State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

Michigan is the Fourth State to Issue RFP to 'Opt-Out' of FirstNet Plan

Government Technology: Since last year, a handful of states have released RFPs in the interest of procuring their own public-safety long-term evolution (LTE) networks. Alabama and Arizona are still in the beginning stages, and New Hampshire selected Rivada Networks as its vendor last year.

Last Wednesday, Michigan joined this small, but growing, list of states to issue an RFP and will begin seeking bids in order to sustain and further the public-safety LTE radio access network (RAN). The state has clarified that these actions do not signal a decision to “opt out” of FirstNet’s nationwide public safety broadband network. The governor will decide whether Michigan will choose an alternative to the FirstNet plan.

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