Law360 via Google Alerts Jul 11 04:55 Law360, Washington (July 10, 2015, 3:13 PM ET) — The Federal Communications Commission on Friday laid out plans for updating public safety and …
Could FirstNet Smartphones Replace Mobile Data Computers Under LA-RICS? – EMSWorld.com via Google Alerts Jul 10 03:50 A new public safety broadband data network is poised to dramatically …
FirstNet responses to draft-RFP queries provide some insight into potential plans, leave many … – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Jul 9 15:15 … largely reiterating its openness to myriad approaches that would address the organization’s public-safety broadband mission, while acknowledging …
NPSTC Cites Cellphone-Aircraft Docket Concern – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Jul 8 17:30 TRDaily reports the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council expressed concern today that the FCC could inadvertently ban public safety …
APCO 2015 – Tradeshowz.com via Google Alerts Jul 8 06:10 This trade show and conference is being organized by Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and will be held at Walter E. Washington …
House Holding July 28 FCC Oversight Hearing – Broadcasting & Cable via Google Alerts Jul 7 19:25 It has been a busy few months for FCC-related hearings as the subcommittee looks at net neutrality rules, broadband subsidy program reforms, FCC …
FCC Aims To Keep TV Spectrum Auction On Track For 2016 TMUS VZ T – Investor’s Business Daily via Google Alerts Jul 7 17:20 Local TV stations own a broad swath of airwaves that regulators aim to reconfigure for wireless broadband services. To make the auction happen, TV …
Technology not yet ready for Next Generation 911 – Globalnews.ca via Google Alerts Jul 7 05:55 The Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies is teaming with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, Canada to …
TRDaily Reports NPSTC Document Looks at FirstNet, NG9-1-1 – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Jul 7 04:10 The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council released a …
FCC – FACT SHEET: Chairman Wheeler’s Proposals to Protect Consumers & Promote Competition … – Colorado Media.Net via Google Alerts Jul 11 00:20 From the FCC: FACT SHEET: Chairman Wheeler’s Proposals to Protect Consumers & Promote Competition and Public Safety in the Technology …
France formally launches 700 MHz spectrum band auction process – RCR Wireless News via Google Alerts Jul 10 21:45 The 700 MHz spectrum band is expected to allow French operators to broaden the reach of their LTE networks, which are still limited in scope. French …
Senators want the FCC to look into broadband pricing – Engadget via Google Alerts Jul 10 21:01 The net neutrality rules passed by the Federal Communications Commission …
US Government Wades Into Vulnerability Disclosure – Threatpost via Google Alerts Jul 10 20:00 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a unit of the Department of Commerce, is launching what it calls a multistakeholder …
FCC Urged Not To Let Pole Rates Rise For Cable Broadband – Law360 – Law360 via Google Alerts Jul 10 16:25 The FCC should not allow electric utilities to exploit the net neutrality ruling to charge cable companies that also offer broadband higher rates for pole …
Senators Ask FCC To Address Ridiculous Cable And Broadband Fees – Deadline via Google Alerts Jul 10 15:20 Could a political campaign make hay from cable companies’ rising prices, lousy …
APCO Seeks Workgroup Members to Create a Standard for the Use of TTY/TDD or Similar Devices … – Public Safety Communications – APCO International via Google Alerts Jul 10 08:40 Alexandria, VA The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International filed a Project Initiation Notification to create …
Upcoming FirstNet Events in Washington State – Emergency Management via Google Alerts Jul 10 02:45 In Washington state there is a continuing series of outreach events associated with FirstNet, which will provide a dedicated digital network for first …
Ventura police official named to state 911 advisory panel – Ventura County Star via Google Alerts Jul 9 23:05 He is a member of the California Police Chiefs Association and the Association of Public Safety Communications officials. There is no compensation …
Telecom Stock Roundup: AT&T Makes Broadband Commitment to FCC, Televisa Posts … – Zacks.com via Google Alerts Jul 9 18:55 AT&T has been extending broadband related assurances to FCC on all …
