NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] Re: Battle over FCC and Public Safety Networks/Broadband Spectrum
If we're talking about national defense, then staying off commercial networks makes sense. If we're talking about public safety, the commercial networks have time and time again saved the day as the proprietary public safety networks *still* can't interoperate with each other despite coming from the same manufacturer and despite an effort to have an interoperable standard. The Katrina and Haiti disasters showed how important the commercial networks are. Furthermore, what's wrong with letting public safety people use multiple SIM devices that have a backup in case one network goes down? There's all this talk of spending more money on proprietary public safety networks at the expense of a $1 broadband tax when broadband subscribers are extremely price sensitive. George -----Original Message----- From: nnsquad-bounces+george_ou=lanarchitect.net@nnsquad.org [mailto:nnsquad-bounces+george_ou=lanarchitect.net@nnsquad.org] On Behalf Of Lauren Weinstein Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 10:40 AM To: nnsquad@nnsquad.org Subject: [ NNSquad ] Battle over FCC and Public Safety Networks/Broadband Spectrum Battle over FCC and Public Safety Networks/Broadband Spectrum http://bit.ly/bRMyj4 (AP / cfnews13) I'm not an expert in the public safety arena, but my gut feeling is that putting so many public safety communications eggs in the basket of the commercial carriers is potentially a very bad idea. While better interoperability is of course very much needed, I would prefer to see public safety communications largely (though obviously not completely) separated from the commercial carriers' networks and facilities, at least to a significant extent. --Lauren-- NNSquad Moderator