The State of New Hampshire has taken a bold step in its dealings with FirstNet that could serve as a model. Will other states (and territories) follow the Granite State’s lead?

In a few short months, FirstNet is expected to select a vendor to build, operate and maintain the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (“NPSBN”). After some consultation, FirstNet and its newly selected partner will present a plan to each state for construction of a radio access network (“RAN”) consisting of towers, backhaul and other infrastructure within that state. Each state has the option of accepting the FirstNet plan or developing its own RAN plan as an alternative.

For any state that may want to pursue an alternative plan, there are procedural hurdles and regulatory approvals that must be obtained, but the principal challenge may well be timing. From the date the FirstNet plan is presented to a state, the Governor will have 90 days to decide whether to accept this plan or opt-out and pursue an alternate plan that offers a better approach for meeting the state’s public safety coverage requirements.

If a state decides to opt-out, it must notify the FCC, NTIA and FirstNet within this 90 day window. States that fail to provide notice of an opt-out decision will lose that opportunity. Making an opt-out decision without any real alternative to the FirstNet plan in front of a state’s Governor would be difficult to say the least.

In the event a state files an opt-out notice, the state must develop and complete within 180 days requests for proposals (“RFP”) for the construction, maintenance and operation of the RAN for the State. Completing an RFP and developing an alternative plan within 270 days (starting from delivery of FirstNet’s plan) is a significant challenge.

However, the State of New Hampshire may have found a formula for addressing this timing challenge. Rather than trying to develop a plan under an almost impossible “shot clock,” New Hampshire took the pro-active approach, issuing an RFP in December 2015 and recently selecting a vendor –Rivada Networks–for the purpose of creating an alternative plan to be compared to the FirstNet plan.

New Hampshire has not decided to opt-out. However, with a vendor in place to evaluate the FirstNet plan and develop an alternative proposal before the Governor’s decision, New Hampshire has positioned itself to make a meaningful choice. The question now is how many other states (or territories) will follow this path?