States Need Flexibility if They Opt Out of FirstNet, Consultant Says
While the deployment of FirstNet has been delayed by a legal challenge (see 1703030049), some states want to move forward quickly on their own network for first responders, said Wireless Partners, which works with states, in a filing at the…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
FCC. As the FCC moves forward on rules allowing states to opt out of FirstNet, it should make sure states can file opt-out requests as soon as “practicable,” Wireless Partners said. The rules should give states flexibility to "amend their requests and otherwise adjust their interoperability showings as needed to respond to changes in technology and/or FirstNet compatibility requirements, or to address any issues the Commission may raise,” the filing said. The FCC should also allow states to launch deployments “immediately without regard to the timing of FirstNet deployment,” the firm said: “State authorities are understandably eager to provide state-of-the-art public safety communications to their residents, and given the connectivity challenges in many areas of the countr[y], many may conclude that a more customized, statewide network would serve their needs better than the nationwide FirstNet network. They are committed to fulfilling their interoperability obligations, and want to work cooperatively with the Commission on a smooth review process for opt-out requests.” The filing was posted in docket 16-269.