First off this week, I recently had an opportunity to have a conversation with the acting CTO of FirstNet (yes, another “acting” deserving of being appointed to the position). We discussed the NIST initiative to spend research dollars on location services, including inbuilding and 3-Dimensional location (including, for instance, exactly what floor of a building a fire fighter is on). I had expressed concern that NIST was duplicating work being done in the industry. Jeff explained that NIST was not trying to duplicate work being done in private industry and in fact will be funding some of that work. He also explained that FirstNet’s location requirements exceed the new 9-1-1 location standards mandated by the FCC. We both agreed that a number of companies are close to providing what FirstNet needs and hope the technology will be the same across both FirstNet and the commercial operators.

I was pleased to hear that NIST was not planning to spend a lot of money working toward the same goal as a number of commercial companies and that some of the NIST money could be made available to these companies to speed up their research and development efforts.

This past Monday July 27th comments for the FirstNet draft RFP were due. My own comments were 30 pages long and I assume many others will be even longer. The goal, after all, is to assist FirstNet in attracting as many qualified bidders and partnership bidders as possible so it will have a choice of different companies with different ways to provide what is required. We should not lose sight of what is required. FirstNet is charged with building and operating a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) yet it was funded by Congress with only $7 Billion from spectrum auctions.

As a comparison, T-Mobile today announced it will spend $4+ Billion in 2015 on LTE network enhancements to its existing LTE network that has already cost well over $20 billion to deploy. So FirstNet finding at least one partner is critical to its success. I don’t believe anyone looking at the comments that were filed will get any indication of which companies might or might not be considering bidding. Like in the earlier spectrum auctions, the major commercial operators will use stand-ins or other LLCs or companies to do the bidding so I do not think we will know who will respond to the RFP until the responses are actually due.

One of the critical issues for me is how soon after the RFP is released will the 600-MHz auctions take place and how much spectrum will be made available. The maximum spectrum available if channels 32-52 (with the exception of channel 37 that is used for radio telescopes) were put into the auction would mean a pool of 174 MHz of spectrum. I do not expect we will see all of that become available this time around but perhaps 60-80 MHz of it. So the question is, “Do I (as a major company) commit to spending upwards of $30 Billion with FirstNet to share its spectrum on a secondary basis or do I wait until the 600-MHz auction to see what I can buy with that amount of money?” We will find out the answer to this question in 5-10 months. Have a great weekend Andy

Wireless Carriers and Text Messaging Providers Should Check PSAP Registry for Text-to-911 … – JD Supra via Google Alerts Jul 31 13:50 In the notice, the FCC said that the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (the Bureau) will no longer announce updates to the Text-to-911 …

CCA urges FirstNet to take ‘granular’ approach to broadband network – Benton Foundation via Google Alerts Jul 31 13:45 … to speed deployment of the nation’s first public safety broadband network. …

FCC to Host Workshop Promoting Wider Use of EAS – TV Technology via Google Alerts Jul 31 01:45 WASHINGTON The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau will host a workshop …

Connecticut Statewide Emergency Radio Network 700 Mhz – Scan New England via Google Alerts Jul 31 00:35 updated list of TGs I have logged Show changes Click here to visit Wiki page.

T-Mobile’s Legere open to partnering with Google, Comcast as more firms get into mobile – FierceWireless via Google Alerts Jul 30 19:00 T-Mobile executives said they expected the continued deployment of 700 MHz spectrum to improve network performance and lead to lower churn.

Announcements – Mabas via Google Alerts Jul 30 04:55 This network could replace your wireless Data services you are using today. More information on the FirstNet initiative can be found here www.FirstNet.Illinois.gov. The ITTF Public Safety Broadband Working Group is in need of …

PSMB is not the end state – CriticalComms via Google Alerts Jul 29 21:45 The value of public safety mobile broadband will not be in the network but in how it will be used to improve the service delivered to the community and …

FCC now regulates ISPs ” but don’t take your complaints to the watchdog just yet – The Register Jul 29 06:00 ‘We know what we’re doing’ – Net neutrality Tom Wheeler, chairman of America’s broadband watchdog the FCC, has insisted that “we know what we’re doing,” as his regulator gobbles up more and more power.

$75000 Reward Approved For Information Leading To Pilots Who Flew Drones Over Fires – CBS Local via Google Alerts Jul 28 22:55 Lawmakers earlier this month introduced Senate Bill 168, which would allow first-responders to disable or damage drones that interfere with …

DHS’s FirstResponder.gov Blogs on NPSTC NG9-1-1 and FirstNet Report – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Jul 28 20:55 A report issued by NPSTC provides an overview of two public safety communications networks now in development: the …

FCC task force suggests NG911 funding model that includes fees for broadband connections – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Jul 28 14:45 A new 911 funding modellikely including assessments charged to broadband connectionsis needed to ensure that public-safety answering points …

US Public Safety Broadband Network Meeting in Sacramento on July 28-30 – Techwire.net via Google Alerts Jul 28 12:25 Representatives from the First Responder Network Authority FirstNet will be in Sacramento beginning today as a part of a three-day meeting to …

Public Safety Officials, Carriers Spar over Expanding 9-1-1 Outage Reporting Mandates – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Jul 25 06:05 Public safety officials say the FCC should move forward with expanded reporting requirements on telecommunications carriers related to outages …

