FirstNet News

FirstNet was in Albuquerque, New Mexico, last week for the National Association of State EMS Officials’ (NASEMSO) Fall 2016 Meeting. FirstNet Board members Sue Swenson and Kevin McGinnis led a meeting and discussion with the NASEMSO Board of Directors. Kevin also presented alongside outgoing NASEMSO President and PSAC member Paul Patrick during a break out session, focusing their remarks on the FirstNet State Plan process and ensuring that EMS stakeholders are active participants. NASEMSO also considered and approved a resolution of support for FirstNet.

Also last week at the Competitive Carriers Association Annual Convention in Seattle, Washington, FirstNet Chief Executive Officer Mike Poth presented an update on FirstNet to an audience of vendors from across the wireless industry. FirstNet also hosted a booth at the conference for the first time. Most attendees were aware of basic information about FirstNet, and their interest focused on FirstNet’s timeline.

Last Tuesday, FirstNet also participated in the National Association of State Chief Information Officers’ (NASCIO) Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. Justin Shore from Government Affairs led a FirstNet roundtable discussion that focused on FirstNet’s timeline, revenue reinvestment questions, and the Governor’s decision. The various Chief Information Officers in attendance were interested in learning more about their roles and responsibilities in regards to FirstNet.

On Tuesday, FirstNet attended the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) Annual Conference in Austin, Texas for a session on the future of public safety communications. PSAC member Barry Fraser moderated a panel and provided information on the PSAC and its taskings. Senior Fire Services Advisor Mike Worrell provided a FirstNet update and discussed how first responders will interact with Smart City technology. Todd Early, the Texas SPOC, talked about lessons learned from the Harris County Early Builder project, and Mike Lynch, a representative from Boston, discussed congestion on the city’s networks after the Boston Marathon Bombing.

FirstNet also participated in the Emergency Communication Preparedness Center (ECPC) Steering Committee meeting on Thursday.  PSAC Chair Harlin McEwen provided updates on the PSAC and the establishment of the Federal Working Group. Federal Consultation Lead Chris Algiere provided a summary of FirstNet’s activities over the past quarter and gave a more detailed update on recent federal stakeholder engagements, such as the Federal Border Forum. These discussions further solidified the ECPC and FirstNet relationship and FirstNet intends to provide additional updates at future steering and executive committee meetings.

FirstNet has now completed 42 State Governance Body Consultation Meetings, with meetings in Indiana and Texas last week. On Tuesday, FirstNet consulted with the Indiana Integrated Public Safety Commission (Commission), as well as members of the State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC), in Indianapolis. FirstNet discussed the Commission’s role in ensuring that the Governor has the right information to make an informed decision, as well as local training. Harlin McEwen spoke for a few minutes on the PSAC and described the work that public safety has done to help make FirstNet a reality. Also on Tuesday, FirstNet met with the Texas Interoperable Communications Coalition (TxICC) during their Tenth Annual Texas Statewide Communications Strategic Planning Conference in Austin. The discussion focused on the incorporation of the lessons learned during the buildout and deployment of the Harris County Early Builder project into the FirstNet Network, FirstNet’s revenue reinvestment requirements, and the device ecosystem.

FirstNet also held two Quality of Service, Priority, and Preemption (QPP) Consultation Task Team (CTT) meetings last week. FirstNet met with Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) members on Tuesday, providing an overview of QPP and details on FirstNet’s efforts to collect stakeholder feedback to inform network policies. On Thursday, FirstNet met with the Hawaii Statewide Communications Interoperability Program Group. The discussion focused on provisioning and customizing QPP profiles, network architecture, and triggers and thresholds that would prompt the network to shift among network states.

Last week, FirstNet was also in Lemoore, California and presented at the National Tribal Emergency Management Conference (NTEMC).  Members of the SPOC teams from California, Montana, Texas, and Washington joined the tribal liaison team for fully one-third of the agenda by offering updates and discussions, including a three-hour QPP presentation.  This trip was followed by an in-state meeting with tribal leaders from Utah.

FirstNet posted four blog entries this past week: Data and Technology are Key Weapons when Fighting Wildland Fires; FirstNet’s PSAC Adds Two Federal Members to its Ranks; and Ensuring Coordinated Responses to Man Made and Natural Disasters, the latest in the series 10 ways FirstNet will help public safety save lives and secure communities. All blog posts are available on the FirstNet blog at: www.firstnet.gov/newsroom/blog.

This week, FirstNet will be participating in an Alabama Governance Body Meeting in Montgomery; the West Virginia Statewide Interoperable Radio Network Conference in Kingwood; a National Public Safety Telecommunications Council meeting in Washington, DC; the National Emergency Management Association Annual Forum in Chicago, Illinois; reservation visits to all nine tribes in South Dakota; presenting at the annual fall convention of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), hosted by the Tulalip Tribes (Washington); and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Public Meetings in Helena (Montana), Madison (Wisconsin), Salt Lake City (Utah), and Springfield (Illinois).

News from the PSAC, States and Territories

The PSAC Fall Webinar is scheduled for Thursday October 6, from 1:30pm-2:30pm ET. An agenda and any supplemental materials will be distributed shortly.

The PSAC’s Early Builders Working Group (EBWG) held its monthly teleconference on Wednesday, September 22. In addition to discussing updates and lessons learned, EBWG Chair Todd Early welcomed new representatives from LA-RICS and New Jersey projects: John Radeleff from LA-RICS, and Eric Tysarczyk and Steven Talpas from New Jersey.

Media Watch

*The information provided is copied as-is from the media outlet source and is not edited by FirstNet.  Links to non-Federal Government websites do not constitute endorsement of any product, service, organization, company, information provider, or content.  Clicking on non-Department of Commerce hyperlinks will direct you to websites that are not under the Government’s control.

Calibre Press 9/23: FirstNet Gets New Senior Law Enforcement Adivisor

https://www.calibrepress.com/2016/09/firstnet-gets-new-senior-law-enforcement-advisor/

34-year veteran of LAPD Mike Bostic joins the team to improve public safety communications. Chief Bostic has been an advocate for FirstNet’s vision since even before there was a FirstNet. He spent 34 years in the Los Angeles Police Department before starting a second career in the telecommunications industry.

Cal State Long Beach 9/13: Creating Connections: EMER Professor Margaret Muhr

http://www.ccpe.csulb.edu/ContinuingEd/blog/default.aspx?postNum=160

As a liaison, Muhr travels extensively throughout Native American reservations, informing tribes about the FirstNet program and listening to their issues and concerns in terms of how to use the new system.

Web and Social Media

FirstNet’s social media presence grew at the normal rate this week.  Twitter gained more than 35 new followers, now at 4,242.  Facebook has 434 followers.  LinkedIn now has 1,689 followers.  YouTube has 329 subscribers.  Do you have something you want to feature in the weekly update, such as a conference date, personnel announcement, or news article showcasing the work of your organization?  Please send it to Yancy Edwards at yancy.edwards.ctr@firstnet.gov for possible inclusion in an upcoming update.