First up this week is the fact that the FirstNet Board of Directors will hold a special board meeting on Monday to discuss issuing a second public notice on key policy questions. See http://www.govtech.com/public-safety/Will-FirstNet-Become-the-Next-Healthcaregov.html for more details. Some of those following FirstNet and its progress may not fully understand the importance of this request for input but I think that it is a very important step in the FirstNet process.
The lead story this week is an article written by Bill Schrier who is the State of Washington Contact for FirstNet, and who was the CTO for the City of Seattle while we were in DC successfully convincing Congress to allocate what is now FirstNet spectrum for broadband. Bill was very active in these activities, has served as Chairman of the APCO Broadband committee and written a number of excellent articles. This one should be considered a “must read” by all of us who care about FirstNet and the Public Safety Broadband network. More FirstNet news is shown below as are a number of stories after the FCC passed two motions, one dealing with metro area wireless and the other the long awaited Net Neutrality rules. It appears as if the nation is divided on both of these and so we will have to wait and see what develops. Andy
Will FirstNet Become the Next Healthcare.gov? – Government Technology via Google Alerts Mar 5 16:30 Another signature achievement of the Obama Administration the First Responder Network Authority appears headed down a path similar to the …
Community Broadband: The Other FCC Ruling – Atlanta Journal-Constitution Mar 5 11:30 Community Broadband: The Other FCC Ruling
FCC Issues Final Rule on Wireless Location Accuracy Requirements – Targeted News Service via Google Alerts Mar 5 11:15 Dana Zelman of the Policy and Licensing Division of the Public Safety and …
AT&T tussles with T-Mobile over AWS-3 spectrum auction results – FierceWireless via Google Alerts Mar 5 07:10 … realize the promise of an interoperable public safety broadband network. These are all wins for the FCC, the wireless industry and the American …
Newest Agoura cell tower even has firemen upset – Agoura Hills Acorn via Google Alerts Mar 4 23:20 They will serve the new wireless public-safety radio and broadband network operated by the Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications …
What other cities should learn from Philly’s failed municipal broadband effort – Technical.ly Philly via Google Alerts Mar 4 22:30 A recent FCC ruling paves the way for more cities to jump in to the internet game. …
FCC, Industry, Safety Officials Tout Benefits of 911 Accuracy Order – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Mar 4 22:20 FCC, industry, and public safety officials today touted what they said were the benefits of the FCC’s new 911 location accuracy order (TRDaily, Jan.
NPSTC Opposes TIA Petition Re 700 Narrowband Rules – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Mar 4 21:40 The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council has filed comments opposing a petition for reconsideration filed by the Telecommunications …
Three Years Later: Are We Any Closer To A Nationwide Public Safety Wireless Broadband Network? – Benton Foundation via Google Alerts Mar 4 19:00 Three Years Later: Are We Any Closer To A Nationwide Public Safety Wireless Broadband Network?
Feds unveil Common Core for local cops – Personal Liberty Digest via Google Alerts Mar 4 13:20 Part of the information-sharing increase should be facilitated by the development of a national public safety broadband network for law enforcement …
FirstNet meets with tribal representatives as part of effort to build public safety, wireless network – Fierce Mobile Government via Google Alerts Mar 4 12:46 Early last week, the independent government board tasked with overseeing development of a nationwide, wireless broadband public safety network, …
FCC official calls on public safety to assist with wireless 911 improvements – Fierce Mobile Government via Google Alerts Mar 4 12:46 A Federal Communications Commission official requested early involvement from the public safety community in moving enhanced wireless 911 …
