FirstNet and NTIA need at least one partner to step up big-time when the FirstNet RFP is released in December of this year (scheduled date). FirstNet’s $6.5 billion will not go very far in building out the network which is described in the RFP. This network is a full up commercial style network including dial-up voice, texting, and roaming with other LTE and 3G networks. My back of the envelope calculations which I have vetted with numerous folks and they think I am in the ball park, is that a 10 year capex and opex for a network as specified could run between $35 and $45 Billion.
Obviously that would not all need to be spent at one time but it is a lot of money, and FirstNet needs at least one partner and probably more who are willing to build the network in exchange for secondary access to the FirstNet Band 14 spectrum. The question I have is does the First Responder community really need a do everything network from the very beginning when the commercial network operators are handling voice and text at pretty reasonable prices. Would it not be smarter to start with a network that provides the ADDITIONAL services needed by Public Safety in the way of data and video first and THEN move towards the rest of the functionality once the first responder community is up to speed on the data aspects of the network?
I have read every word of the various RFP documents and I have reviewed all of the 666 questions that were (somebody should have asked one more!) asked and FirstNet’s answers and I am bothered by a couple of things. Many of the answer to the questions are worded like this: “may be included in the subsequent RFP in order to afford potential offerors an opportunity to make a business decision with regard to participation in the NPSBN acquisition and prepare their proposed solutions accordingly.” I know from my conversations with a number of perhaps potential bidders and/or partners for the RFP that many of them are sitting on the fence looking for more detailed information before assigning a team to respond.
Just drafting a response to this RFP is going to be an expensive proposition and if some of those sitting on the fence are not comfortable with the documents and the answers received are vague in nature, I am concerned that FirstNet will not receive the number of bidders that will be needed to find the right one or combination of vendors to get this project underway. Further when asked about the question “What is the schedule for FirstNet to release the selection criteria for the RFP” The answer remains vague and indicates that this very important document may, in fact, not be released until the final RFP is released. In reality those who are going to bid on the RFP will make up their minds prior to its final release and not after the fact because then they won’t have enough time to respond to the RFP properly.
This is a very complex project, one that has never been done before but it can be done and it can be done with willing partners but before they simply say to FirstNet “we are in” they have to know not only the rewards but the risks as well. Next week this summary will be late as I won’t return home form my trip until late on Saturday, but it will be sent out over the week-end. Meanwhile a very happy and sane Fourth of July to all. Andy
International Telecom Union meet: GSMA hopes for four new spectrum bands in next 10 years for a … – Economic Times via Google Alerts Jun 29 23:05 The sub-700 MHz band is mainly used for traditional free-to-air broadcast delivery while the ‘L band’ can deliver widespread mobile broadband …
Why Police Agencies Still Can’t Communicate In A Crisis – Bloomberg via Google Alerts Jul 2 13:35 The authority would begin the process of establishing a public safety broadband network, which would set up its core in Reston, Va. States will then be …
FirstNet Releases More Draft RFP Answers – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Jul 2 04:05 The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) today released the third batch of answers to questions concerning the draft request for proposals …
How FirstNet Will Broaden Communications – EMSWorld.com via Google Alerts Jul 2 04:05 “We need to acquire partners to help us build out the network. …
FirstNet studying methods to improve location detection in tall buildings, underground – Fierce Mobile Government via Google Alerts Jul 1 14:10 Now, officials at the First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet, are looking at ways to overcome those obstacles. Experts call the problem the …
Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, June 27, 2015 – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Jun 30 18:40 Airports’ Adoption of the Public Safety Broadband Network Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance via Google Alerts Jun 25 22:55 Public Safety …
FCC Commissioner Legally Tasked With Bringing Broadband To All Americans Doesn’t Think … – Techdirt via Google Alerts Jun 30 09:55 Whether it’s trying to protect net neutrality, or the FCC’s attempt to stop ISPs from writing obnoxious protectionist state law, O’Rielly’s sole function …
Wireless industry wants FCC help – Watchdog.org via Google Alerts Jun 30 05:45 Since the FCC released its spectrum plan five years ago to meet the escalating demand for mobile broadband, American consumers fully embraced a …
FCC Chairman Wheeler bullish on broadband future and net neutrality impact – IPWatchdog.com via Google Alerts Jun 29 12:11 On Friday, June 26th, U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler visited the Brookings Institution for an event titled …
Next-gen 911, FirstNet need to interoperate effectively and efficiently, NENA official says – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Jun 29 09:00 FirstNet representatives have been receptive to the notion that the much-anticipate public-safety broadband network needs to operate cohesively with …
Rachael King/Wall Street Journal – Techmeme via Google Alerts Jun 28 14:10 Google Fiber has pushed ISPs to improve broadband speeds in many markets, a result the FCC’s National Broadband Plan failed to achieve …
Simon Fraser University: LTE Band 14 Deployable – SteamFeed via Google Alerts Jun 27 20:40 Vancouver, B.C. (PRWEB) June 05, 2014. Simon Fraser University has become a key resource in researching and testing solutions for concepts for …
FCC Chair: “Broadband Should Be Available To Everyone Everywhere” – BuzzFeed News via Google Alerts Jun 26 22:15 FCC Chair Tom Wheeler championed broadband access and defended net neutrality as he dismissed characterizations of the FCC as an …
Regulators push for more broadband competition, but is it enough? – CNet Jun 26 22:10 The head of the Federal Communications Commission said the agency is doing all it can to promote broadband competition, but smaller wireless providers say it’s not enough.
