January 2013 Archives

This article originally appeared in the November 2012 issue of INTERNET TELEPHONY.

Nothing could be more important for the country than a nationwide public safety network. That’s other than getting it built and correctly, on time and on budget. Let us not forget about those bothersome details.

Originally published in Internet Telephony magazine - October 2012


For those of you who did not know, and there are probably quite a few, let me share with you some details on FirstNet:

“In February 2012, Congress enacted The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, containing landmark provisions to create a much-needed nationwide interoperable broadband network that will help police, firefighters, emergency medical service professionals and other public safety officials stay safe and do their jobs. The law’s governing framework for the deployment and operation of this network, which is to be based on a single, national network architecture, is the new First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), an independent authority within NTIA.”

“FirstNet will hold the spectrum license for the network, and is charged with taking all actions necessary to build, deploy and operate the network, in consultation with Federal, State, tribal and local public safety entities, and other key stakeholders.”

“The Act provides $7 billion in funding towards deployment of this network, as well as $135 million for a new State and Local Implementation Grant Program administered by NTIA to support State, regional, tribal and local jurisdictions’ efforts to plan and work with FirstNet to ensure the network meets their wireless public safety communications needs.”

That’s the official statement.