Johnny KampisFirstNet, the public safety network for first responders, is moving toward reauthorization. After passage by the House in April, the Senate is expected to take up FirstNet reauthorization in June. In the meantime, key public-safety personnel are holding discussions with federal officials on what they want to see in the reauthorization language.
Jeff Johnson, the Western Fire Chiefs Association chief emeritus over wireless policy, told the online website Urgent Communications that he had productive discussions with officials from the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA). “We have a long way to go, and there’s more ground to cover, but I would say that I left our meeting today at NTIA optimistic,” he said.
FirstNet (also known as the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network) is scheduled to sunset in 2027 under the 2012 law that created it. The House bill would reauthorize the network and the FirstNet Authority that oversees it, while also increasing NTIA oversight of the authority.
The Senate may take up the House bill, but Urgent Communications reported that there are rumblings the Senate would prefer to craft its own reauthorization bill.
FirstNet was created as a public/private partnership in the wake of 9/11 to improve communications among first responders. AT&T, who was contracted to build the network, reports that it has more than 8 million subscribers from more than 30,000 agencies. There has been no meaningful opposition to its reauthorization, given the level of adoption and AT&T’s successful completion of the buildout of the network.
The initial five-year buildout resulted in 1,200 cell towers in locations where public safety leaders identified a need for better coverage, usually in rural locations hard to serve via terrestrial broadband. The requirement by the 2012 law to work with small and rural telecom providers resulted in more broadband infrastructure in rural areas. For example, more than 100 FirstNet tower sites launched on Navajo Nation through a collaboration between AT&T and two regional carriers.
These areas with lower populations and challenging geography were often passed over by commercial carriers due to the economics of providing service there, but with FirstNet, the federal government directs buildout in those areas to address public safety needs. The network covers more than 3 million square miles of the United States overall.
The public also benefits from the additional towers even if they don’t subscribe to FirstNet because they can complete 911 calls if there is FirstNet or AT&T commercial service in the area.
AT&T has also been adding its own commercial radios to further expand the coverage and capacity at these towers for public safety. The initial FirstNet infrastructure also encourages more development by other carriers. In defraying some upfront capital costs, FirstNet helps make the economic case for other providers to enter that market.
AST SpaceMobile is working with AT&T in a plan to use satellite services to enhance FirstNet coverage via Band 14 spectrum.
Congress initially allocated $7 billion to pay for the network, those funds coming from FCC spectrum auctions. AT&T agreed to invest $40 billion over the initial contract to build, operate and maintain the network, making annual payments to the FirstNet Authority for usage of licensed spectrum in Band 14. Plans for individual first responders on the network start at about $40 per month.
FirstNet is one of the greatest success stories among broadband programs in that it is self-sufficient and does not require a taxpayer handout. In fact, the second phase of the buildout has kicked off, with plans to reinvest $2 billion from existing revenues to grow the network. The FirstNet Authority is now holding meetings in all 50 states to get feedback from public safety responders on where they need more coverage.
FirstNet continues to help narrow the digital divide while improving public safety. Congress should act before February to ensure there is no disruption in service.
Kampis is director of telecom policy for the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.
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