Lot of interesting news this week. Everyone is on edge wondering how the FCC will structure the incentive auctions that are so important to FirstNet. Meanwhile, neutrality is back in the news as are more comments about the FirstNet GM resigning after a year on the job. I don’t normally mention bloggers here but a recent blog by Michael Myers in his Advancing Telecom Blog really set me off. His premise is that the FN GM, having come from the commercial wireless world, was not a good pick and only made Public Safety more leery of FirstNet. I don’t know what Myers’ real agenda is but these comments are as far from the truth about Bill D’Agastino as they can be.

First, having worked closely with him prior to my contracting with FirstNet and even more closely after I was onboard I have to say that he was VERY dedicated to the Public Safety community and gained a huge amount of respect within Public Safety because of his stance and what he was able to accomplish in less than a year on the job. If anything, his dedication to Public Safety may have been a point of friction between Bill, some of the board members, and some within the NTIA. I can only speak from my own experience and from what I hear from within the Public Safety community, but my assessment is that Myers’ comments were made either without firsthand knowledge of the GM’s accomplishments and reputation or to further some other agenda.

Also of note is RCC’s new posting regarding States opting in or out of FirstNet. RCC has suggested a middle ground approach which is worth reading about and considering. It can be found here:RCChttp://rcc.typepad.com. Watch for my next Public Safety Advocate article next week, “Is FirstNet Running Out of Time?” The November congressional election outcome could bring additional scrutiny and pressure. Have a great weekend Andy

FCC Opens 3.5 GHz for Shared Access – DailyWirelessApr 24 08:30Under a proposed rulemaking, the FCC is looking to create the Citizen Broadband Radio Service that will include 150 megahertz of spectrum between the 3550-3700 MHz bands. The FCC hopes to provide a “three-tiered access and sharing model with federal and non-federal incumbents, priority access licensees, and general authorized access users.” “Federal and non-federal incumbents […]

US wireless users may get to share military spectrum – Network World Fusion Apr 25 09:01 The U.S. military might have to share its radar frequencies with mobile broadband providers under a plan the Federal Communications Commission continued to flesh out this week under the catchy name Citizens Broadband Radio Service.

MSIP mulls tapping 700 MHz frequency band for disaster communications network – Maeil Business Newspaper Apr 25 06:04 The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning is discussing building a wireless communications network for national disaster by using the 700 megahertz (MHz) ‘golden frequency’ band in an attempt to address the national disaster response agencies’..

New FCC rules would allow payments for speedier traffic – ComputerWorld Apr 24 06:00 The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will propose new net neutrality rules Thursday that will allow broadband providers to charge companies like Netflix for preferential traffic management, according to a news report.

APCO’s Application Community (AppComm) Celebrates its First Anniversary | Public Safety … – apcointl.org via Google Alerts Apr 23 17:03 Recognizing the potential of apps to revolutionize public safety communications, APCO created AppComm to facilitate collaboration between public … [Editor’s Note (Andrew Seybold): Congrats to APCO for their Application Community!]

FCC highlights NextGen 911 cybersecurity concerns – Fierce Mobile Government via Google Alerts Apr 23 14:59 However, IP connectivity – which will deliver voice, video, text and data calls to public safety answering points – present a cybersecurity challenge that …

FirstNet | Wildfire Today – wildfiretoday.com via Google Alerts Apr 23 08:58 The FirstNet network will be a single, nationwide long term evolution (LTE) network that makes it easier for public safety users to communicate …

MissionCritical Communications, Radio Resource International, and Public Safety Report … – rrmediagroup.com via Google Alerts Apr 22 03:58 FCC Denies Fire District’s Vehicular Repeater Waiver Request (4/21/14) The FCC denied an application and waiver request to use frequency 170.150 …

Webinar on Utilities and Canada’s 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband Network | National Public … – wordpress.com via Google Alerts Apr 21 17:02 UTC Canada is hosting a free webinar to address the 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband Network (700 MHz PSBN) and opportunities for utilities to …

FirstNet To Begin State Consultations In July – CivSource via Google Alerts Apr 21 07:58 FirstNet, the project that aims to create a nationwide data and voice network for first responders is moving forward, albeit in fits and starts. CivSource … [Editor’s Note (Andrew Seybold): The State’s, or many of them, are looking for more direction]

Transitioning to Broadband – Daily Policy Digest Apr 18 08:55 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently issued an Internet Protocol Technology Transitions Order, inviting trial experiments on the transition from a telephone-based network to an Internet-based one. The FCC — and other government agencies — have lagged behind the American public in their acceptance of broadband technologies. While Americans have switched to smartphones and other services in place of traditional telephone services, the FCC continues to cling to the old telephone network, says Richard Bennett, a… [Editor’s Note (Andrew Seybold): All Things Broadband]

Firstnet EMS Factsheet – NAEMT – naemt.org via Google Alerts Apr 18 07:58 The FirstNet network will be a single, nationwide long term evolution. (LTE) network that makes it easier for public safety users to communicate during …

Deconstructing the FCC’s Net Neutrality Ruling – AOL On – aol.com via Google Alerts Apr 25 10:58 Regulators are proposing new rules on Internet traffic that would allow broadband providers to charge companies a premium for access to their fastest …

So Far, Few Fans for FCC’s New Internet Rules – WSJ: Digits Apr 25 06:52 Even before FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler began circulating his latest proposal to ensure broadband providers don’t block or slow down individual websites, politicians and interest groups began weighing in.

