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. So, what is the plan for that $7 billion and the 700mHz D block allocations that the NTIA’s FirstNet has been granted, and why is it that so many people in the telecom industry do not know anything about it?

Getting anything accomplished, particularly along the lines of something the size of FirstNet, requires a massive coordination of efforts and awareness, but that’s exactly what seems to be the issue at the moment.

As significant as FirstNet is to the United States, and considering the dire urgency of its creation, there doesn’t seem to be any alignment of the goals and objectives along with the messaging for the masses.

To be clear, it is not very clear.

Maybe it is just that I do not frequent the public safety network conferences, but it does seem odd that with so much necessity to rely on commercial networks to achieve the full nationwide FirstNet network build there is not an increased level of exposure to the broader industry that I am a part of. It is peculiar to me that such a large public works infrastructure project that would certainly create numerous, coveted jobs does not have any structured public information campaign.

Step 1 for the nationwide FirstNet communications network plan should probably be a nationwide corporate communications plan.

Over the past three months, after having presented at numerous telecom industry conferences in front of hundreds of people and having had conversations with several key people in executive management as well as investment banking positions where I have raised the topic of FirstNet, I have only come across two people who knew anything about it, and surprise, they were both lawyers based in Washington, D.C.

A $7-billion federally funded start-up communications business should surely be getting more attention than it has. The lack of general awareness, coupled with the size and scope of the plan, has come as somewhat of a shock to all of the people that I have spoken with about this.  

The reactions range from curiosity to outright disbelief, and even in one situation, a senior level telecom executive got quite perturbed about it and indicated that it would be best for the federal government to stay out of his business. One thing was common across all, even the two lawyers: they believe there is a better than good chance that FirstNet will never happen. The two primary reasons cited were that if there is a change in the White House come November, there might not be any political will to support FirstNet going forward, and that even if it did continue it would fail because in the end it is the federal government and it cannot run anything successfully anyway.

Is it cynicism, reality, or a combination of both? One thing is certain – the U.S. lacks a sound, cohesive, nationwide broadband (fiber and wireless) infrastructure plan. Hopefully the newly elected 15-member board of FirstNet can create a real network plan and actually execute on it. If they cannot, or do not, then who will?

Hunter Newby (News - Alert) is CEO at Allied Fiber (www.alliedfiber.com).  

“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. If the "safety" overtones are removed it reads completely differently. FirstNet "will help" safety in the U.S., but after a close read of the Act, it’s clear that FirstNet is not limited to only investing in creating, operating and serving safety networks. That is an important distinction, borderline omission, in the headline story.  

Highlighting a few key words from the opening, what stands out is that the U.S. government is clearly acknowledging that the country is lacking a “much-needed nationwide interoperable broadband network.”

Paying close attention to the fact that FirstNet is an independent authority within the NTIA raises a question. What does that mean exactly? For starters, FirstNet is exempt from the Paperwork Reduction Act, Administrative Procedures Act and the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Just like any good mystery, one clue leads to another, so digging in to each of those Acts to see what the benefit of being exempt from them actually means is where that truth resides, but on the surface it all sounds like a big chainsaw cutting through the thick red tape that is holding back America presently from having a real nationwide broadband wireless network.

There are other interesting dimensions of FirstNet to be aware of. Here are just a few points.

Congress enacts the Act in February 2012 granting the D Block of the 700mHz spectrum and appropriating $7 billion to a single, independent entity within the NTIA to build a nationwide network. This gets hardly any media attention.

In contrast, the Broadband Stimulus portion of the ARRA had $7.2 billion, received massive media attention and involved a lengthy application process with thousands of applicants and numerous awards.

Seven of the award recipients of the BTOP portion of the Broadband Stimulus were entities that were granted access to portions of the 700mHz spectrum to build public safety wireless networks. Now they all must vacate the spectrum and return their grant funds to the NTIA so that it can all be given to FirstNet.

FirstNet can use the $7 billion for capital as well as ongoing operating expenses, and enter in to commercial for-profit agreements to lease capacity and/or infrastructure it builds to other networks. Basically, that means they can build out the network and then lease it to carriers.

FirstNet will "consult" with other authorities in the jurisdictions they go through, but apparently do not need to get any approvals for what they need to build as it will all be in the name of public safety. Public safety has certain, beneficial preemptive rights.

FirstNet will use existing network infrastructure "where economically desirable." The word “desirable” is interesting. It can be interpreted and argued differently than the word feasible, for example.

