FirstNet News
Last week, FirstNet attended three Regional Public Safety Broadband Conferences that were hosted by the Tennessee Advanced Communications Network in Jackson, Knoxville, and Nashville. FirstNet staff discussed devices and how FirstNet will support fire response.
Last week, FirstNet staff from the Chief Technology Office, PSAC Chair Chief (Ret.) Harlin McEwen, and PSAC Vice Chair Tom Sorley participated in the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Mission Critical Voice Roundtable discussion in Boulder, Colorado.
FirstNet staff met last week with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Atmore, Alabama, and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in Philadelphia, Mississippi. FirstNet provided a programmatic update and discussed the State Plan delivery process.
FirstNet also provided a programmatic update at a meeting of the Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission of Nevada on Thursday in Elko, NV.
FirstNet also attended the Texas 9-1-1 Alliance District Directors meeting in San Antonio, discussing the relationship between FirstNet and Next Generation 9-1-1 in a presentation on the future of end-to-end public safety communications.
On Tuesday, the FirstNet Board will hold its quarterly board meeting by teleconference.
This week, FirstNet will be participating in an Eastern Shoshone Tribal Council meeting in Fort Washakie, Wyoming; the National RES (Reservation Economic Summit) in Las Vegas, Nevada; a Pennsylvania Northeastern Regional Meeting in Stroudsburg; a Federal Communications Commission Region 19 700/800MHz Committee meeting in Windsor Locks, Connecticut; the Michigan Governance Body Meeting in Dimondale; a Vermont Public Safety Broadband Commission meeting in Waterbury; a Connecticut Public Safety Broadband Committee meeting in Middletown; and a Northwest Arkansas Regional Fire Chiefs meeting in Siloam Springs.
Last week, FirstNet posted two new blogs: PSAC Profile: National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) and Meet the SMEs – FirstNet Senior 9-1-1 Advisor Bill Hinkle. All blog posts are available at: www.firstnet.gov/newsroom/blog.
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News from the PSAC, States and Territories
FirstNet is planning to hold an in-person PSAC meeting on Thursday, June 15th, 2017, in San Antonio, TX, after the conclusion of the PSCR annual conference. Further details on location and invitational travel are forthcoming, and PSAC members are asked to hold the date on their calendars. Please email PSAC@firstnet.gov with any questions.
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.
WaTech 3/8: Washington OneNet announces premier of SHOTS FIRED – a new film about the 2015 shooting at North Thurston High School
“Washington OneNet’s award winning films are powerful outreach tools to educate first responders and the public about the potential benefits of a data-enabled world where first responders have priority access to wireless networks and applications, like those that will be offered by FirstNet. The newest film, SHOTS FIRED, reflects on a real critical incident and how the safety of students, teachers and responders may improve in a FirstNet world.” TJ Kennedy, FirstNet, President
Fire Chief 3/7: The ‘internet of things’ and the fire service
https://www.firechief.com/2017/03/07/the-internet-of-things-and-the-fire-service/
FirstNet, once built and services launched, will create another wave stimulated by secure public safety broadband and nationwide public safety interoperable data and enhanced voice. Then perhaps we will be talking about the FirstNet of Things — all of the things, data, video and secure communications that FirstNet brings to public safety.
RCR Wireless News 3/6: Private LTE network market set for strong growth, FirstNet to provide impetus
In the U.S., the most prominent private deployment is centered on the First Responder Network Authority program that is in the process of selecting a commercial operator partner to help build the nationwide public safety network. The program includes 20 megahertz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band along with around $6.5 billion in government funding dedicated to constructing the network. AT&T is currently seen as the favorite to win the contract, which would provide the carrier with access to some of the spectrum assets though require network pre-emption in favor of public safety when needed. IHS said it expects the FirstNet deployment to begin around 2020, with the U.S. becoming “a main driver of global private LTE revenues.”
Web and Social Media
FirstNet’s social media presence grew at the normal rate this week. Twitter gained 38 new followers, now at 5,189. Facebook has 758 followers. LinkedIn now has 1,895 followers. YouTube has 387 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 PSAC@firstnet.gov for possible inclusion in an upcoming updat