FirstNet Seeks Advice on Relationship With Carriers, User Fees
FirstNet seeks comment on how to interpret key provisions of the spectrum law enacted in 2012, which enabled the launch of the long-awaited wireless broadband network for first responders. Among the questions, FirstNet seeks to better define its relationship with the wireless industry. FirstNet’s notice and request for comment was published in the Federal Register Wednesday and seeks comment by Oct. 24 (http://1.usa.gov/1xfEU2W).
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One big question is the extent to which FirstNet will be able to negotiate commercial agreements with carriers, industry officials have said (CD Sept 18 p12). The notice pointed out that the Spectrum Act says repeatedly that FirstNet should leverage existing infrastructure when “economically desirable.” FirstNet asked what this means exactly. “We seek comments on an appropriate definition of and approach to assessing what is ‘economically desirable,’ and the factors that should be considered, and by whom,” the authority said. FirstNet asked: “In weighing economic desirability with respect to the speed of rural deployment, we seek comments on how to balance costs with speed."
The notice asked about the various fees FirstNet will collect to pay for its operations, including user fees to be paid by public safety subscribers to the network and state core network user fees, which must be paid even by states that opt out of the network. It asked about covered leasing agreement (CLAs) by which carriers could use some of the capacity of the network on a secondary-use basis. FirstNet said it seeks to maximize its options. “We preliminarily conclude that it is theoretically possible for multiple CLA lessees to coexist and utilize FirstNet spectrum in a particular geographic area,” the authority said.
The notice asked how to define different categories of potential users of FirstNet, including who should qualify as a core, public safety user. The FCC advised that FirstNet cast a wide net here, offering numerous categories beyond more traditional services most often seen as public safety, FirstNet said. The authority said it proposes to adopt this expanded definition. Public safety users would also include airport operations tied to air safety, transportation departments, city planning departments and “entities protecting the safety of animals, homes, and city infrastructure, particularly in crisis situations,” FirstNet said. It asked about nongovernmental operations that could also be classified as protecting public safety.
In a footnote, FirstNet declared its status as an independent entity. The authority was housed until recently within NTIA and now has its own headquarters in Reston, Virginia. “The pronouns ‘we’ or ‘our’ throughout this Notice refer to ‘FirstNet’ alone and not FirstNet, NTIA, and the U.S. Department of Commerce as a collective group,” it said. (hbuskirk@warren-news.com)