FirstNet News
FirstNet participated in the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Emerging Technology Forum last week in Seattle, Washington. FirstNet Vice Chair Jeff Johnson gave a keynote address on the need for interoperable communications. Discussions focused on public safety applications, cybersecurity, policy, and legislative updates. APCO leadership also updated members on the group’s recent filings in support of FirstNet.
FirstNet CEO Mike Poth delivered the keynote address to representatives from public safety and industry at the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) LTE Critical Infrastructure Forum last Wednesday in Chicago, Illinois. He stressed that FirstNet would not trade quality for expediency to complete the network procurement process.
FirstNet has now completed 46 State Governance Body Consultation Meetings with a Mississippi meeting last week. On Thursday, FirstNet presented to the Mississippi Wireless Communication Committee in Jackson. Discussion focused on the Governor’s decision, opt-out processes, rural coverage, and subscriber costs.
On November 9, FirstNet will hold an opening ceremony for the FirstNet Innovation and Test Lab at FirstNet’s Office of the Chief Technical Officer headquarters in Boulder, CO. FirstNet Board Members and leadership will provide remarks, host a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and offer tours of the Lab. State and local public safety leaders and local public officials will be in attendance. The goal of the Lab is to support the deployment of a nationwide public safety broadband network through the validation of modern communication tools public safety needs to save lives and secure communities. In the Lab, the FirstNet partnership will examine how emerging technologies, devices, and apps perform in a public safety broadband environment to ensure any such technologies, devices, or apps utilized on the FirstNet Network are ready for public safety use.
This week, FirstNet will be participating in the National Fire Protection Association Responder Forum in Charlotte, North Carolina; the TribalNet 17th Annual Conference in San Diego, California; the Annual Wisconsin Department of Administration Tribal Consultation Meeting in Bowler; the Boulder Lab Launch Open House Event in Colorado; a Region 1 Regional Response Team Meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the Alabama Association of Rescue Squads Conference in Orange Beach; the International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer and Combination Symposium in the Sun in Clearwater, Florida; and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Public Meetings in Austin (TX) and Dallas (TX).
FirstNet posted two blog entries this past week: Hualapai Public Safety Meet Old and New Challenges Through Technology and PSAC Profile: The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). All blog posts are available on the FirstNet blog at: www.firstnet.gov/newsroom/blog.
Please see the attached Fall 2016 issue of FirstNet’s Fire Service Newsletter. This issue highlights the IAFC’s resolution in support of FirstNet as well as news from the Public Safety Advisory Committee. FirstNet is an important component in supporting fire service personnel by bringing state-of-the-art communications devices and applications to firefighters, as well as dedicated broadband for uninterrupted connectivity. FirstNet continues to consult with public safety officials in all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia. That feedback is being used to inform customized implementation plans that will go to the governor of each state and territory for their approval next year. All the discipline-specific newsletters can be found here: http://firstnet.gov/newsroom/newsletter.
Media Watch
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Mission Critical Communications 11/3: Poth Promises Sustainable Business Model, Accountability In Contract Award
http://www.rrmediagroup.com/News/NewsDetails/NewsID/14876
First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) CEO Mike Poth promised the nationwide Long Term Evolution (LTE) network for public safety will have a sustainable business model and will meet public safety’s needs during the next 25 years. He said the entity that is eventually awarded the contract won’t get paid if they don’t deliver on the contract milestones. “We will also hold our new partner accountable to the buildout milestones and adoption targets in the contract,” Poth said at an industry event. “As with any procurement, if they don’t deliver, they don’t get paid. It is that simple.”
Mission Critical Communications 11/1: FirstNet, U.K. ESN Pushed Timelines Signal More Positive Outcomes
http://www.rrmediagroup.com/Features/FeaturesDetails/FID/703
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) announcement last week that it would not award a partner for its request for proposals (RFP) acquisition process by Nov. 1 wasn’t a huge surprise considering the contract’s size, scope and uniqueness. The timeframe for the RFP is up in the air, with FirstNet CEO Mike Poth saying only the award will be “beyond the Nov. 1 target date.” Does that mean by the end of the month, the year or even later? I don’t think anyone outside FirstNet — or many within — knows for sure.
Web and Social Media
FirstNet’s social media presence grew at the normal rate this week. Twitter gained 47 new followers, now at 4,481. Facebook has 486 followers. LinkedIn now has 1,736 followers. YouTube has 346 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 update.