FirstNet Faces Hurdles to Meet Optimistic Deployment Timing, PCIA Panelists Say
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Timing, funding and capabilities will determine if the FirstNet is a success, panelists at the PCIA show said Tuesday. FirstNet’s proposed network has the potential to be “groundbreaking,” said Chief Counsel Jeffrey Cohen representing the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials. Other panelists said the network will have to overcome several hurdles. While the FirstNet board said last week that it could begin deploying the service as early as 2013, some panelists raised doubts that it could be effectively deployed before 2014.
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Implementation and procurement for projects like FirstNet generally take at least two years, once all procedures are set, said Bill Price, director of broadband services for the state of Florida. Unless FirstNet finds a way to circumvent the process, it’s unlikely that it could be deployed any sooner, he said: “There’s no evidence they've found a shortcut.” With $7 billion in proposed funding, at least $5 billion will come from the FCC voluntary TV station incentive spectrum auction, and panelists said FirstNet needs to plan for funding shortfalls if the auction doesn’t raise enough funding.
Cohen is optimistic deployment could occur sooner than 2015. That is when ex-FCC Public Safety Bureau Chief James Barnett said the network may be deployed. Cohen cited several factors that could spur the system’s development, including partnerships with the private sector, an aggressive funding schedule for buildout, the progress made by commercial carriers in LTE deployment and demand by public safety for the broadband.
Since many public safety agencies already subscribe to commercial services for their officers, Alcatel-Lucent Vice President-Public Affairs Kevin Krufky said FirstNet will have to offer something in addition to make it worthwhile for agencies to switch. “Ultimately, it will depend on the business model,” he said. Hardened sites and battery backups, along with guaranteed bandwidth during an emergency, could help make the sale, Krufky said. “FirstNet has to compete. If it’s similar to commercial, and agencies are already paying $40 a person for commercial service, how much over $40 would they be willing to pay for FirstNet?” Cohen said the economies of scale that FirstNet will provide should make it a competitive service.
Since many agencies are already justifying paying for commercial mobile broadband services for their staff, there is some existing funding at the state and local level that could be tapped for FirstNet services, Price said. One option that could promote more use of FirstNet would be to allow secondary users to subscribe, such as public utility agencies, he said. “It’s a question of how we can leverage local assets and get greater coverage."
Unless FirstNet addresses local zoning issues, infrastructure could also see the same local challenges that commercial towers face, said wireless lawyer Andrew Rotenstreich of Haskell Slaughter. “Can FirstNet get around the NIMBY argument?” he asked. While panelists agreed that FirstNet will have to rely on existing infrastructure as much as possible, some said weak LTE coverage in rural areas will mean there will have to be new construction to serve those areas. Cohen said new infrastructure will be needed in some places, but the FirstNet board has signaled that the network won’t be a “greenfield” build and will rely on existing infrastructure.
Attracting private-sector support will present challenges, panelists said. Price said so-called public-private partnerships often don’t produce the desired results. Krufky said some carriers may be concerned about altering their existing LTE networks to take on a public safety network, since their existing revenue relies on that network. But Cohen said Congress is offering commercial carriers “two huge chits” to attract the private sector: $7 billion in funding and 20 MHz of prime spectrum.