FirstNet: A First Responder Network, Plus

I thought that his email response from the guy responsible for FirstNet in Washington state, Bill Schrier, was a good summary of FirstNet and what the timeline is in the next few years.

He also addresses the issue of rural versus urban areas and which gets built first, or what percentage of the system is being built, rural versus urban, out of the box. See his comments below:

FirstNet is, indeed, a “First Responder” wireless network. That said, Congress specifically authorized use of the FirstNet wireless network by any entity with a “public safety” mission. There is great debate about what “entities” have a “public safety” mission, and we won’t have a definitive answer to that question until FirstNet, after detailed consultation with stakeholders in Washington, sends a state plan for its network to the governor, which probably won’t happen until late 2017 or early 2018. The official position of the state of Washington is that “public safety entity” includes almost all city and county governmental functions, public works, transportation, public and private utilities (electric, water, wastewater, etc.), public and private ambulance services, the Red Cross and others. 

However Congress, in the law which created FirstNet, also specifically prohibited it from offering commercial service to businesses, consumers or private individuals. The law does, however, say that commercial telecommunications carriers can contract with FirstNet to use the FirstNet spectrum to offer commercial and consumer service in places where it does not presently exist, such as Asotin County, on a “secondary” (to public safety) basis.

Here’s how we expect this to play out:

• FirstNet issues an RFP on about Jan. 1, 2016. 
• Vendors and carriers respond to the RFP. FirstNet chooses and contracts with one or more vendors to build the network in Washington state.
• That vendor’s capabilities and plans are folded into the State Plan for FirstNet, in consultation with us.
• The vendor builds the FirstNet network in Washington and uses it to offer service to first responders and other public safety users. The vendor then offers service to businesses and consumers as well. This service would be like any other carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, etc.) except that the public safety users have priority, and, ideally, the service would be available in places not served by the other carriers.

There are two key issues here: coverage and phased deployment. Basically, how should FirstNet (in consultation with Washington state) build out the network? Should it build in urban areas first, where most of the first responders are, or should it start in areas with no coverage? For example, if it builds in urban areas first, it will attract a lot of public safety users which pay fees and therefore provide funds to continue the buildout. Under the law, it has to establish milestones and show progress in building out rural areas each year during its deployment. But where should the rural deployments start?  

Over the next two years we’ll be working with FirstNet to help answer the questions of what areas need to be covered and where the buildout (phased deployment) should occur. We need people to represent the voice and needs of rural areas and provide input into the plan."

Bill Schrier, state of Washington, single point of contact, OneNet.

Here in Washington state we are continuing with another round of Regional FirstNet Workshops. The issue of wireless coverage and the sequencing of rural and urban areas in Washington state will be part of these events. Take time to attend and make sure your input is heard and that when fielded, FirstNet meets your needs.