Sprint Wants Its Government Handout, Too
from the brother-can-you-spare-$2-billion dept
Sprint has sent a letter to the incoming Obama administration making a pitch for a $2 billion emergency communications network (via Phone Scoop) for first responders. Sprint's plan calls for satellite-equipped trucks (that sound like mobile base stations on wheels) and up to 100,000 handsets and other gear to be stockpiled around the country so that it could be delivered anywhere in the US within four hours. Sprint wants the plan included in the economic stimulus plan working its way through Congress -- and it's just coincidence, of course, that Sprint would be a huge beneficiary of such legislation, and $2 billion would give its struggling business a big boost. Without a doubt, public-safety communications are in need of a serious overhaul, and this is an area that the FCC and other parties have been looking at for some time. It's a complex situation -- one that deserves a more thorough investigation and solution, rather than a piece of government pork.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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What a novel idea
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Re: What a novel idea
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Re: What a novel idea
Even Sprint's Everything Plus is a much better deal than comparable plans from Verizon/AT&T. $60+tax/month for 500 mins, unlimited data, unlimited messaging and BIS. The same plan from Verizon/AT&T would cost me $100+ before tax.
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Re: Re: What a novel idea
Sounds like a plan.
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Well..
Here's and idea, why doesnt Sprint provide a service that actually works, with handsets people want, and a competitive price, oh and a service that WORKS.
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I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler
When they hand a million grand out,
I'll be standing with my hand out,
Oh I'll get mine.
...old ditty that sure fits these times...
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Really a sale of iDen
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Splint
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Sprint Bad
This is a management issue that is the responsibly of local/state governments. When has Sprint ever been altruistic? I never got my $15 back, as a result of a class action lawsuit, for their "improper" billing practices.
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Sprint and pork
However, if it were tied to opening up the various networks, and allowing one system throughout the nation, it could have a lot of side benefits.
Right now, we have networks side by side. Very inefficient, and since it screens out competition, it tends to stifle innovation. Provide money, but require an open network - it might cost more money (a lot more) but long term it would be a giant step forward.
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So wait... what?
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and I don't know about you people but there is a very LOUD AND CLEAR difference when i talk on my AT&T phone, which is better btw, compared to my Sprint phone, their network blows. Maybe AT&T is actually doing something right, maybe they have higher prices TO KEEP PEOPLE EMPLOYED, maybe Sprint should consider raising their prices so they can keep competenent people employed and oh I don't know improve the quality of service? I've said my peace, and yes i'm an ex Sprint contractor, that company has no love for its employees and as this article makes clear, foolishly uses their resources. /rant off
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I F**KED EVERYTHING UP - GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE
We are freaking doomed!
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huh wah?
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Sprint's proposal to create a National Emergency Response Team
We recommended that the government bid out a contract to a wireless carrier to provide this service. This is not a handout, but a competitive bidding process. In our memo to the Obama transition team, we didn't stipulate what kind of technology it should use -- it could be GSM, IDEN, CDMA or something else.
We did spell out what the team would do: in less than 4 hours it would provide a temporary wireless network anywhere in the country after being activated. The service would be provided by a fleet of 100 SatCOLTs (Satellite Cell on Light Trucks) which could be airlifted if necessary to where they would be deployed.
We estimated that this could be build in less than a year and would cost about $2 Billion -- a fraction of the $20 Billion associated with a wireless broadband network for first responders.
Creating a National Emergency Response Team would also implement recommendations of the 9-11 Commission and the FCC's Katrina Panel.
For many years our government has not acted on these recommendations. If they adopted our proposal, they could implement them both in less than a year and make us all safer in the process.
We believe this is a very serious idea to solve an ongoing homeland security issue. Please contact me if you have further questions. I'd welcome the chance to discuss it with you or other colleagues of yours at Techdirt.
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Fix my credit
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