Lots of good press regarding the hearing held in the House of Representatives this week. TJ Kennedy the acting Executive Director for FirstNet gets high marks for his comments to the sub-committee and was even lauded for FirstNet’s recovery from earlier stumbles and now publishing and sticking to deadlines. One of the representatives asked a very pointed question. He asked if FirstNet were not under NTIA and was more of an Independent authority if the network could be built faster. At point it is important to understand that the truth is not an answer which will endear you to the NITA so you dodge the question and talk about how much better it is now than before. We all know that the answer to the question is HELL YES!
Every time the LTE will replace LMR for voice statement is made I cringe! Most of the time it is being made by people who have no public safety experience, no understanding of how different LTE networks and LMR networks really are. Instead they have been carrying a cell phone their entire lives and it works for them, is fully interoperable with anybody on earth, and costs under $500.
If these people are permitted to have their say and their way, FirstNet could be a cause of putting more first responder lives in danger because voice services as well as video and data services will all be riding on a common network with many more points of failure than LMR networks during natural and man made disasters. FirstNet was always about augmenting services to the First Responder community by adding video and data and not about replacing LMR radios. Will it happen some day, probably, but until my Police Chief, Fire Chief and their folks in the field say that they are 100% ready to trust their lives to Voice on LTE, LMR must remain alive and well.
Have a great week-end! Andy
House Hearing Draws Questions of Whether FirstNet Will Replace LMR Networks – The RadioReference.com Forums via Google Alerts Jun 18 23:15 The sustainability of mission-critical voice networks as the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Long Term Evolution (LTE) network rolls out.
House to Hold FirstNet Hearing on June 16 – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Jun 12 00:20 The House communications and technology subcommittee plans to hold a hearing June 16 on the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).
Mexico readies shared 700 MHz broadband network auction – Telecompaper via Google Alerts Jun 19 06:55 Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT) will publish the preliminary bidding conditions for the country’s 700 MHz broadband auction …
More low-income Americans to get high-speed internet thanks to FCC – Guardian Jun 19 06:02 Lifeline measure subsidises broadband bills for poor households, whose lack of access shuts children out of schools and keeps adults away from vital dataHigh-speed internet access could now be more accessible to low-income Americans after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed a measure on Thursday to subsidise their internet bills.Fewer than half of American households making less than $25,000 a year have internet access. The FCC voted 3-2 to expand a Reagan-era measure called Lifeline to include broadband. The subsidy program currently serves 1.2 million Americans, providing $9.25 total per household to citizens who qualify.
New broadband network improves emergency response communication – Kansas City News via Google Alerts Jun 18 22:10 The Public Safety Broadband Network is nationwide high-speed wireless broadband data network for dedicated use by public safety agencies and …
Could federal-procurement rules result in FirstNet getting ‘snookered’ in deal with partners? – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Jun 18 21:50 … and technology expertise from participating in the evaluation of proposals to build out the much-anticipated public-safety broadband system.
Deployment of Nationwide Public Safety Network to Begin in 2018 – National Defense Magazine via Google Alerts Jun 18 16:40 The First Responder Network, or FirstNet, is envisioned as a interoperable communication system for law enforcement and emergency services …
Lawmakers cite rural, budget concerns in FirstNet House subcommittee hearing – FierceWireless via Google Alerts Jun 18 12:00 … the first nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN). During a House Communications and Technology subcommittee hearing this week, …
Responses to FirstNet public notice reveal little consensus on ‘public-safety entity’ – critical infrastructure alliance via Google Alerts Jun 17 19:40 APCO’s filing also asserts that the FirstNet third-notice interpretation would undermine the financial viability of the nationwide public-safety broadband …>
House Hearing Draws Questions of Whether FirstNet Will Replace LMR Networks – Radio Resource International via Google Alerts Jun 17 15:50 … voice networks as the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Long …
Kansas Emergency Communications Look To Go Off The Public Grid During Emergencies – WIBW via Google Alerts Jun 17 15:31 It was the initial consultation with FirstNet, the federal authority on the Public Safety Broadband Network. The network is dedicated for use by public …
House subcommittee applauds FirstNet’s progress toward nationwide public-safety network – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Jun 17 14:20 In addition, one lawmaker called $5,000 public-safety radios “yesterday,” and another asked whether FirstNet would benefit from being split from NTIA.