Maine’s FirstNet Program Launches a New Educational Website – MarketWatch via Google Alerts Jun 26 10:10 … of the nation’s first dedicated high-speed wireless broadband network for public safety, is pleased to announce the launch of their new website www.
AT&T Offers Discounted Broadband In FCC Merger Talks – Law360 via Google Alerts Jul 3 10:00 Law360, Washington (July 2, 2015, 4:28 PM ET) — AT&T Inc. laid out plans for the discounted broadband service for low-income consumers sought by …
Public Safety / FirstNet – Iowa Communications Network – State of Iowa via Google Alerts Jul 3 06:55 Overview. A public safety communications initiative has been underway since 2012 to fund and govern a nationwide public safety broadband network …
22 Massachusetts towns will build their own gigabit internet service – Engadget RSS Feed Jul 2 17:00 The FCC made it clear that towns should have the freedom to build their own broadband services, and one cooperative group is determined to take advantage of that liberty. WiredWest has gained the support of 22 Massachusetts towns for a municipal broa…
Consumer Groups drop out of NTIA multistakeholder process regarding the commercial use of … – Lexology via Google Alerts Jul 2 14:40 … would no longer participate in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) process.
Narrowband Land Mobile Radio Market : Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2015 – Diigo via Google Alerts Jul 2 06:10 Product Synopsis. Global Narrowband Land Mobile Radio Industry Report is a professional and in-depth research report on the world’s major regional …
FCC Grants Part 90 Waiver – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Jul 2 03:55 The Mobility Division of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau today granted a waiver to Vertex Standard LMR, Inc., of the requirement that …
Cramer Applauds FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai’s Rural America Broadband Internet Plan – Congressman Kevin Cramer via Google Alerts Jul 1 22:05 WASHINGTON, D.C. On May 12, 2015, Congressman Cramer submitted a bi-partisan letter signed by 115 Members of Congress to the Chairman of …
700 Mhz Rpc Directory Fcc Public Safety – My Wallpaper blog Circa75 via Google Alerts Jul 1 16:55 Related Articles with 700 Mhz Rpc Directory Fcc Public Safety. Hardware JeeLabs. Account Options Sign in Search settings Web History Read More …
TCS to Provide Cybersecurity Training, Hosted by APCO International – Public Safety Communications – APCO International via Google Alerts Jul 1 16:55 Today the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced that the cyber intelligence experts of …
FCC Republican doesn’t think the internet is all that necessary – Daily Kos Jul 1 16:30 Unless you are Amish or a hermit, the internet really is a necessity Someone drag this jackass into the 21st century, please. Federal Communications Commission member Michael O’Rielly yesterday argued that “Internet access is not a necessity or human right” and called this one of the most important “principles for regulators to consider as it relates to the Internet and our broadband economy.” In other words, since he thinks the internet is totally optional…
Will AT&T-DIRECTV Merger Cross the Final FCC Hurdle? – Zacks.com via Google Alerts Jul 1 14:00 In Feb 2015, the FCC had endorsed net neutrality laws that will classify high-speed broadband (Internet) as a public utility under Title II of the 1934 …
Sierra Wireless AirPrime HL7549 LTE embedded module – ElectronicsOnline via Google Alerts Jul 1 11:10 The AirPrime HL7549 LTE embedded module, from Sierra Wireless, supports B3 (1800 MHz), B7 (2600 MHz) and B28 (700 MHz) on Australian …
India’s telecom industry plans new spectrum bands for its vision 2025 – ET Telecom via Google Alerts Jun 29 18:15 The sub-700 MHz band is mainly used for traditional free-to-air broadcast delivery while the ‘L band’ can deliver widespread mobile broadband …
Net neutrality rules off to a smooth start; FCC sets sights on broadband privacy – Washington Post via Google Alerts Jun 29 10:15 In the weeks before their implementation, the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality regulations were rebuked by critics as the end of …
FCC to Begin Clarifying Rules on Broadband Privacy this Fall – Modern Readers via Google Alerts Jun 28 18:00 Net neutrality, while a much-welcome and much-talked about set of rules for many, has not resonated well with wireless carriers, who have long been …
FCC chief says Net Neutrality not to hit broadband investment – domain-B via Google Alerts Jun 27 10:00 FCC chairman, Tom Wheeler, in a speech today to The Brookings Institution, touched on several issues including net neutrality, spectrum and …
The Reason Your City Can’t Have Fast Internet Access – Gizmodo Jun 26 18:00 Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission voted to ease the way for cities to become Internet service providers. So-called municipal broadband is already a reality in a few towns, often providing Internet access and faster service to rural communities that cable companies don’t serve. Read more…
FCC”s O”Rielly: Broadband Neither a Necessity or Human Right – DSL Reports via Google Alerts Jun 26 17:35 Arm in arm with fellow FCC Commissioner (and former Verizon regulatory lawyer) Ajit Pai, O’Rielly has voted down the …
Charter says it will ‘go further’ than net neutrality for merger approval – FierceCable via Google Alerts Jun 26 12:45 Charter outlined its principals for broadband conduct in an FCC filing, which sought to contrast its proposed purchases of Time Warner Cable (NYSE: …
FCC Chair Tom Wheeler Promises No Utility Style Regulation Of Broadband – The Consumerist via Google Alerts Jun 26 11:15 FCC Chair Tom Wheeler Promises No Utility Style Regulation Of Broadband. By Chris …
Mexico’s 700 MHz spectrum auction; LTE in Brazil – Sevana Blog via Google Alerts Jun 26 04:40 Broadband spectrum auction rules to be posted on July 17 Mexico is getting ready to auction off access to 700 MHz spectrum bands. Local media …