FirstNet Board Takes Action on Key Public Safety Broadband Network Items

The FirstNet Board held its quarterly meeting at our headquarters in Reston, VA on September 17th. For those who were not able to attend the meeting, I would encourage you to visit the FirstNet Board page on FirstNet.gov to view all of the presentations, resolutions, and documents that were considered by the Board. I would also like to thank the FirstNet staff and Board members for their hard work preparing for the Board and Committee meetings.

The Board meeting marked a major milestone for FirstNet and was one of our most productive and impactful meetings for many reasons. First, the Board launched two initiatives that will go a long way in our efforts to plan for and build the nationwide public safety broadband network.

The board approved the release of a Request for Information (RFI) on a comprehensive network solution. This item asks for comments on a wide range of issues that will help shape FirstNet’s acquisition strategy for deploying the network. The RFI includes a 15-point draft statement of objectives (SOO) that outlines the essential elements of the comprehensive network solution contemplated by FirstNet. We will consider the input from the RFI and draft SOO in the development of Requests for Proposals (RFPs).

In addition, the Board approved a Public Notice that will also help inform future RFPs and our operations going forward. FirstNet is not required to seek public comment on the issues we have teed up in the notice, but the management team and the Board feels strongly about being open and soliciting feedback on FirstNet’s authorities under the Middle Class Tax Relief and Jobs Creation Act of 2012. Among the issues that we are seeking comment on include the definition of public safety services and potential users of the network; the definitions of “rural” and “substantial rural milestones”; and leveraging existing infrastructure.

As I said at the Board meeting, FirstNet is at a critical juncture where we need to make some key technology and business decisions. Both of these items will help inform and guide our decision-making in addition to providing opportunities for public safety, industry, and the general public to weigh in on key foundational issues regarding the network. In terms of outcomes, they will shape future RFPs and what the network is going to look like going forward.

FirstNet understands the items address complicated issues, so we have taken steps to increase awareness and understanding of them. For example, following the Board meeting, the FirstNet user advocacy team and I discussed the RFI and Public Notice with members of the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) and the single points of contacts (SPOCs) in the states and territories. We also scheduled a series of follow-up webinars with the states and territories on the RFI and notice. In addition, we developed a pair of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) documents around the RFI and Public Notice.

The Board’s actions on the RFI and Public Notice are key steps toward achieving the milestones set forth in the strategic program roadmap approved by the Board in March. We’ve made a lot of progress over the past six months and we still have much more to do. In the meantime, FirstNet welcomes your input as we continue to develop this network in coordination with law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service professionals, and other public safety personnel across the nation.

TJ