Individual states can essentially manage the process of building out FirstNet within their own states and enter in to leasing agreements with customers, etc., or they can choose to opt out of that role.

The board that is being assembled to run FirstNet is comprised of 15 people, three of which – the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget – are permanent members of the board.

The other 12 will include representatives from the major wireless operators in the U.S. The wireless operators will be the users of FirstNet no doubt.

Who ever came up with this did their homework.  They understand the issues that we face in the lack of a single entity with control, funds and the ability to execute without delay on a national communications system. This is our current U.S. government’s answer to today’s major public works project for the next century that follows in the footsteps of the creation of the Rural Electric Administration in 1935 to administer the electrification of the Nation and the Eisenhower Interstate Highway System created by the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956.

Is this all right, wrong, or somewhere in between? Time will tell. We are officially in the first inning.

Hunter Newby is CEO at Allied Fiber (News - Alert) (www.alliedfiber.com).

NeXXCom’s radio technology delivers the industry’s lowest latency, highest capacity carrier class radio system, which is essential to high performance, broadband wireless networks. NeXXCom provides fixed ultra broadband IP wireless transmission equipment up to 1000Mb/s optimized for video, latency, jitter and ease of integration along with system design, integration and implementation services.

“We are proud to welcome NeXXCom Wireless to the Microwave category of the Dark Fiber Community,” states Hunter Newby, CEO of Allied Fiber. “As the demand for low latency and higher capacity in high frequency trading and mobile backhaul continues to increase, NeXXCom’s expertise in this area will add a depth of knowledge and encourage further activity through the Community.”

“NeXXCom’s products address the growth of latency sensitive networks and our services, the need for optimized network designs.  Our subsidiary company Layer 1 Wireless, consists of experts that have successfully deployed carrier grade wireless broadband and low latency networks,” states Sal S. Benti , Chairman of NeXXCom Wireless. “We are pleased to join Allied Fiber and the Dark Fiber Community and look forward to complementing the reach of the Community by adding to the resource it provides to the industry.”

With over 115 members, the Dark Fiber Community serves as a portal for access to the entire industry. Categories include companies that are Equipment Vendors, Infrastructure Builders, Financing Companies, Carrier Services and Industry Associations. Considered an online directory for network operators, the Dark Fiber Community provides information and contact details for industry-leading vendors as well as the opportunity to plan one-on-one meetings with those suppliers anywhere in the world.

NeXXcomm joins existing Members:

24/7 Fiber Network, AboveNet, ADC, ADVA, AFL, Atlantic-ACM, Avvio Networks, Berlin Pacific, Brickhouse, BTI, Calix, Ciena, Cisco, Communities United For Broadband, ComTran Group, Cyan, Dialectic Networks, DuPont Fabros, Ekinops, Equinix, FAST Robot AG, FiberLight, Force10, Fujitsu, Gigabeam, Global Capacity, GO Express, Grubb & Ellis,  Henkels & McCoy, i3 America, Infinera, INOC, Integration Partners, JDSU, Juniper, Keenwire, Lectrus, LightSpeed, Looking Glass Technologies,  Metro|NS, Michels, MRV, NEC, Newmark Knight Frank, Nokia Siemens, OFS, Optelian, Orckit, Pioneer Consulting, Powder River Development, Rainbow Design, Rubicon, Salsgiver, SGI, Sidera Networks, SkyFiber, Sumitomo Electric, Sunesys, SynchroNet, Team Fishel, Telco Systems, Tellabs, TelPlexus, Thermo Credit, Tier1 Research, TRM, UNS LLC & Datapod, Vello Systems, Wireless Siting Solutions, WISPA, XKL, XO, Zayo

The Dark Fiber Community would like to Thank All of its Members for their commitment to answering questions and resolving issues for the industry.

“Joining an organization like the Dark Fiber Community will help Fatbeam share its successes in deploying networks in underserved markets,” stated Greg Green, President of Fatbeam. “It is also important for us to be part of the discussion regarding the deployment of new infrastructure, and to learn from other partners of the community as well.”

“Metro Network Services’ membership in the Dark Fiber Community further
highlights its value as a full-service optical networking integrator,” continues Ray
La Chance, President and Chief Executive Officer of Metro Network Services.
“Metro|NS strives to provide a partnership to its customers and through
involvement with resources such as the Dark Fiber Community, Metro|NS can
remain a part of the conversations driving the trends of today and the future.”