Firstnet From Home – abbroderies.net via Google Alerts Jul 25 04:55 Feds, firstnet build public safety lte network | fedtech, Dereck orr, program manager for the department of commerce’s public safety communications …

CTIA, AT&T Argue Open Internet Rules Unlawful, Arbitrary – Wireless Week via Google Alerts Jul 31 11:55 The filing says the FCC did not “seriously discuss” reclassifying mobile broadband under Title II, noting that there were just three sentences in the …

ISPs File First Formal Legal Briefs in Fight Against Neutrality – DSL Reports via Google Alerts Jul 31 11:10 “America’s global mobile leadership is at risk under the FCC’s heavy-handed net neutrality rules on wireless broadband,” the CTIA complained in a …

Time Warner Cable Shed 45,000 Subscribers in Second Quarter – Advertising Age Jul 31 05:01 Time Warner Cable, awaiting regulatory clearance to merge with Charter Communications, posted second-quarter profit that missed analysts’ estimates as program, sales and marketing costs rose. The cable company shed 45,000 video subscribers, its smallest second-quarter loss since 2008, to end the quarter with 10.8 million TV customers. It added 172,000 residential broadband users. This is the first earnings report since Time Warner Cable agreed to be acquired by Charter Communications for $55.1 billion, creating the second-largest cable and broadband provider in the U.S, with 24 million customers. The deal, which needs approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and the…

T-Mobile invests $1.2 billion as LTE Capex in Q2 2015 – Telecom Lead via Google Alerts Jul 30 09:45 T-Mobile is deploying Wideband LTE, while at the same time rolling out 4G LTE on its 700 MHz A-Block and 1900 MHz PCS spectrum. Wideband LTE …

IPSC: FirstNet Focus Groups – IN.gov via Google Alerts Jul 30 04:55 Indiana is currently working with the First Responder Network (FirstNet) to plan for a dedicated national public safety broadband network.In order to …

NetChoice Praises NTIA Facial Recognition Effort – Broadcasting & Cable via Google Alerts Jul 29 17:45 … Information Administration’s facial recognition meeting Tuesday (July 28). The meeting’s main goal was to vet two proposed privacy best practices …

Some progress, some distance to go on multistakeholder Internet governance – Brookings Institution via Google Alerts Jul 29 09:45 In March 2014, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that it would hand over its oversight of the Internet …

Facebook’s use of facial-recognition tool draws privacy criticism – Houston Chronicle via Google Alerts Jul 29 01:45 The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration plans to continue the process this week without most of …

Telcos need two more years to participate in 4G auctions | Business Insider India – Businessinsider India via Google Alerts Jul 28 09:10 Spectrum of 700 MHz is important for rolling out high-speed mobile broadband services and help operators offer mobile connectivity in rural areas and …

Why Communication Agencies Must Collaborate For Rapid Broadband Penetration | – Leadership – Leadership Newspapers via Google Alerts Jul 28 03:45 But on the narrow band internet, you have lots of limitations, that is why we need to emphasise access to broadband for our people. As we speak, we …

Bill to Improve Interoperable Emergency Communications for First Responders Passed by House – HSToday via Google Alerts Jul 27 19:55 The State Wide Interoperable Communications Enhancement Act, or SWIC Enhancement Act (HR 2206), passed by the House would require states to …

FCC – Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Region 3 – Colorado Media.Net via Google Alerts Jul 27 18:45 From the FCC: Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Region 3 (Arizona) Public Safety Regional Planning Committees to Hold 700 …

FirstNet foresees in-vehicle units for remote comm – GCN.com via Google Alerts Jul 27 14:45 One of the challenges for FirstNet, the nationwide LTE public safety broadband network, will be providing coverage for responders in remote locations …

Andy Seybold’s Public Safety Advocate, July 24, 2015 – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Jul 26 02:45 NTIA, FCC almost halfway to spectrum target Fierce Mobile Government …

FirstNet and NG9-1-1 – FirstResponder.gov via Google Alerts Jul 25 12:55 … networks now in development: the nationwide public safety broadband network being advanced by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) …

Vermont Initial Consultation Highlights Public Safety’s Use of Data and Need for Improved Coverage – FirstNet via Google Alerts Jul 25 11:10 Governor Douglas also addressed the value that a nationwide public safety broadband network could bring to public safety stakeholders in the state.

FCC Approves AT&T’s $48.5 Billion DirecTV Acquisition – Investor’s Business Daily Jul 25 07:00 As officials had signaled earlier the week, the Federal Communications Commission on Friday approved AT&T ‘s (T) $48.5 billion acquisition of satellite TV broadcaster DirecTV (DTV), making AT&T the largest U.S. pay-TV provider. The FCC imposed conditions, however. The combined company will be required to expand its deployment of high-speed, fiber-optic broadband Internet access service to 12.5 million customers and offer broadband services to

Sticker shock looms over Dish’s mobile strategy – Techworld – Techworld Australia via Google Alerts Jul 24 18:00 … which will go toward the planned FirstNet national public-safety network. …

Global Narrowband Land Mobile Radio Market Size, Analysis, Competitive Strategie… – SoForce via Google Alerts Jul 24 08:50 Acute Market Reports has announced the addition of the “Global Narrowband Land Mobile Radio Market Size, Analysis, Competitive Strategies and …

FCC Approval For York’s New Public Safety Radio System – WSBA via Google Alerts Jul 24 05:10 York County has been granted their request from the FCC for radio frequencies that will be used in a new public safety radio system. County officials …