How Important is your Wireless Data Network Security?

FCC Releases New Report on Supply Chain Security and Verizon Failed

By Richard Mirgon, Public Safety Consultant

The answer to this question is simple, “extremely important”. We know that every agency spends considerable funds on ensuring that their public safety networks are secure from tampering, hacking, eavesdropping and data theft. We know that the security of criminal justice information, patient data and other files are required by law to be protected. Law enforcement has concerns about protecting information about criminal activity, witnesses and employees. We know that every link in these systems must be managed and protected.

Because of these issues the federal government and foreign governments have banned the use of Huawei and ZTE equipment. As a case in point, the Federal Communications Commission last year voted unanimously to ban Huawei and ZTE equipment in projects paid for by the FCC’s Universal Service Fund. (Please note the vote was unanimous and how often do you see that.) Several years ago, many federal agencies warned public safety not to use this equipment because of security problems. These companies are owned by the Chinese Military.

Last week the FCC released their report on supply chain security to identify those carriers who are using Huawei and ZTE Equipment. Once again Verizon fails public safety and is on this list. AT&T / FirstNet is NOT on this list. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-1037A1.pdf

Here is the single most important contrast between Verizon and FirstNet. For Verizon we continue to find problems and misleading statements about their ability to meet public safety needs. Yet with FirstNet we continue to see how they have raised the bar, met the requirements and built a truly public safety broadband network. So if you’re a Verizon public safety subscriber and need assistance simply click on this link.

Richard Mirgon is a Public Safety consultant focused on FirstNet. He is a Past President of APCO International and has over 35 years of public safety and first responder experience. For more information about the author please go to https://www.next-paradigm.com/about/

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of this company or any company with whom the author may be associated.