Is First Net Moving Fast or Slow?

I recently read the below article detailing the RFP draft process from First Net, and I know that everyone is so anxious to break ground and make it happen.  Coming from a WSP background, the whole dynamics of the telecommunications industry can change in 18 months.  So what's taking so long?

https://urgentcomm.com/ntiafirstnet/firstnet-responses-draft-rfp-queries-provide-some-insight-potential-plans-leave-many-qu?page=2

After more thought, I asked myself,  "Is First Net moving fast or slow?"

Insert Government jokes, or political opinions, and you realize that this project might not move fast.  The layers of complexity to pull off such a large project are difficult enough without inserting bureaucratic red tape and open it to public questions/ comments, and sending it out for open bid.

A Public Sector, VOLTE network has the ability to change the country in how we use technology to better serve our First Responders, Public Service agencies across the country.

I often use the comparison of First Net versus how 911 evolved.  Let's take a closer look at how 911 unfolded to give perspective on the pace of First Net:

- In November 1967, the FCC met with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) to find a means of establishing a universal emergency number that could be implemented quickly.

- In 1968, AT&T announced that it would establish the digits 9-1-1 (nine-one-one) as the emergency code throughout the United States.

Forward 9 years later:

- By the end of 1976, 9-1-1 was serving about 17% of the population of the United States.

- In 1979, approximately 26% of the population of the United States had 9-1-1 service, and nine states had enacted 9-1-1 legislation. At this time, 9-1-1 service was growing at the rate of 70 new systems per year.

- By 1987, those figures had grown to indicate that 50% of the US population had access to 9-1-1 emergency service numbers.

FACTS from:  https://www.nena.org/?page=911overviewfacts

Pretty daunting numbers considering when comparing 911 to First Net that this new network will need to be built from scratch and will not use an existing Wireless Network.

It's statistics like these that help you realize that maybe First Net isn't moving so slow after all.

I consider First Net, the last Frontier of Tower Based infrastructure.  I don't believe there will ever be another WSP that is built from scratch using Tower Based technology.  I'm excited for what First Net is trying to accomplish, and look forward to the day when we tell our kids about the times before First Net. 

I can still remember the Pre-911 days of having a glow in the dark sticker with the local Fire, and PD phone numbers on top of my rotary telephone.  It's memories like these that remind me on how far our Telephone technology has come, and how great and innovative the telecommunications industry has been in our lifetime.

Luckily for me, I'm in the in-building DAS space where it's easy to just add in a dual band 700 MHz BDA {Band Class 14} to current builds and have them ready for whatever First Net decides to build.  We've been doing this for years with the WSP's, adding new wireless bands.

Tessco offers complimentary iBWave design services to our trusted partners for Public Safety and Cellular solutions.  We have a complete portfolio of DAS & NFPA72 compliant products.  It's as easy as filling out the information on this weblink:  https://www.tessco.com/yts/customerservice/techsupport/datasheets/inbuilding.html

The opinions written in this article are my own, and do not in any way reflect anyone else's opinions.

Reference for cover photo:

https://www.illinois.gov/firstnet/NPSBN/PublishingImages/ProjectedTimeline.jpg