PCIA’s Adelstein: FirstNet’s Security Interest Requirements Need Resolution
It’s unclear whether FirstNet is going to insist on having a strong security interest in the towers included in its nationwide public safety network, said PCIA President Jonathan Adelstein Friday during a BroadbandUS.TV webcast. After the NTIA entity ended negotiations with Broadband Technology Opportunities Program recipients in Charlotte, N.C., and Adams County, Colo., to bring their LTE public safety networks into the FirstNet network (CD Aug 14 p2), some media reports said it was because FirstNet was unwilling to waive its security interest in the projects’ infrastructure.
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"If FirstNet insists on that, then all of the existing infrastructure in the U.S. -- hundreds of thousands of towers -- are out of the limits and they're going to have to build their own. That’s not possible because that would cost FirstNet hundreds of billions to do,” Adelstein said. “We need to get to the bottom of what happened in Charlotte and find out if that was the issue,” he said. “We can’t afford to have that happen across the country."
Infrastructure sharing between the government and industry is by far the most cost-effective way to operate the national first responder network, Adelstein said. Although “huge questions” remain over the direction FirstNet will take, Adelstein said he has been very satisfied with how FirstNet has consulted with the carriers, infrastructure owners and equipment manufacturers that belong to PCIA. FirstNet is very much still in the planning stages, with much of its budget dealing with operation costs, rather than capital expenditures, he said.
FirstNet’s engagement with the states has been great, but cities and municipalities have not received the same attention, said Lars Etzhorn, National League of Cities’ senior legislative representative. It’s understandable that FirstNet is not able to engage local governments to the same degree as states, so local officials will need to take the initiative to engage with state officials and FirstNet directly on infrastructure issues, he said. Since planning grants go directly to the states, it’s “incumbent on local municipalities to talk with the states” about these issues, said Chairman David Buchanan of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council’s Spectrum Management Committee.
Telcos that want to participate in FirstNet will need to examine “hardening” of potential sites, Buchanan said. Many commercial sites don’t have adequate battery and generator backup to meet public safety requirements, he said. Telcos should also remain aware of environmental issues, Buchanan said. FirstNet also needs to examine local sites, as it needs to be concerned about whether local and regional networks “connect seamelessly,” he said.