The Dark Fiber Community would like to Thank All of its Members for their commitment to answering questions and resolving issues for the industry:

24/7 Fiber Network, AboveNet, ADC, ADVA, Atlantic-ACM, Avvio Networks, Berlin Pacific, Brickhouse, BTI, Calix, Ciena, Cisco, Communities United For Broadband, ComTran Group, Cyan, Dialectic Networks, DuPont Fabros, Ekinops, Equinix, FAST Robot AG, FiberLight, Force10, Fujitsu, Gigabeam, Global Capacity, GO Express, Grubb & Ellis,  Henkels & McCoy, i3 America, Infinera, INOC, Integration Partners, JDSU, Juniper, Keenwire, Lectrus, LightSpeed, Looking Glass Technologies,  Michels, MRV, NEC, Newmark Knight Frank, Nokia Siemens, OFS, Optelian, Orckit, Pioneer Consulting, Powder River Development, Rainbow Design, Rubicon, SGI, Sidera Networks, SkyFiber, Sumitomo Electric, Sunesys, SynchroNet, Team Fishel, Telco Systems, Tellabs, TelPlexus, Thermo Credit, Tier1 Research, TRM, UNS LLC & Datapod, Vello Systems, Wireless Siting Solutions, WISPA, XKL, XO, Zayo

Thank You!

OFS

From the announcement:

“We are proud to be part of Allied Fiber’s Dark Fiber Community,” said Peter Spehr, Director of Sales at OFS.  “As a provider and innovator of the latest optical fiber, cable and connectivity solutions, we see value in working in this online networking and educational platform to stay active with other industry leaders in order to meet customer needs.”

Sunesys

From the announcement:

“We’re proud to be part of the Allied Fiber initiative,” states Lawrence Coleman, Sunesys President. “As a state-of-the-art provider of information infrastructures, we relish the opportunity to contribute to this vital and growing resource.”

“We’ve also recognized the critical demand for high-performance broadband solutions that can be answered with dark fiber,” continues Alan Katz, Sunesys Senior Vice President. “For us, the Dark Fiber Community represents a robust national platform for industry discussion, growth and innovation.”

-----------------------------

The Dark Fiber Community would like to Thank All of its Members for their commitment to answering questions and resolving issues for the industry:

24/7 Fiber Network, AboveNet, ADC, ADVA, Atlantic-ACM, Avvio Networks, Berlin Pacific, Brickhouse, BTI, Calix, Ciena, Cisco, Communities United For Broadband, ComTran Group, Cyan, Dialectic Networks, DuPont Fabros, Ekinops, Equinix, FAST Robot AG, FiberLight, Force10, Fujitsu, Gigabeam, Global Capacity, GO Express, Grubb & Ellis,  Henkels & McCoy, i3 America, Infinera, INOC, Integration Partners, JDSU, Juniper, Keenwire, Lectrus, LightSpeed, Looking Glass Technologies,  Michels, MRV, NEC, Newmark Knight Frank, Nokia Siemens, OFS, Optelian, Orckit, Pioneer Consulting, Powder River Development, Rainbow Design, Rubicon, SGI, Sidera Networks, SkyFiber, Sumitomo Electric, Sunesys, SynchroNet, Team Fishel, Telco Systems, Tellabs, TelPlexus, Thermo Credit, Tier1 Research, TRM, UNS LLC & Datapod, Vello Systems, Wireless Siting Solutions, WISPA, XKL, XO

Thank You!

The Dark Fiber Community would like to Thank All of its Members for their commitment to answering questions and resolving issues for the industry:

24/7 Fiber Network, AboveNet, ADC, ADVA, Atlantic-ACM, Avvio Networks, Berlin Pacific, Brickhouse, BTI, Calix, Ciena, Cisco, Communities United For Broadband, ComTran Group, Cyan, Dialectic Networks, DuPont Fabros, Ekinops, Equinix, FAST Robot AG, FiberLight, Force10, Fujitsu, Gigabeam, Global Capacity, GO Express, Grubb & Ellis,  Henkels & McCoy, i3 America, Infinera, INOC, Integration Partners, JDSU, Juniper, Keenwire, Lectrus, LightSpeed, Looking Glass Technologies,  Michels, MRV, NEC, Newmark Knight Frank, Nokia Siemens, OFS, Optelian, Orckit, Pioneer Consulting, Powder River Development, Rainbow Design, Rubicon, SGI, Sidera Networks, SkyFiber, Sumitomo Electric, Sunesys, SynchroNet, Team Fishel, Telco Systems, Tellabs, TelPlexus, Thermo Credit, Tier1 Research, TRM, UNS LLC & Datapod, Vello Systems, Wireless Siting Solutions, WISPA, XKL, XO 

Thank You!