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler: The Internet Now Has the Referee It Needs – Brandweek Mar 4 08:05 In his early evening keynote appearance at Mobile World Congress on Tuesday, Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler essentially continued his victory lap five days after his agency voted 3-2 to enforce net neutrality. “You call it a close vote-I call it we had 50 percent more votes than they did,” Wheeler remarked. “This is no more a plan to regulate the Internet than the First Amendment is a plan to regulate free speech.” On Feb. 26, the FCC approved rules that prevent Internet and cellular providers from blocking, throttling or giving people special access to Web services in exchange…
Case Study | Mobile Broadband Public Safety Network Demonstration | Featuring Sonim XP7 … – Vimeo via Google Alerts Mar 4 00:50 This is “Case Study | Mobile Broadband Public Safety Network Demonstration | Featuring Sonim XP7 Smartphones” by Sonim Technologies, Inc. on …
FirstNet board to conduct special meeting, Swenson to testify before Congress next week – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Mar 3 21:30 That proceeding attracted 64 responses, including some noteworthy differences between the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials …
UHF T-Band Fact Sheet Available – MissionCritical Communications, Radio Resource International, and Public Safety Report … via Google Alerts Mar 3 08:55 … Job Creation Act of 2012 requires the FCC to recover and auction T-band spectrum, currently in use by public-safety and private wireless licensees, …
National Public Safety Broadband Network – Robbins Gioia via Google Alerts Mar 3 05:40 The National Public Safety Broadband Network (FirstNet) is working to build a nationwide broadband network to provide the communications …
FCC approves net neutrality rules, classifies broadband as utility – Financial Express Feb 27 14:02 The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to regulate broadband Internet service…
Republican bill would overturn FCC municipal broadband decision – InfoWorld Feb 27 09:01 It didn’t take long for congressional Republicans to attack the Federal Communications Commission’s vote to strike down two state laws that prevent municipal broadband networks from expanding. Seven Republican lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday, just hours after the FCC vote , that would prohibit the agency from preempting state laws that limit municipal broadband networks. The main sponsors of the bill are Representative Marsha Blackburn, of Tennessee, and Senator Thom Tillis, of North Carolina. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Sonim Ultra-rugged, FirstNet-Ready Smartphones To Be Used in Denver-area Demonstration of … – Public Safety Communications – APCO International via Google Alerts Feb 27 02:30 Adams County is one of seven areas that have received federal grants to begin early deployments of a public safety LTE broadband network utilizing …
911’s deadly flaw: Lack of location data – Mansfield News Journal via Google Alerts Feb 27 01:31 David Simpson, chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, acknowledged the system is not capable of solving the problem …
NTIA Calls for Comments on UAS Privacy Practices – Drone-RSS.com via Google Alerts Mar 6 10:10 Quadcopter The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is seeking comment on a new …
To prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from reclassifying broadband Internet access … – Congress.gov via Google Alerts Mar 6 09:50 H.R.1212 – To prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from reclassifying broadband Internet access service as a telecommunications …
Feds And First Responders Create Public Safety LTE Network – Business Solutions Magazine via Google Alerts Mar 6 04:50 First responders’ ability to communicate during a disaster will be supported by the nation’s first interoperable public safety broadband network, …
NTIA Launches Multistakeholder Process to Develop Privacy Best Practices for Commercial and … – HL Chronicle of Data Protection via Google Alerts Mar 6 02:00 … National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced it is …
Central and Eastern Europe Fixed Communications Market to 2015: Access Lines by Technology – PR Newswire via Google Alerts Mar 6 00:50 … voice service revenues (Circuit and Packet switched), Internet service revenues (Narrowband and Broadband services) and IPTV/video service.
700 Mhz Nationwide Interoperable Public Safety Wireless Broadband Network Workshop Watch … – cloudfront.net via Google Alerts Mar 5 21:45 700 Mhz Nationwide Interoperable Public Safety Wireless Broadband Network Workshop Watch This Video 3.5 out of 5 based on 173 ratings.