Why incumbent ISPs should be worried about the broadband market – Network World Fusion Jul 9 17:00 The broadband market has been rocked by a handful of major unexpected developments over the past few years, from Google suddenly stepping into the market with significantly faster broadband at much lower prices to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) removing nearly all legal barriers to municipal broadband projects. The fallout from the FCC’s ruling is beginning to gain some steam, with a 101-city coalition called Next Century Cities aiming to smooth the path for municipalities to bring affordable, gigabit-speed broadband to their cities. See also: Inside the bold plan to bring gigabit fiber to Detroit While the success stories are…
Next Generation Interoperability With LA-RICS Could FirstNet Smartphones Replace MDCs … – Westside Today via Google Alerts Jul 9 15:15 A new public safety broadband data network is poised to dramatically enhance law enforcement communications and radically improve policing …
How cops will be able to communicate better than you – MyNewsLA.com via Google Alerts Jul 9 11:10 LA-RICS is the first part of a new nationwide public safety broadband network, mandated by Congress, that will be operated by the First Responder …
AT&T agrees to offer low-cost Internet option to close DirecTV deal – xmlpush Jul 9 07:30 AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has agreed to offer a lower-priced Internet option to food-stamp recipients for four years once the merger with DirecTV (NASDAQ:DTV) is approved. The move comes after the Federal Communications Commission expressed a desire for such an option from the combined company, according to a letter AT&T sent to the FCC on July 1. As a result, Dallas-based AT&T plans to offer a discount program that will offer broadband wireline DSL service…
Emerging Public Safety Wireless Communication Systems pdf download online free – foundbooks.org via Google Alerts Jul 9 06:45 TAPS and Implications for Future Broadband Public Safety Communication Systems,” Internat’l Workshop on Broadband. Wireless Ad-Hoc Networks …
AT&T knocks down T-Mobile’s arguments against its 700 MHz deal with Appalachian Wireless – Omega TeleServe via Google Alerts Jul 8 23:00 AT&T Mobility ( NYSE: T ) said the FCC should approve its purchase of 700 MHz spectrum from East Kentucky Network, which does business as …
The Public Safety LTE & Mobile Broadband Market 2015-2030 – Atom and RSS Feed Catalog via Google Alerts Jul 8 05:00 (EMAILWIRE.COM, July 08, 2015 ) Due to the bandwidth limitations of their traditional voice-centric LMR (Land Mobile Radio) networks, public safety …
Secondary Markets Pose New Opportunity for Spectrum Shortage – Politic365 via Google Alerts Jul 7 14:20 Even by the FCC’s own-estimates, demand for wireless capacity for commercial mobile services, fixed services, and public safety will rapidly …
German Spectrum Auction Sets the Tone for Other EU Countries – Yankee Group via Google Alerts Jul 7 14:15 Mobile Broadband Strategies PreviewLog in for complete access or contact us to subscribe now. In Europe’s first auction of spectrum in the 700 MHz …
Updated tech needed before images and data to 911 centres can become reality – Winnipeg Free Press via Google Alerts Jul 7 05:10 The Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies is teaming with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, Canada to …
A bit confused about Bell and LTE Bands 12, 13, 17 – 700 Mhz and Ontario – Howard Forums via Google Alerts Jul 6 12:45 But I’ve been and many other have accessed Bell’s LTE in Southern Ontario on Band 17. Am I just wrong or…
BWWG Pushes FCC to Keep Improving EAS – Radio World via Google Alerts Jul 6 11:00 The group has submitted specific suggestions to the FCC Public Safety and …
Do we really need the Internet? – InfoWorld Jul 6 06:50 On June 25, 2015, FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly caused a bit of a kerfuffle with his remarks to the Internet Innovation Alliance . The speech was titled “What is the Appropriate Role for Regulators in an Expanding Broadband Economy?” It contained five key points that every regulator in every country should adhere to when considering legislation or regulation regarding the Internet: The Internet cannot be stopped Understand how the Internet economy works Follow the law; don’t make it up Internet access is not a necessity or basic human right The benefits of regulation must outweigh the burdens The first three points…