Sprint Asks Obama to Set Up $2 Billion First-Responder Network

That this discussion went exactly how I thought.

AT&T fanboys just randomly attack with little to no (and more often than not the second one) back-up. The VZW people argue that their service is comparable, but it's not for this specific use.

And all those who attack Sprint for this, or say this is like them trying to get their own little bailout are grasping for straws. If any other carrier had proposed the exact same plan, they would have been praised. But because Sprint likes to piss off other carriers with innovation, they get knocked.

So bravo, you follow your formulas.

You guys need to realize that sprint already has systems in place that allow first responders to take priority on their networks - if a cell tower is saturated and a first responder gets on (govt and other high priority users) it will kick off the traffic that part of the network needs to get the higher priority person a way to communicate with the world - afaik this goes for cdma and iden but mostly iden

You're either with Sprint, or you don't care about the well-being of Americans in emergency situations.

I can't wait to see how all the haters will spin this.

I have yet to see one person answer a simple question about the proposition.


Does anyone think the Obama-Nation will approve the request?

The iden network allows off network ptt. while Verizon's crappy network does not. Oh and it's a crappy ptt service in the first place. So I agree Sprint has the best network for this service. Besides it's a network that would otherwise be wasted in a couple years, might as well go for the good. Just had to educate the Verizon and At&t fan boys. 🙄

Everyone has their hand out now. "If the banks can get 700 billion, why not us?"

All cell phones calls are dependent on land lines. so if there is a major catastrophe and the land lines are down you wont have cell service either. this doesnt apply to nextel direct connect. Nextel DC is supported by SMR radios at each site. this can be a tower or, in the case of an emergency, a mobile tower with smr radios. during 9/11 the only phones that worked at ground zero was nextel. also nextel's can DC without a signal to each other within a short distance. so when it comes down to it would you rather have the nations largest network which is pretty much useless if land lines are down or a network that will work and has been proven to work in an emergency? i think the answer is simple.

While almost all of the discussion here has concentrated on the "Big 3" networks and who's the best and who's the worst the real issue is fallen by the wayside.

I'm a firefighter. I use 2-way radio communications everyday. We also use Nextel phones as NON-emergency communications. More because it's a paradigm we're used to than anything else. IMHO

The true issue is that there are so many different frequencies that we use (VHF & UHF) that we actually have to carry 2 radios on many calls. And that doesn't even allow us to communicate with the police.

I was lucky enough to respond to the aftermath of Katrina as part of the mutual aid response from Illinois. Do you know how many different radio systems were used there? It was a nightma...
(continues)

Most Police, fire, and other agencies that would be first-responders already rely on hand held two-way radios for their primary communication devices. A majority of them also use Nextel as a secondary line of communications because it offers instant walkie-talkie communication (hands-free for receivers)and Direct-talk if network coverage is not there. I think this is a good idea but will probably be at the bottom of the list for any money the president will have left to play with.

Please..... In the event of a big disaster, I want emergency crews to have devices that DO NOT NEED the network in order to function. Maybe in these times of consumers wanting flash over function, Nextel can find a niche....

Please do not respond if you

A.) Think Verizon, or AT&T would be a better choice because they are more 'reliable and have more customers....

B.) Think that Sprint is using this as a bailout for it's other projects...(IDEN/WIMAX) and that 2 billion is a lot of money..

C.) Think any ptt service is really comparable to IDEN

Here's why you should not reply...

If you think A... then you are wrong because, the reason the gov't wants a dedicated EMERGENCY service is that it is dedicated to just that. They do not want to SHARE services with everyday users. You may ask why not, AT&T and Verizon have such big great networks. That's part of the problem, in an emergency, their networks would be clogged with all of their customers tryin...
(continues)

If they get paid to build a first responder network all that's gonna do is get them paid for even more services they can't do right. Which is a good idea to find new ways to get paid but, do you really want Sprint who have next to no american call centers so you talk to these jerks who sound like they're in guam or something and they could care less about your problems. You get ripped off with these bogus fees. Fix your lack of american call centers/employees, get better service and lower your prices and fix your sad excuse for a billing system and revive the Nextel network then sell it because you guys should have never bought it. Worst corporate marriage since Daimler Chrysler.

sprints cdma network was ranked 2nd behind verizon (only by 2% pts) for reliability. Its ranked #1 in value, data (best 3g and years ahead with 4g). Sprint built its network from the ground up & with its free roaming capabilities it has the largest calling area. Now nextel does not have roaming and it doesnt have the data; however for emergencys (ptt, DC walkie talkie) nobody can compete.. if your lofe was on the line and you had a verizon ptt & a Nextel ptt, which one would you choose? NEXTEL.

So basically sprint is asking for $2 Billion to subsidize them undercutting the rest of the market? Maybe they should make their product marketable and profitable iinstead of selling it at a loss and asking for a handout from the taxpayers...

I read this on Engadget awhile back.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/29/on-the-ground-wit ... »

1.) The government more or less has already decided to use this technology for it's emergency response. Many of you seem to forget that Sprint is already being forced to evacuate (Iden ) spectrum that interfers with current government emergency response systems.

2.) Either way taxpayers are gonna lose out. If the government has to completely set up an entirely new system, which is what they plan to do anyway, it'll cost a lot more than 2 billion.

3.) Yes, this is a ploy by Sprint, however it is a very good one all things considered. Since they already have to switch over the iden spectrum, they may as well offer the entire service over to the government. it solves 2 problems. One, the mistake of partnering with Nextel's incompat...
(continues)

In one hand you have a struggling carrier making a shallow request for 2 Bil from taxpayers(which is never a good thing). But in the other hand you have the same carrier that owns IDEN(the most respected and perfected network which has proven to be indispensible in crisis's like this). Government and Emergency facilities around the country rely on it. Now we also have to look at Motorola that has provided the handsets for this unique technology. They are now taking a nose dive. This now creates a unique and touchy situation as well.

Verizon and ATT can not provide the connectivity demanded under these circumstances with their respective current technology. Nor can T-mobile or Sprint's CDMA side for that matter. IDEN is unique in this abil...
(continues)

This is TWO BILLION dollars!

Of OUR money.

The government gets enough of this already, why should we just keep pumping money into something that would not really ever be used?

This equipment would just sit around and become outdated. And with all the liberals already making it rain (with money) to all the businesses who "need" it, yet can't even have ANYONE account for where its going?!

This is an absurd plan. The idea in itself is positive, but is just way too much for something that wouldn't be that effective, or even useful.

Sprint probably saw the opportunity of having its own little bailout and decided to throw this out there in hopes that Obama will pull another TWO BILLION out of his a$$...which is both mine and your ...
(continues)