Public Safety, Utilities Need to Coordinate on Sharing 700 MHz Spectrum, Officials say
The real challenge of creating the new FirstNet comes down to communications and coordination, said utility company leaders, public safety representatives and government officials Wednesday during a United Telecommunications Council (UTC) workshop. The workshop focused on how best to foster cooperation among the groups in anticipation of FirstNet’s rollout in the 700 MHz band, as authorized by February’s spectrum law. Government officials noted Tuesday at a UTC session (CD June 20 p5) that utilities often act as first responders in emergencies and should have access to this premium spectrum along with public safety officials. Chris Essid, director of the Homeland Security Department’s Office of Emergency Communications said developing an interoperable broadband network is only a 20 percent technical challenge and 80 percent coordination. “It’s that coordination that needs to improve,” he said.
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Another growing challenge is the perception of precisely who is leading the broadband changes and what implication that may have for the states. Matt Schnell, telecom supervisor at Nebraska Public Power, suggested that utilities should engage with public safety organizations early to help set the terms of the new sharing paradigm. He said he worries if utilities remain passive, the public safety officials and federal government will set the terms of the sharing: “The system needs to be built from the state up.”
Rural Utilities Service Deputy Administrator Jessica Zufolo acknowledged the importance of states’ role in expanding broadband access to underserved rural areas. Lee Onsager, team leader of telecom construction and maintenance for Nevada’s NV Energy, said “rural areas could get left behind or take 15 years to build out” if authorities aren’t careful. He also expressed concern about who would be responsible for paying and maintaining what in this new sharing agreement and, in the case of Nevada, budgets that don’t synch up. NV Energy has an annual budget cycle whereas Nevada has multi-year budget cycles, he said.
The communications problem takes many forms. Many of these companies are not used to working with one another, and some utilities differ in their attitudes toward sharing the 700 MHz spectrum, some said. Kathy Nelson, principal telecom engineer at Great River Energy and UTC public policy division chair, said some utilities are “still holding out for their own spectrum” and are not thrilled to share 700 MHz with public safety. She called that the “Holy Grail” but said utilities should work with the opportunities they have. Essid clarified that the spectrum law isn’t intended to be a “top-down federal” endeavor and that DHS has spent the last five years cultivating contacts among the states and hopes to leverage that network in the coming months. All parties will have to “work together like never before,” and one crucial challenge will be “breaking down those cultural barriers” against sharing spectrum, Essid said.
Utility companies should not expect their own slice of spectrum, said Ken Budka, senior director-advanced mission-critical communications at Alcatel-Lucent’s Bell Labs. “Spectrum is not going to fall from heaven,” he said. “This is the opportunity."
Utilities, public safety, and government entities will need to be proactive in the discussion of how to share the 700 MHz network, said speakers. The FCC must submit its recommendations to FirstNet by Thursday, said Public Safety Bureau counsel Brian Hurley. The Department of Commerce and the NTIA must appoint members of the FirstNet board of 15 members, with three spots designated for “the collective interests of states, localities, tribes, and territories” as well as three for public safety professionals (http://xrl.us/bncc89), NTIA said. Then the agency said it must set implementation grant criteria for $135 million in funds by Aug. 22, after which governors will have 90 days to opt out if they choose. If governors opt out, they're expected to have 180 days to issue requests for proposals for the construction, maintenance and operation of the network, NTIA said. Consulting firm Booz Allen, in June 15 comments submitted to the agency, said the grants “will need to be focused, planning timeframes limited, and outcomes standardized” and that $135 million amounts to “only 2 percent of anticipated network costs,” which could stretch annual expenditures so thin as to be ineffective (http://xrl.us/bncczs).
Another $7 billion in construction grants will be made available once FirstNet is ready to begin construction, said Jeff Cohen, chief counsel for law and policy at the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO). Cohen, who helped draft the spectrum legislation, said the money will serve as an incentive for large telecom companies to get involved with FirstNet.
Much activity will precede the summer FirstNet deadlines in the name of education, outreach and security, panelists said. DHS will soon be conducting a “cyber-risk assessment” of FirstNet, according to Essid. A March 14 National Governors Association letter styled as a “memo to Washington” recommends states “begin updating their public safety communications plans to incorporate broadband technologies and ensure that statewide interoperability governing boards include the appropriate state and local representatives.” Onsager sees room for more voices, and said “involvement from the PUCs would help.” Budka said utility companies should align their goals better and that, “to have that kind of influence, speak with one voice.” Cohen described efforts to raise awareness of FirstNet with many state groups “putting on and designing webinars,” some including APCO’s input, through social media, and at conferences in the coming months. Essid said there’s a need for “a PR effort” to promote the new public safety broadband and said it’s “amazing the amount of misinformation about this opportunity.”