By Dave Buchanan, Director State Consultation
This week FirstNet conducted the initial state consultation meeting for Minnesota. Our team met with key public safety leaders from across the state, including Commissioner Mona Dohman of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, who also serves as the state’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for FirstNet. Dozens of state and local public safety representatives from across the state also attended to learn more about FirstNet and to share information with FirstNet about the state’s planning efforts and needs for the broadband network.
Minnesota officials started with an overview of the states’s governance efforts to coordinate planning for the network. Jackie Mines, Director of Emergency Communication Networks for the State of Minnesota, provided an update on the Minnesota-FirstNet Consultation Project (Mn-FCP), which is the leading the state’s education and outreach initiatives.
She explained the Mn-FCP’s main objectives are to: (1) prepare the state and its public safety communications governance structure for FirstNet consultation; (2) perform the consultation process required under the Act; and (3) develop the Minnesota strategic plan.
Jackie also had several local public safety responders speak to specific incidents in the state. This included the I-35W bridge collapse, the Pagami Creek Wildfire and the multiple Red River floods. In each case, we learned how emergency responders were using mobile data, if available, and how a dedicated mobile data network could have enhanced their response efforts to those emergencies. Similar to the Maryland consultation meeting, reviewing “real world” examples of communications used during emergencies is helpful for FirstNet to understand the unique needs of a state’s first responders.
Several FirstNet officials participated in the consultation. Acting General Manager TJ Kennedy described the value of FirstNet and provided an update on our organization, including information about the recently released RFI and Public Notice and Comment items. Rich Reed, Director of State Plans, discussed how FirstNet is refining its approach to consultation with the states, and Brian Hobson, State Plans Technical Lead, led a discussion around users and coverage priorities. FirstNet Board Member Sheriff Stanek, who is from Hennepin County in Minnesota, also participated in the consultation.
The meeting was productive from a planning standpoint for the state, as well as for helping FirstNet prepare for future consultation meetings. I would like to thank the Minnesota team for being well prepared for our discussions and developing an agenda that fostered an open dialogue. It was clear that the Minnesota FirstNet team had done a lot of work around the state’s user and coverage needs and ensuring that state, local, and tribal public safety officials are involved in the FirstNet planning process.
On behalf of FirstNet, we look forward to continuing our dialogue with Minnesota and the other states and territories as the consultation process evolves.
- Dave
