The NTIA has been advising agencies that plan to deploy LTE systems during the next year to halt their work to make sure their resources are not wasted on equipment that is incompatible with the nationwide broadband network. At meetings with 700 MHz broadband waiver recipients and calls with stakeholders, members of NTIA advised against pursuing any further action until the nationwide-network design has been made clear by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).
This caution is contrary to NTIA's previous advise to move forward with 700 MHz Broadband projects. In fact, in 2011 and early 2012, Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant recipients were warned that their August, 2012 completion deadlines would not be extended. Until the payroll tax bill that gave Public Safety the D-block was passed, the future of broadband was still suspended, so agencies had no choice but to carry on with their projects until a better option came along.
A different option has come along, and it's possibly one that will vastly improve data capabilities and interoperability nationwide. FirstNet has until August 22, 2012 to be established and begin work on the network. Now that more spectrum and some funding for the buildout of a nationwide network are available, Public Safety agencies willbe able to pause for a moment to consider efficiency and making the right decision for their system instead of rushing to meet deadlines to avoid losing their funding.
NTIA is now seeking the extension they warned agencies not to depend on, so that LTE projects can be integrated into the nationwide system.
Read more at Urgent Communications.
No comments:
Post a Comment