Valentine’s Day and FirstNet
As I’ve been following the recent Hill activity around FirstNet reauthorization, the passing of Valentine’s Day reminded me of a special moment from the early days. Not because of flowers or chocolate, but because February 14, 2012 ended up being unexpectedly pivotal. At the time, prospects for passage were uncertain at best. That day, two terrific Senate staffers and I were asked to take one more run at reconciling the remaining differences in the bill text. We wrapped up that night, unaware that the language we produced would be enacted into law just eight days later.
Without weighing in on today’s debates, a few reflections from that period still feel relevant:
By any reasonable measure, this bold and novel idea, born from the communications failures of 9/11, has been a genuine success. Looking at where the network stands today, including the emergence of competitive service offerings, the progress made reflects much of what the early architects and advocates hoped to see.
From the outset, many of us believed that partnering with a major national wireless carrier would be essential to achieve scale, leverage existing infrastructure, and keep pace with rapid innovation. In that respect, AT&T deserves considerable credit for stepping forward as the only bidder of its kind.
Some of us viewed FirstNet as akin to a startup, which helps explain why it was structured as an “independent authority” within NTIA.
Multiple layers of oversight were intentionally built in, including a balanced board representing federal agencies, the telecom sector, and public safety. The structure was designed to ensure the board had the authority needed to support transparency, accountability, and long term stewardship.
I will close with one opinion I hope is safe to share. The guiding principle has always been, and should remain, what best serves the public safety community. For that reason, I fully support FirstNet’s reauthorization. The details are for the legislative process to determine, and I look forward to seeing how the next chapter unfolds. And to those budding authors of the FirstNet saga (you know who you are), feel free to file this under “early days.”
I welcome thoughtful and constructive reactions. For anything more detailed, feel free to send a DM or email me at Jeff@MPStrat.com