FirstNet News
FirstNet held the Fall 2016 SPOC Meeting last week in Phoenix, Arizona with more than 150 combined SPOCs and SPOC Team members from 51 states and territories. The meeting included facilitated discussions about State Plan development and delivery and the people, priorities, and processes States will focus on during the next year, as well us updates from the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Public Safety Communications Research, and Early Builders. Additionally, the meeting included individual consultation sessions with each of the 51 states and territories in attendance and a dedicated “Conversation Room,” which allowed SPOCs and their teams the opportunity for numerous individualized conversations with FirstNet Board members, executives, leadership, staff, and subject matter experts.
Also last week, FirstNet staff went to the Republican Governors Association Conference in Orlando, Florida, attending various meetings and providing updates on FirstNet timelines and outreach.
This week, FirstNet will be participating in the New England EMS Conference in Goat Island, Rhode Island, and the Public Safety Communications Europe Forum in Athens, Greece.
FirstNet posted two blog entries this past week: Spokane Public Safety Leaders Lay Out Vision for FirstNet Network and Phoenix Fire Sees Opportunity to Improve Recruit Training With Use of Data. All blog posts are available on the FirstNet blog at: www.firstnet.gov/newsroom/blog.
News from the PSAC, States and Territories
The PSAC’s Early Builders Working Group (EBWG) met on Tuesday, November 15 in Phoenix, Arizona to introduce new project representatives to the group and discuss project updates. The EWBG also discussed lessons learned, planned future events, and ways to leverage their existing infrastructure to benefit FirstNet post-award.
Media Watch
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Global Telecoms Business 11/16: FirstNet sets up lab for US wireless project
FirstNet, the US government body that is about to appoint a wholesale wireless network for emergency services, has set up its innovation and test laboratory. The organization – officially the First Responder Network Authority – will provide a facility for it and its future private industry partner to test public safety features, devices, and apps before they are deployed on the nationwide public safety broadband network.
Web and Social Media
FirstNet’s social media presence grew at the normal rate this week. Twitter gained 36 new followers, now at 4,560. Facebook has 516 followers. LinkedIn now has 1,758 followers. YouTube has 359 subscribers.