House Schedules 23 Committee Hearings for June 16 – Targeted News Service via Google Alerts Jun 17 12:25 Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, hearing entitled “Progress Toward a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network.” Financial …
FirstNet finds its footing, officials say – Fierce Mobile Government via Google Alerts Jun 17 11:10 The First Responder Network Authority, known as FirstNet, continued its march through Congress this week with a stop at a House subcommittee, …
FirstNet’s TJ Kennedy Testifies Before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology – FirstNet via Google Alerts Jun 16 23:31 The law gives FirstNet the mission to ensure the deployment and operation of a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (Network). The Network …
Are You Ready for FirstNet? – Station Pride via Google Alerts Jun 12 00:20 Is FirstNet going to change the way we communicate or is it the first major step to Skynet? Could the network become self-aware over time? …
US Internet Handoff Generates Sparks in Congress – E-Commerce Times Jun 19 15:00 The U.S. government has played a central — perhaps critical — role in the development of the Internet. Currently the U.S. retains a stewardship position in the worldwide operation of the Internet through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, an agency within the Commerce Department. That stewardship is slated to end, however.
NTIA releases report on small cells in 3.5 GHz band – Telecompaper via Google Alerts Jun 19 06:35 The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has released a report providing a technical analysis supporting spectrum …
FCC Unveils Broadband Lifeline Proposal – Phone+ Jun 19 06:30 The FCC is seeking comment on the broadband idea as part of several proposals to reform the 30-year-old Lifeline program.
AT&T to Be Fined $100 Million by FCC for Slowing Mobile Data – Advertising Age Jun 19 05:01 AT&T will be fined a record $100 million for misleading customers about unlimited mobile data plans under a U.S. regulator’s proposal. The company slowed speeds for customers with unlimited data plans and failed to adequately notify them of the practice, the Federal Communications Commission said Wednesday. AT&T violated an FCC rule requiring transparency for broadband data practices, the agency said. “Consumers deserve to get what they pay for,” said FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler. “Broadband providers must be upfront and transparent about the services they provide. The FCC will not stand idly by while consumers are deceived by misleading marketing materials…
The Public Safety LTE & Mobile Broadband Market: 2015 2030 – ReportsnReports via Google Alerts Jun 19 03:55 Synopsis: Due to the bandwidth limitations of their traditional voice-centric LMR (Land Mobile Radio) networks, public safety agencies are keen to …
FCC Will Continue Plan to Subsidize Broadband for the Poor – New York Times via Google Alerts Jun 19 00:31 … to explore subsidizing broadband Internet for poor Americans. The plan, introduced last month by the agency’s Democratic chairman, Tom Wheeler, …
Sprint stops throttling data in response to net neutrality – The Hill via Google Alerts Jun 18 23:32 The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) net neutrality rules apply to the wireless industry in addition to traditional broadband Internet …
The FCC Is Kicking Ass – Gizmodo Jun 18 18:45 A little over a year ago, the Federal Communications Commission seemed like an evil cabal of cronies, eager to ruin the United States of America as we know it. Today, they’re doing things like securing the future of the internet, giving broadband to poor people , and banning robocalls. Isn’t this a pleasant surprise! Read more…
White House warns Congress about meddling with FCC appropriations – Game Politics via Google Alerts Jun 18 13:20 “These cuts unnecessarily force the FCC to scale back important work on public safety, wireless spectrum, and universal service, while increasing …
xG Technology Announces Successful Installation of First xMax Broadband Network in Costa Rica – MarketWatch via Google Alerts Jun 17 07:15 xG offers solutions for numerous industries worldwide, including emergency response and public safety, military, urban and rural wireless broadband, …
APCO Seeks Comments on Draft Standard Core Competencies and Minimum Training Standards … – Public Safety Communications – APCO International via Google Alerts Jun 16 21:35 Alexandria, VA The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is seeking comments on a Candidate American …
T-Mobile sells 700 MHz in Alaska to GCI, allows uncapped LTE roaming – TMoRocks via Google Alerts Jun 12 20:05 T-Mobile has filed to transfer its 700 MHz A-block license covering Alaska to GCI. T-Mobile acquired the license from Triad 700 last year buying out the …
Four things to watch for as net neutrality rules go into effect – Network World Fusion Jun 12 17:00 The U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules went into effect Friday, after an appeals court denied multiple requests to delay them while the agency faces 10 lawsuits challenging the regulations. The rules prohibit broadband providers from selectively blocking or slowing Internet traffic and from charging website owners and providers of Web-based services for prioritized traffic. The rules also reclassify broadband from a lightly regulated information service to a more heavily regulated telecom-style service, although the FCC voted to exempt broadband providers from many of those common-carrier rules. Here are four things to watch for as the rules go int