Gogo Seeks Spectrum to Open the Door to Ideal IFC Speeds – Avionics Magazine :: Top Stories Mar 5 17:45 [Avionics Today 03-06-2015] Gogo is gearing up for the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to authorize the sale of Air-to-Ground (ATG) mobile broadband in the 14 ” 14.5 Ghz range on a secondary license basis, an auction that could ultimately bring more than just spectrum to their…
FCC’s other decision aims to spur local broadband – USA TODAY via Google Alerts Mar 5 16:45 The agency approved an order that pre-empts laws that have prevented the city of Wilson, N.C., and the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga, Tenn., …
Net Neutrality – Atlanta Tech Blogs via Google Alerts Mar 5 15:30 Broadband is now a public utility On February 26, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed new net neutrality regulations designed to …
NTIA Seeks Comment on Drone Privacy Plan – Philippine Times via Google Alerts Mar 5 10:10 The National Telecommunications & Information Administration is seeking comment on a multistakeholder process to develop privacy best practices …
Republican lawmakers question FCC budget after Net neutrality vote – InfoWorld Mar 5 09:01 Some Republican lawmakers questioned the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s new budget request Wednesday, with a couple of them attempting to tie the agency’s funding to its controversial Net neutrality vote days ago. The FCC’s vote last Thursday to apply new Net neutrality rules on broadband providers will likely face a court challenge, Representative Bill Johnson, an Ohio Republican, said during a hearing before the communications subcommittee of House Energy and Commerce Committee. [ See what hardware, software, development tools, and cloud services came out on top in the InfoWorld 2015 Technology of the Year Awards . | Download the entire list of winners…
County: FCC ruling could help rural access to broadband – Ottawaherald.com via Google Alerts Mar 5 06:30 The recent Federal Communications Commission decision to classify broadband access as a public utility may help Franklin County receive …
Lawmakers: Challenge FCC ruling on municipal broadband – Clarksville Leaf Chronicle via Google Alerts Mar 5 00:50 Bill Haslam and the speakers of the state House and Senate. …
4G spectrum controversy: Engineer of prominent firm held – Daily News & Analysis via Google Alerts Mar 4 20:45 The Mulund police on Wednesday added a new twist to the entire 4G spectrum controversy, as they arrested an engineer of a prominent mobile …
Sonim Ultra-rugged, FirstNet-Ready Smartphones To Be Used in Denver-area Demonstration of … – Officer.com via Google Alerts Mar 4 19:15 … a comprehensive broadband wireless emergency communications network. …
Europe doesn’t need net neutrality because broadband-market anarchy is working – Quartz via Google Alerts Mar 4 16:35 The net neutrality debate in the US has ended, at least for now, with the Federal Communications Commission ruling for stricter regulation of telecoms …
Public Safety Bureau, Weekly Market-Based Actions, 3/04/15 – FCC via Google Alerts Mar 4 16:20 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov. Washington, D.C. 20554. TTY: 1-888-835-5322. Report Number: 10334. Date of Report: 03/04/2015. Public Safety and …
Net neutrality will put U.S. behind Europe, Cisco’s Chambers says – Network World Fusion Mar 4 13:00 U.S. net neutrality rules will help Europe take the lead in broadband, Cisco CEO John Chambers says. The regulations approved last week by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission will slow down broadband deployment, Chambers said at Mobile World Congress on Tuesday. Instead of focusing on net neutrality, the government should aim for more available broadband, he said. + ALSO ON NETWORK WORLD Follow all the stories from Mobile World Congress + “Sometimes, if you’re not careful, your regulatory goals can slow down your end goals,” Chambers said. He praised German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying she’s kept Germany focused on fast Internet access…
EOBC Says Its Auction Formula Tops FCC’s – TV News Check via Google Alerts Mar 4 12:10 Once the FCC buys TV spectrum, it plans to turn around and auction it to wireless broadband providers like Verizon and AT&T. The incentive auction is …
Johnston County, NC Successfully Tests Wireless Broadband Technology To Improve 9-1-1 Reliability – Business Wire Mar 4 08:17 SMITHFIELD, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Johnston County 911 Emergency Communications announced today the successful testing of a breakthrough wireless-based solution for delivering 911 calls to its Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) as a further backup to primary and alternate terrestrial network connections. Using a wireless LTE-based solution developed in conjunction with Intrado, a leading provider of 9-1-1 technology solutions and a subsidiary of West corporation, Johnston County was able to
HR1212: To prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from reclassifying broadband … – OpenCongress via Google Alerts Mar 4 07:45 H.R.1212 – To prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from reclassifying broadband Internet access service as a telecommunications …
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Region 6 – Colorado Media.Net via Google Alerts Mar 4 06:50 From the FCC: Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Region 6 (Northern California) Public Safety Regional Planning Committees …
MissionCritical Communications, Radio Resource International, and Public Safety Report – 74.63.161 via Google Alerts Mar 4 03:50 FCC: 700 MHz Rules Do Not Apply to Air-Ground Channels (3/3/15) The FCC agreed with the National Regional Planning Council (NRPC) that …
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Update to PSAP Text-to-911 Readiness … – Benton Foundation via Google Alerts Mar 3 18:50 The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission announces that it is updating the FCC’s Public Safety …
PTS issues study on use of 700 MHz band – Telecompaper via Google Alerts Mar 3 12:50 It said the analysis shows there is not sufficient grounds to set aside spectrum in the 700 MHz band for mobile broadband specifically for Public …
11 Things Cities Should Know About the FCC’s Broadband Vote – Next City via Google Alerts Feb 27 13:25 Other cities governed by state restrictions are out of luck, for now. …