“High demand for bandwidth services is forcing rapid innovation in the fiber world. Adoption of these new ideas requires market confidence and there is no better way to foster that than to bring the fiber community together to collectively educate the end-user,” says Prasad Ravi, chief executive officer at INOC. “INOC is honored to participate in the Dark Fiber Community and embraces Allied Fiber’s vision of an 'all access' network or community that makes information on advanced fiber solutions readily available to all end-users.”

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - November 23, 2010) - Allied Fiber announces today that the Company has entered into financing arrangements with financial partners, including affiliates of Falcon Investment Advisors, LLC and ABRY Partners, LLC, to complete funding for phase one of its new, network-neutral, high-count dark fiber, colocation and wireless tower integrated system. Construction of the first phase linking New York City, Chicago and Ashburn, VA is already underway and is expected to be complete by May 2011.

Allied Fiber is addressing the needs for increasing national broadband demand by providing much needed access to new dark fiber, colocation facilities and fiber-fed wireless towers on a network-neutral, open-access basis throughout the United States. The user community for these physical-layer services ranges from and includes submarine cable systems, large international and domestic wireline and wireless carriers and network operators to small rural carriers, cooperatives, cable television companies and data center operators.

"We created this system to address the numerous backhaul and capacity issues that exist in the industry today," states Hunter Newby, CEO of Allied Fiber. "We appreciate all of the insight and support we have received from the industry and look forward to delivering our network-neutral, dark fiber, colocation and wireless tower access services to all that need it."

"We have assembled a highly talented team of seasoned professionals to create an extraordinary plan to update the fiber optic infrastructure in America," states Rory Cutaia, Executive Chairman of Allied Fiber. "The plan has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the industry. With determination and persistence, our team is executing the plan."

"In what has been a very challenging financing market, we have been able to prove the merits of the Allied Fiber system," continues Mr. Newby. "In response to the proven demand from our customers and the industry, we will be able to complete the phase one build and deliver the physical, long-haul and short-haul dark fiber, colocation and interconnection capabilities that are so critical for the next generation of network requirements in our country."

Allied Fiber has implemented a new, multi-duct design for intermediate access to the long-haul fiber duct through a parallel short-haul fiber duct all along the route. This enables all points between the major cities, including data centers, wireless towers and rural networks, to gain access to the dark fiber. In addition, the Allied Fiber neutral colocation facilities, located approximately every 60 miles along the route, accommodate and encourage a multi-tenant interconnection environment integrated with fiber that does not yet exist in the United States on this scale.

Based upon the evident customer demand, the first phase of the system will now provide a combined 744 dark fibers, nineteen 1000+ sq ft colocation facilities. These facilities will provide access for numerous data centers and hundreds of tower sites, all integrated into one system from one provider, creating a new standard for physical layer interconnection. With planned, direct connections to the submarine cable systems linking the Atlantic, Caribbean, Latin American and Pacific cables, Allied Fiber will also provide express routing of traffic through the United States on the latest and most advanced fiber types available. Building new, shortest path, physical duct and fiber routes combined with modern fiber will allow lower latencies as well as higher capacities to be achieved between these points.

"All our duct and colocation construction projects are progressing quickly and we will be ready to start the fiber manufacturing and jetting process within several weeks. We are also working with our customers to finalize their fiber requirements, enabling them to take advantage of pre-construction pricing now available," continues Jason Cohen, Allied Fiber President & COO.

The new 528-count, long-haul cable coupled with the 216-count, short-haul cable will be a composite of Single-Mode (SMF) and Non-Zero Dispersion Shifted (NZDSF) fibers. By having a high-fiber count and being network-neutral, Allied Fiber is able to offer dark fiber and colocation at lower unit costs.

The Company is currently accepting customer agreements for fiber and colocation throughout the network, and will continue to offer pre-construction pricing until the fiber jetting process begins.

About Allied Fiber
Allied Fiber was created to address America's need to eliminate obstacles for broadband access, wireless backhaul and lower latency through new, next generation long-haul dark fiber and an open access philosophy. The Allied Fiber team is comprised of experts in the fields of communications, network construction and finance. They are dedicated to building and providing access to an abundant supply of dark fiber in areas where it is most needed. The first phase of new duct and fiber construction will be between New York, NY, Ashburn, VA and Chicago, IL. For more information, please visit www.alliedfiber.com.