Why FirstNet Is a Public Asset and Not Just Another Commercial Network

“Is FirstNet a public asset?” That’s the question many people ask about this public safety network—the only broadband wireless network in the United States that was built to serve first responders first.

“The difference between commercial carriers and FirstNet is that FirstNet is dedicated to public safety, built by public safety for public safety, and serves public safety exclusively,” said Sheriff Rich Stanek, former sheriff of Hennepin County, Minnesota, and a two-time FirstNet Authority board member. “So yes, FirstNet is a public asset, because it was built to serve police, fire, EMS, and other public safety agencies in their mission to protect the public. Because money isn’t FirstNet’s top priority, their coverage includes rural and remote areas that commercial carriers see no profit in serving.”

What It Means for a Network to Be a Public Asset

Congress created the FirstNet Authority, which is responsible for FirstNet, in response to the public safety communications problems that cost lives during 9/11. In doing so, Congress’ intention was to create a public asset that would provide first responders with reliable broadband wireless communications nationwide.

FirstNet’s role as a public asset makes its mission very different from commercial wireless carriers who sell their services directly to the public. “Being a public asset means that FirstNet is accountable to its public safety subscribers first,” Sheriff Stanek said. “This is very different from the commercial carriers who exist to make a profit, and are accountable to their board of directors, their CEOs and presidents, and ultimately their shareholders. So there’s a big difference between the two. FirstNet is not a privately held company, and we do things in the best interests of the people, the people in this case being first responders nationwide.”

Congressional funding and dedicated Band 14 spectrum behind FirstNet

FirstNet only received Congressional funding during its startup phase. That money came from an FCC auction of radio spectrum, not from the taxpayers. Since that time, FirstNet has paid for itself through subscriber fees.

This money has paid for many aspects of FirstNet including Band 14, a VIP lane for public safety traffic that is operated by AT&T under contract to FirstNet. Band 14 is dedicated to first responder service, with Priority and Preemption service that always puts their calls first.

Why public assets are built around accountability to users, not shareholders

The reason public assets are accountable to users, rather than shareholders, is because public assets exist to serve the public.

“In the case of FirstNet, this is the model that public safety wanted and that we strictly enforced when we selected a private sector carrier—AT&T—to carry FirstNet’s service,” said Sheriff Stanek. “This is why the FirstNet Authority Board has a majority balance of first responder and private sector directors, in addition to its three government directors. During my two three-year terms on the board, for instance, every decision I made was guided by the viewpoint of first responders.”

Who FirstNet Is Accountable To and Why That Differs From a Commercial Service

Unlike a commercial carrier, FirstNet is accountable to its board, who act on behalf of public safety first, plus private industry and the federal government. “Since its founding, the FirstNet Authority was never supposed to be political,” Sheriff Stanek said. “Instead, it was supposed to be in the best interest of first responders nationwide, pure and simple. That’s why they play such a big role on the board, and why FirstNet is ultimately accountable to the public safety agencies that use it.”

The Congressional mandate to serve public safety

The 9/11 Commission Report was issued to learn from the tragic lessons of 9/11. In the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012”, Congress acted to address that Report by creating FirstNet. Its mandate was to serve the communications needs of public safety, so that police, fire, and EMS could speak with each other during incidents large and small.

“Before FirstNet, cops often weren’t able to talk to firefighters, who weren’t able to talk to public works,” said Sheriff Stanek. “There was a breakdown in communications, which is what FirstNet exists to provide. It is a way to communicate securely, it is widely available, and it puts first responder traffic first.”

What commercial networks can do that FirstNet is prohibited from doing

Commercial networks can do things that FirstNet is prohibited from doing. This includes ‘throttling’ traffic, which entails reducing the data speed promised to customers in order to compensate for inadequate network capacity during periods of peak demand. FirstNet cannot do this.

“Commercial networks can also raise their rates as much as their consumers will pay,” Sheriff Stanek said. “With FirstNet through AT&T, the board was clear that AT&T could not charge any more than what law enforcement agencies were already paying for whatever cell service they had and whatever other carrier they were using at the time when they made the transition to FirstNet.”

How FirstNet’s Public Asset Status Protects First Responders

As a public asset, FirstNet has been built to serve first responders first. This is its mandate and its mission.

“I never worry about FirstNet serving public safety, because that is what it was built to do,” said Sheriff Stanek. “They were mandated to build a robust target-hardened network that is reliable in all conditions, and they have done just that.”

Does the AT&T Partnership Change FirstNet’s Status as a Public Asset?

The fact that AT&T has partnered with FirstNet does not diminish its status as a public asset. AT&T’s job is to serve FirstNet’s needs under their contract, and to further its mission at all times.

“Some people think that AT&T is FirstNet and FirstNet is AT&T,” Sheriff Stanek said. “Well, they are two different entities that work together. I mean, we used to carry Motorola radios, but that doesn’t mean that Motorola told our sheriff’s department what to do. In the same vein, FirstNet remains a public asset no matter what private sector partners it may have, like AT&T. It is a public asset that always puts first responders first, no matter what.”

FAQ

Is FirstNet owned by the government or by AT&T?

FirstNet is an independent federal agency within the U.S. government. The network itself is built, deployed, and operated by AT&T through a public-private partnership.

What makes FirstNet a public asset rather than a commercial service?

FirstNet is a public asset because it exists to serve public safety and, by extension, the public.

Commercial services exist to make money.

Can AT&T change or discontinue FirstNet the way it would a commercial product?

No. Because FirstNet is a congressionally mandated public asset, AT&T operates the network under a strict, long-term contract and cannot independently alter its mission.