Motorola Solutions quietly raising FirstNet alarms

By: Tony Romm June 28, 2013 11:23 AM EDT

Motorola Solutions is angling behind the scenes to knock the credibility of a major public safety wireless network that might end up eating into its bottom line. The telecom company is lobbying firefighters and police officers to criticize FirstNet, the entity overseeing the new communications system, on the companys behalf. And its supplied those first responders with a sample letter a missive without any Motorola Solutions fingerprints that alleges FirstNet disregards public safety needs, lacks transparency and suffers from serious conflicts of interest. Motorolas maneuvering illustrates the early market battle surrounding the governments more than $7 billion project to bring public-safety communications into the digital age. For the company, theres plenty to lose: Its long been dominant in providing legacy wireless devices to local first responders, and the creation of a new broadband data network might threaten its core business. Asked about the letter, Motorola Solutions emphasized to POLITICO it has worked closely with public safety for years on its unique and demanding communications requirements. The company continued: That relationship continues today as we support their efforts to ensure the views and experience of local and state law enforcement agencies and first responders are being considered when planning the construction of the nationwide public safety broadband network. Washington long has sought to build a nationwide data network for public-safety agencies, a modern system that might address the communications breakdowns rampant during the aftermath of Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina. It took more than a decade after the terrorist attacks, however, for Congress to finally authorize a network that eventually will allow police officers and firefighters to share building schematics and other essential data while in the field. Motorola Solutions is one of many companies with big swaths of business on the line. The incumbent is a major provider of radio-based devices and other equipment to local public safety agencies. Yet the development of a new nationwide data network could cut into Motorola Solutions and one of its core sources of revenue, multiple telecom industry insiders say. But there also are opportunities. Last year, Motorola Solutions CEO Greg Brown told Bloomberg the nationwide network represents a $5 billion new market in which the company can win more than we lose. Two-thirds of the companys first-quarter 2013 revenue came

from the government sector, according to a spokesman. Large telecom companies often seek business advantages by way of Washington. When Congress first considered measures to create an emergency network, for example, telecoms such as AT&T, Verizon and Motorola Solutions funded first-responder trade groups that pressed most publicly for a new law. The companies saw the potential for new business and better access to wireless spectrum needed to power data-hungry smartphones and tablet computers. Motorola Solutions has spent roughly $640,000 on lobbying this year alone, according to first-quarter reports, and thats partly on FirstNet issues. Motorola Solutions latest effort to influence the network makes use of a tense FirstNet board meeting earlier this year. At one of the sessions, Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald, former president of the National Sheriffs Association, blasted FirstNet for a lack of openness and transparency. The sheriff, who serves on the FirstNet board, said he felt much of the work drawing up the network had occurred behind closed doors. And at one point, Fitzgerald suggested the plan came from other members with a possible conflict of interest a reference to some board members perceived past ties to Verizon. His complaints eventually prompted FirstNet to open its own special review to the matter, which remains under way. Fitzgeralds complaint featured in the April form letter that Motorola Solutions later supplied to public-safety groups. As a member of the public safety community, the draft note began, I eagerly anticipate the day when the promise of FirstNet becomes a reality in my community. But, it continued: As a member of the board, Sheriff Fitzgeralds concerns cannot be dismissed as mere speculation; his views are clearly based on firsthand experience. I am certain that he would not want to bring dishonor to the important work of this board if there was not a solid foundation for his concerns. The missive called on Sam Ginn, the leader of the FirstNet board, to open a review and copied on the letter was the inspector general of the Commerce Department. Its not clear if any public-safety officials or groups ever signed on to the letter. But Motorola Solutions certainly sought support: In an April 25 email obtained by POLITICO, Domingo Herraiz, Motorola Solutions vice president for North American government affairs, told a company consultant, former FEMA Director R. David Paulison, that the letter can be used by someone at the local level to get a better understanding of the issues raised at the recent FirstNet meeting and a sample letter that could be used to communicate this concern back to FirstNet. Herraiz then said Paulisons help is greatly appreciated. For its part, Motorola Soluntions said in a statement Thursday its objective is to do all that we can to help make FirstNet successful. The company emphasized the importance of a network developed and deployed in an effective manner. A spokesman did not comment further. Paulison, for his part, said he had reached out specifically to fire chiefs, with whom he has close ties. He said he felt it was fairly clear Motorola Solutions had been pushing the letter even though the missive itself didnt bare the company name.

even though the missive itself didnt bare the company name. The accusations by Sheriff Fitzgerald were very, very serious, he said in an interview, though Paulison said he had no firsthand knowledge that theyre true. He said he believed FirstNets subsequent investigation instead should have been handled by outsiders, like the inspector general, to avoid the further perception of conflict of interest. Fitzgerald, the FirstNet board member, could not be reached for comment, but sources said hes been absent due to illness. NTIA, the Commerce Department agency in which FirstNet is housed, declined comment for this story. Anna Palmer contributed to this report.
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