The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has released preliminary guidance on how states can lease spectrum capacity from the First Network Responder Authority’s proposed nationwide emergency services network.The draft guide published Tuesday in the Federal Register outlines the NTIA’s process to evaluate a state’s application for authority to negotiate a spectrum capacity lease agreement with FirstNet and for grant funds to build a radio access network if a state decides to opt out of the public safety network.
NTIA said the law requires that opt-out states submit to the Federal Communications Commission their alternative plans to construct, maintain and operate RANs as well as comply with interoperability requirements established by FCC.
If approved, states must demonstrate compliance with the technical, financial, interoperability, programmatic and qualitative criteria for their alternative plans to NTIA, the agency added.
The agency will accept public comments on the draft guidance through Aug. 18.
