The point of the FirstNet legislation is “to provide public...
The point of the FirstNet legislation is “to provide public safety with its own network resources, not a network that, as some incorrectly believe, would simply ‘ride’ on commercial networks,” said Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials Chief Counsel Jeff Cohen…
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on an official blog. Cohen helped draft the legislation before assuming his current role and addressed it again in a Wednesday blog post on Hurricane Sandy (http://xrl.us/bnyhfn). Some officials raised the question of commercial network reliability in the days after the hurricane (CD Nov 1 p1). The legislation would provide funds for the “additional level of hardening and coverage” in the leveraging of many different resources, commercial and otherwise, that are intended to save costs and speed deployment, he said. The performance of commercial networks during Sandy should give “no reason to draw conclusions” on FirstNet operations, according to the post. Cohen also pointed out the perils of locating backup generators at ground level and underground, then subject to storm surges, and the placement of cell sites on rooftops. Mobile apps are playing a bigger role, as is the importance of cell phone charging station access, he said, pointing out first responders may want to ensure station access during power outages. He said he offered “no opinion” on the performance of commercial networks during Sandy.