Public Safety Advocate: FirstNet Only, LMR Only, or Both
Pre-FirstNet.?Debate over whether public safety communications require both land mobile radio and FirstNet (Built with AT&T). 2017 FirstNet build contract was awarded to AT&T. Smartphones then tablets were available to personnel in the field. LMR provides features and functions not yet available for public safety, operates on networks around the country, and off-network.
FirstNet Certified Broadband Devices.?Band-14 allocated for public safety;?a number of companies offer PTT over FirstNet; some both PTT over FirstNet and integration with LMR systems.?
Choosing a Network or Networks; Issues with Choosing Networks. Some?believe the two networks should remain but better integrated with each other; some PTT over FirstNet; some both PTT over FirstNet and?integration with LMR systems.?PTT, most important feature, will continue to be missing for a while yet.
Making Correct Network Choices.?strong reasons to continue with both networks and work on network integration.?City is paying for FirstNet access and keeping LMR system running.
Who Initiates the Request??City/county counsels, consortiums of agencies wanting to combine systems to obtain grants/loans from the Federal Government, employees, agencies, multiple departments, elected officials, and police, fire, or EMS.?
The Right Answer.?Most elected officials have never used a device other than a smartphone or tablet and do not understand the need for LMR and FirstNet.
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Final Thoughts.?Best way to provide best public safety communications: full use of FirstNet (Built with ATT); continue with existing LMR system expand where needed, keeping portions of LMR network for local-area use.
No Simple Answer. No one knows?if there is one. Some will move to another system, some will wait-and-see, and some elected officials will grant more time to get it right.
Winding Down. This is the last?Advocate?for 2022. We will be back in 2023 and will continue publishing the?Advocate.?We always welcome comments be they good or bad or if we are mistaken. This makes supportive publishing the is accurate.
Happy holidays from the?Public Safety Advocate?team.
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