First of all, the draft RFP for FirstNet partnerships has been released, or at least most of it has, and it is a large number of documents. The cut-off date to submit questions is May 27, 2015, which is 30 days after the draft release, and the filing date is July 27, 2015 (90 days after release). After the comments are received FirstNet, as well as the NTIA and DOC attorneys I am afraid, will go over the comments and make changes to the RFP. Should be interesting to see who files comments and who does not.

Also the deadline has passed (April 28th) for the comments on the Second notice of inquiry for questions regarding the State Opt-in and Opt-out wording in the law. According to a recent Urgent Communications article, some states are pushing back on the FirstNet interpretation of the law, and this could be a major sticking point for the network. We need for all of the States to realize that this is not just about their State but about all of the states, territories, and tribal areas and for the good of the whole some give and take is going to be necessary. I hope that all of these issues can be resolved so that FirstNet is not hindered in their efforts to provide a NATIONWIDE network. If States opt out that will have a decidedly negative impact on the interest of potential partners to work with FirstNet on a nationwide basis.

The Competitive Carriers Association (rural and smaller carriers except for T-Mobile and Sprint) have issued a press release saying that FirstNet needs to work with them to achieve coverage in the rural markets and I fully agree. I have written many articles about both the CCA Members as well as the Rural CO-OP power companies which will also make for great FirstNet and/or a major bidding partner a good and solid set of partners for rural areas. Have a great week-end Andy

Regional carriers urge FirstNet to ‘maximize interoperability’ – Benton Foundation via Google Alerts Apr 30 22:15 First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), 1401 Constitution Ave, …

House Committee Asks FCC for Documents Related to Field Office Closures: – eHam.net via Google Alerts Apr 30 18:55 “The Commission has represented to Congress and the American people that it will ‘preserve the integrity of public safety communications …

Public-Safety Groups Urge Federal Agencies to Push Mexico on 800 MHz Rebanding – MissionCritical Communications, Radio Resource International, and Public Safety Report … via Google Alerts Apr 30 18:45 Several public-safety associations sent a letter to the FCC and Department of State asking the agencies to intensify efforts to implement the 2012 …

States push back against preliminary FirstNet legal interpretations on opt-out alternative – Urgent Communications via Google Alerts Apr 30 13:20 … does not choose the opt-out route, FirstNet is obligated to deploy the public-safety broadband system in the state and assume all maintenance costs.

FirstNet Releases Third Public Notice – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Apr 30 06:15 FirstNet has released a Third Notice which furthers the discussion and interpretation of who is eligible as public safety to use the FirstNet network.

FirstNet Board Seeks Individuals to Serve on Board – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Apr 29 15:21 The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) is seeking expressions of interest from individuals who want to serve on the board of the First …

FirstNet issues draft RFP – Sevana Blog via Google Alerts Apr 29 15:21 The First Responders Network Authority board has issued a draft request for …

GAO: FirstNet Could Cost $47B in First 10 Years – Broadcasting & Cable via Google Alerts Apr 28 15:50 A new Government Accountability Office study has concluded that the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) could cost between $12 billion and …

Canada Takes Key Step Toward Public Safety Broadband Network – FirstNet via Google Alerts Apr 24 05:55 This week a key development occurred for the creation of a Canadian public safety broadband network. On Tuesday, April 21, the government of …

LTE Summit Fingers Bureaucracy Not Technology as FirstNet’s Achilles – Wireless Week via Google Alerts May  1 08:35 While $7 billion in funding for a nationwide interoperable first responder’s network has already been allocated via the promise of the upcoming 600 …

DOD tech deficits, NASA grants, a FirstNet industry day and more – FCW.com via Google Alerts Apr 30 17:10 FirstNet, the federal entity tasked with building an interoperable broadband network for first responders nationwide, will hold an industry day in Reston, …

Federal Budget 2015 Confirms Public Safety Broadband Network – World News via Google Alerts Apr 30 02:25 (Source: CATAAlliance – Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance) Watch CATA Alliance ‘s Chief Business Officer, Kevin Wennekes , as he …

FirstNet Making Progress, But Hasn’t Fully Assessed Risks, Lessons Learned – HSToday via Google Alerts Apr 28 15:55 In addition, the nationwide public-safety broadband network also faces difficult decisions determining how to fund the network’s construction and …

Nationwide first-responder network starts to take shape – Federal Computer Week Apr 28 15:19 FirstNet has released its first draft request for proposals.

FCC Extends 800 MHz Band Freeze – National Public Safety Telecommunications Council – NPSTC via Google Alerts Apr 27 21:10 The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau today announced the extension until Oct. 18, 2015, of a freeze on the filing in NPSPAC …

FirstNet’s Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) – GovTribe via Google Alerts Apr 27 20:16 Federal opportunity for all other telecommunications at the Department of the Interior.

police, fire and paramedic chiefs welcome government of canada action on improving public safety … – Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs via Google Alerts Apr 24 12:30 We applaud the Government of Canada’s commitment to designate a full 20 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band for public safety broadband use, …

Tower companies see lower Q1 network spending from Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile – with Sprint … – FierceWireless via Google Alerts May  1 11:00 T-Mobile plans to expand its LTE network to 300 million POPs by year-end, both through the deployment of its 700 MHZ A Blocks spectrum and by …

Dear Tom Wheeler: I’m Sorry I Thought You Were A Mindless Cable Shill – Techdirt Corporate Intelligence Apr 30 15:14 Having written about the FCC for most of my adult life, I’ve grown cynically accustomed to an agency that pays empty lip service to things like consumer welfare and the painful lack of broadband competition. It doesn’t matter which party is in power; the FCC has, by and large, spent the lion’s share of an entire generation ignoring last mile competitive problems and the resulting symptoms of that greater disease. When the agency could…

Should the FCC Protect Broadband Consumer Privacy? – Government Technology News Apr 29 18:45 As broadband connectivity makes data exchange faster and more robust, concerns about how that information is monitored has Internet service providers (ISPs) and privacy advocates at odds on how – or if – personal data should be protected by the federal government. Representatives from academia, industry and government debated that issue and how online privacy expectations have changed over the last several years during a public workshop on April 28, at the Federal Communications Commission in…

Frontier Communications Welcomes FCC Action on Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II – Business Wire Apr 29 16:10 WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Frontier Communications (NASDAQ: FTR) welcomes today’s action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implementing Phase II of the Connect America Fund (CAF). The CAF framework supports the FCC’s goal of increased broadband access for rural America. The FCC established the CAF in 2011 to facilitate broadband deployment to the millions of Americans living in rural areas without access to broadband infrastructure. The CAF Phase II support will enable Frontier a

T-Mobile Profits Slide as New Subscribers Come at a Premium – Wireless Week via Google Alerts Apr 28 16:45 T-Mobile network guru Neville Ray said T-Mobile would not need more 700 MHz …

FirstNet Should Strengthen Internal Controls and Evaluate Lessons Learned – US Government Accountability Office via Google Alerts Apr 28 13:55 A nationwide public-safety broadband network has been estimated by various entities to cost billions of dollars, and FirstNet faces difficult decisions …

Trudeau showcases Bill Blair, vows support for first responders – dailynewsleaks via Google Alerts Apr 28 07:10 Trudeau showcases Bill Blair, vows support for first responders …

Public Safety Entity – Wiley Rein LLP via Google Alerts Apr 27 20:16 Under the Act, public safety entities are entitled to primary and direct access to FirstNet’s nationwide network. In September 2014, FirstNet released a …