The FirstNet Team: Opening the Lines of Communication | First Responder Network Authority – firstnet.gov via Google Alerts Apr 24 18:03 The public safety mission is close to home for her: Avis’ brother is a 9-1-1 dispatcher and her cousin is a firefighter. As she learned more about FirstNet …

Public Safety Bureau, Market-Based Pending Terminations, 04/23/2014 | FCC.gov – fcc.gov via Google Alerts Apr 24 16:59 PUBLIC NOTICE. Federal Communications Commission. News Media Information 202 / 418-0500. 445 12th St., S.W.. Internet: http://www.fcc.gov.

‘Net neutrality’ rules may get less, well, neutral – xmlpush Apr 24 09:34 Think of it as a one-way ratchet: Proposed Federal Communications Commission rules would not allow broadband providers to slow access for some traffic, but the rules would allow some of it to move faster. The Wall Street Journal reports that FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has developed the proposal to prevent broadband providers from blocking or slowing access to individual websites. But the plan would let those providers create ” and sell ” fast lanes for some companies…

FCC adds $9 billion to broadband subsidy fund – Network World Fusion Apr 24 05:00 The U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted Wednesday to shift US$9 billion over five years from traditional telephone subsidies to broadband subsidies, in an effort to bring high-speed Internet services to 5 million U.S. residents who don’t have access.

Mediagazer: Net Neutrality Advocates Angered by FCC’s Planned New Rules (Sam Gustin/TIME) – mediagazer.com via Google Alerts Apr 24 00:58 FCC to propose letting broadband providers give some traffic preferential treatment — FCC to Propose New ‘Net Neutrality’ Rules — Proposal Would …

Public Safety Bureau, Site-Based Actions, 04/23/2014 | FCC.gov – fcc.gov via Google Alerts Apr 24 00:58 Federal Communications Commission. News Media …

FCC revisits the idea of a shared “innovation” band for broadband use – GigaOM via Google Alerts Apr 24 00:57 The FCC on Wednesday approved a new notice for proposed rulemaking to …

4G Americas: 2014 & 2015 Pivotal Years for Spectrum Decisions in Latin America – LteWorld via Google Alerts Apr 23 21:05 According to 4G Americas, the 700 MHz band is needed to continue the progress of mobile broadband connections in the region and to provide a …

The FCC (Still) Stinks at Defending the Internet – Gizmodo Apr 23 19:34 The FCC’s soon-to-be-proposed rules on net neutrality reportedly won’t stop broadband providers from giving better service to people that pay for it. That stinks. This was the agency’s big chance to lock down a set of regulations that will keep the internet free and open, and it’s letting America down. Read more…

AWS(1700 /2100 MHz) vs 700 MHz LTE speed comparison – Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com – androidcentral.com via Google Alerts Apr 22 17:02 I tested the LTE speeds on my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and my Co workers Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II side by side, and speeds indoors …

NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) | Geneva Internet Platform – giplatform.org via Google Alerts Apr 22 16:06 The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), located …

Bid on Public Safety Communications Consultant in Oklahoma City | Oklahoma Bid Network – oklahomabids.com via Google Alerts Apr 20 20:57 To evolve and improve dramatically the capabilities of public safety communications. The act creates a NPSBN concept and calls for FirstNet, the …

FCC vote in May could further open broadband competition – Computerworld via Google Alerts Apr 19 13:58 … a significant amount of spectrum in its upcoming auctions of the television band for unlicensed uses such as Wi-Fi, agency officials said Friday.

While We Wait for FirstNet (A Different Take) – Andrew Seybold, Inc Apr 18 18:00 The Public Safety community wants to be more than simply customers on the FirstNet system. They want to be good partners as well. But in order to prepare for FirstNet they need some guidance and they need it soon. Many opportunities to ensure that new Public Safety LMR systems are “FirstNet-ready” will be lost unless this type of information is created and then disseminated in a timely fashion.

Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) – Alert Public Safety – alertpss.com via Google Alerts Apr 18 07:58 Event: Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO); Start: August 3, 2014; End: August 6, 2014; Organizer: APCO International …

How to save the Internet – Boy Genius Report Apr 25 09:45 Net neutrality died back in January of this year when a U.S. Appeals Court struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s 2010 order imposing certain regulations on wireline broadband service providers. People across the country were infuriated, and rightfully so. But news emerged earlier this week suggesting that the Federal Communications Commission would once again try to instate a new set of regulations to help keep a level playing field on the Web. Has the Internet been saved? Is net neutrality coming back? The answer, according to tens of thousands of angry consumers across the U.S., is no. One need only…

So Far, Few Fans for FCC’s New Internet Rules – WSJ: Digits Apr 25 02:45 Even before FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler began circulating his latest proposal to ensure broadband providers don’t block or slow down individual websites, politicians and interest groups began weighing in.

FCC puts funding for public safety network and debt reduction in jeopardy – The Hill via Google Alerts Apr 24 18:03 American consumers love their mobile devices, so much so that the … [Editor’s Note (Andrew Seybold): Another viewpoint on the Incentive Auction]

FCC revisits the idea of a shared “innovation” band for broadband use – Gigaom Apr 23 16:34 After a two year wait, the FCC is again taking up a proposal that would create a shared spectrum band between government uses, carriers and the public.

US to Vote on Sharp Increase in Broadband Subsidies – CIO Apr 23 06:45 New funds target broadband deployment to 5 million US residents, the FCC says

FCC Vote on Incentive Auction Plan Could Further Open Broadband Competition – CIO Apr 18 17:00 The agency’s plan includes selling ‘generic’ 5MHz spectrum blocks

WSJ: The FCC’s New Net Neutrality Rules Will OK Pay-to-Play – GizmodoApr 23 16:55Initial reports about the FCC’s hotly anticipated net neutrality rules are out, and they are foreboding. While they’ll prevent broadband providers from blocking legal content on the internet, it does not explicitly ban companies from paying for better service. While that’s bad for net neutrality, it’s not entirely a surprise. Read more…