Frontline Wireless Bid Failed Amid Investor Concern, Bid Rules: "When Frontline Wireless abruptly closed its doors two weeks ago, most people assumed the group was an early victim of credit market stinginess. The company had been trying to raise significant amounts of money from institutional and private investors to fund a bid in a Federal Communications Commission auction of lucrative communications spectrum that begins Thursday. But according to several people familiar with the events that led to Frontline's demise, potential investors grew nervous that vague FCC bidding rules left Frontline exposed in its partnership with public safety agencies."

As spectrum auction nears, management and interoperability fears rise: "With the Federal Communications Commission’s Jan. 24 public auction of radio spectrum approaching, industry representatives are voicing concerns about the planned development of a nationwide public safety wireless broadband network. Interested parties are questioning the viability and oversight of the network and how it will connect with state and local agencies and sellers of similar services. Although many of the issues have been raised before, there is greater urgency as the auction approaches."

Poll Finds Americans Skeptical That Washington Will Fix Emergency Communications - Reuters: "More than eight out of ten Americans say that a fix to the 9/11 interoperability problem should already be in place, and a majority said they now trust local authorities more than the federal government to overcome the nagging emergency communications obstacle any time soon. According to a national In Motion Technology/RT Strategies poll released today, 83 percent of those surveyed said the federal government should already have deployed an interoperability solution for first responders. Fully 65 percent of respondents said the federal government should have resolved the issue within a year of the 9/11 attacks - more than 6 years ago."

Interoperable Communications Investments Drive $1.2B in 2008 State & Local Public Safety Investments: "The Los Angeles County Regional Interoperable Communications System (RICS) leads a diverse list of major Justice/Public Safety and Homeland Security IT contracts planned by states and localities in 2008, according to a new report released by INPUT, the authority on government business. The ten opportunities examined represent nearly $1.2 billion in total spending -- an amount that is buoyed by the significant federal grant money available to state and local law enforcement agencies. Los Angeles County's RICS program represents half of the total. Four of INPUT's top ten opportunities are related to countywide or statewide interoperable communications.

"Interoperability is one of the rare national initiatives where the federal government is backing up its directives to the states and localities with real money," said Jeff Webster, analyst, justice/public safety and homeland security at INPUT. "It's no surprise that a recent report by the Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council found that developing interoperable communications is the top homeland security priority in the states. Major metropolitan areas, like Los Angeles, are the best places for vendors to prove they can deliver inter-jurisdictional voice and data interoperability among all types of first responders. INPUT expects to see a steady stream of opportunities like these over the next three to five years." "

Kansas Cities Understand True Interoperability: "Shawnee and Lenexa (KS) approached the annual joint city council meeting differently this year. The Dec. 12 meeting, hosted by Shawnee at Hereford House, 17244 Midland Drive, focused on public safety. Police and fire chiefs offered a presentation about the cities’ partnership. The format change showed how the departments cooperate as opposed to “the dog and pony show” of previous meetings, Lenexa Mayor Mike Boehm said, “where we try to one up each other.”
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“Communications and interoperability have always been good. We share the same bank of frequencies,” [Lenexa Fire Chief Dan] Rhodus said. “But this is a much bigger project."

"We work together, plan together, train together and respond to calls together ... to help our residents,” Hudson said. “It’s a great relationship we look forward to continuing for a long time to come.”"