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FirstNet Finance Committee Green-lights Work on Program Roadmap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 25, 2014

News Media Contact:

Corey Ray
(202) 510-7709
corey.ray@firstnet.gov

WASHINGTON – The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board’s Finance Committee today approved Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) guidelines that will enable FirstNet to advance the implementation of its program roadmap. The adoption of Finance Committee Resolution 2 will fund key activities – including business strategy development, network development, outreach and consultation, and operating infrastructure – in FY14 toward achieving the roadmap’s milestones. The Finance Committee held a special meeting via a public teleconference.

“Today we are funding the essential steps for the rest of this fiscal year to move forward on our program roadmap and business planning for building a nationwide, interoperable, public safety communications network,” said FirstNet Chairman Sam Ginn. "The resolution sets in motion the resources needed to implement the milestones and priorities that the Board adopted at the March meeting, while also taking a careful and focused approach to our operations going forward,” said Ginn, who serves on the Board’s Finance Committee.

Under the approved resolution, FirstNet management may commit up to $6.9 million on business strategy development activities in FY14, including initiating a public notice and comment process; $33 million on network development, including the requirements and procurement process plans for Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for comprehensive network solutions and for equipment and services; $16.1 million on outreach and State consultation, including consultation with 56 states and territories; and $16.1 million to further develop FirstNet’s operating infrastructure, including facilities and support and contract staff.

“With this resolution we are designating spending on the program roadmap as the highest priority going forward,” said Tim Bryan, Chairman of the Finance Committee. Bryan credited the Finance Committee and FirstNet management for being judicious with taxpayer funds as they worked to develop guidelines for achieving the milestones within the Board’s approved budget.

The FirstNet Board established the Finance Committee in December 2013 to approve, oversee, and recommend actions related to FirstNet’s financial, budgetary, and business development activities. In addition to Ginn and Bryan, the Committee includes Board Vice Chair Sue Swenson, Ed Reynolds, Jeff Johnson, and Brian Deese. For a more detailed breakdown of the FY14 funding guidelines, please see Finance Committee Resolution 2 with Attachment 1.

About FirstNet

FirstNet will provide emergency responders with the first high-speed, nationwide wireless network dedicated to public safety. FirstNet is designed to improve communication among local, state, regional, tribal and national emergency services personnel. The broadband data network will help save lives and protect the health and safety of all Americans. It will be built using LTE, the most advanced wireless technology available today. FirstNet fulfills a fundamental need of the public safety community for a single, mission-critical communications system enabling force multiplier effectiveness. Overseen by a Board of experienced public safety and Federal, state, and local government officials, and wireless industry experts, FirstNet is an independent entity within the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (www.firstnet.gov).