Louisiana Opts in for FirstNet Communications System for First Responders
Public Meeting: FirstNet’s Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the South Region
FirstNet’s Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the South Region (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, NM, OK, SC, TN, and TX) is under internal FirstNet review and is anticipated to be ready for publication and release for public comment in mid-October. The PEISs will analyze the likely impacts of the deployment and operation of the nationwide public safety broadband network on the natural and human environment, in accordance with FirstNet’s responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Following its publication, the public, including any interested stakeholders, will have 60 days to review the document and provide FirstNet with comments. FirstNet will facilitate this process by visiting each state to host public meetings, generally one per state.
Click here for more information on the PEIS
Please join us for the State of Louisiana’s PEIS meeting. The meeting is intended to be open to and accessible by the public and FirstNet staff will be available to talk about the analysis, listen to questions, and receive comments. Our colleagues in government are invited to attend, as well as members of the public safety community and other interested stakeholders and members of the public at large. The meeting is an informal, open-house style meeting, and will be held at the date and time found below:
November 1, 2016
4-8 PM
LSP Training Academy,
7901 Independence Blvd.
Classroom # 5,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806
NTIA Public Notice on State Alternative Plan Program Issued
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issued a Public Notice [Link] outlining the alternative path states could take to connect to the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet) nationwide public safety broadband network. The notice provides preliminary guidance on the rigorous process NTIA is developing to review applications for its State Alternative Plan Program (SAPP) from states seeking to deploy their own radio access networks (RAN), which are the facilities needed to connect first responders to the core of FirstNet’s broadband network. The public is invited to submit comments on this Notice by August 18, 2016.
The Board of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) will convene an open public meeting on June 30, 2016, preceded by open public meetings of the Board Committees on June 29, 2016. FirstNet will post detailed agendas of each meeting on its website, http://www.firstnet.gov prior to the meetings.
FirstNet Governance and Personnel, Finance, Technology, and Consultation and Outreach Committees
June 29, 2016 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. CST
First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Meeting
June 30, 2016 between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. CST
Webcast Info/Call in Number:
The meetings will also be webcast. Please refer to FirstNet’s website at www.firstnet.gov for webcast instructions and other information. Viewers experiencing any issues with the live webcast may email support@sparkstreetdigital.com or call 202.684.3361 x9 for support. A variety of automated troubleshooting tests are also available via the "Troubleshooting Tips" button on the webcast player. The meetings will also be available to interested parties by phone.
To be connected to the meetings in listen-only mode by telephone, please dial 800-857-9642 and passcode 2162310.
FirstNet CEO Mike Poth will be testifying tomorrow 6/21 at the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet hearing titled, “FirstNet Oversight: An Update on the Status of the Public Safety Broadband Network.” The hearing will start at 9:30 AM EST. Other witnesses at the hearing include Mr. Jeffrey McLeod, Director of Homeland Security and Public Safety Division, National Governors Association; Major General Arthur J. Logan, Single Point of Contact (SPOC), State of Hawaii and Hawaii Adjutant General; and Mr. Andrew Katsaros, Assistant Inspector General for Audit, U.S. Department of Commerce.
To watch the webcast, please visit this page for more information: http://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2016/6/firstnet-oversight-an-update-on-the-status-of-the-public-safety-broadband-network
FirstNet Board and Committee Meeting Webcast: FirstNet’s four Board Committees and the full FirstNet Board will hold an open public teleconference and webinar on March 16, 2016 from 11:00 to 3:00 pm CST. Visit http://www.firstnet.gov/content/firstnet-board-meeting-march-16-2016 for additional information.
FirstNet Pre-Proposal Conference and Webcast: On March 10, 2016 at 12:00 pm CST, FirstNet is hosting a pre-proposal conference and public webinar to go over the RFP and potentially discuss questions received through the process detailed in Section L of the RFP. Webcast information is available here http://www.firstnet.gov/content/firstnet-npsbn-pre-proposal-conference
NEW! The US House Committee on Energy and Commerce - Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, at 9:15 a.m. (Central time) in 2322 Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled “Status of the Public Safety Broadband Network.” Witnesses will be announced and are by invitation only.
A brief description of the meeting is available here http://energycommerce.house.gov/press-release/subcommtech-check-firstnet-progress
The hearing webcast will be available here http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearings
NEW! FirstNet Issues RFP for the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network
FirstNet public notice outlining proposed cybersecurity requirements
FirstNet has released a public notice outlining its proposed cybersecurity requirements. The notice had an initial submission deadline of 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16. FirstNet has now announced an extension of that deadline. The extended submission Deadline is 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 21. The special notice includes, Appendix C-10 which outlines the proposed cybersecurity requirements, and a template that they would like commentators to use when responding. Please also find a link to the notice here: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=d7115b38283f9df2aa782ef5149aaff9
First Net Legal Interpretations of certain provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012
FirstNet is posting the pre-publication versions of its final legal interpretations of certain provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 as approved by the Board earlier this month. FirstNet will provide a link to the final versions once it is has been posted to the Federal Register. Please note that if there are any differences between these versions and the versions that appear in the Federal Register, the versions in Federal Register control.
BATON ROUGE (May 12, 2015) – The Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and Louisiana State Police (LSP) are co-hosting an initial consultation workshop for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) communications network. FirstNet is a federal initiative to plan and build a nationwide, 4G/LTE broadband network for use by first responders. The system is designed to provide a cost-effective, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. The law that established FirstNet requires federal, state, tribal and local entities to determine if the proposed system could meet the needs of public safety across the country. Key stakeholders from each region of the state will be involved in this process. continue
