March 16, 2016 – (RESTON, VA) The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) today outlined the next phase of its Strategic Roadmap, including a sequence of milestones leading to the initial deployment of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). FirstNet leadership highlighted these Roadmap milestones and other key activities during today’s Quarterly FirstNet Board and Committee meetings.
“We committed to and achieved our Roadmap milestones on time during the first two years, and there will be no let up going forward,” said FirstNet Chair Sue Swenson. “We have laid out an aggressive schedule to ensure progress continues along the Roadmap in coordination with public safety, the states, and Federal agencies.”
The FirstNet Board first launched the Strategic Roadmap two years ago this week, at the March 2014 Board meeting, to establish a timeline and path forward for deploying the network. Since then, FirstNet has accomplished all major Roadmap milestones, including the release of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the network partnership.
During today’s Board meeting, FirstNet officials provided updates on the status of key initiatives and activities that support the achievement of Roadmap milestones going forward, including the RFP process, consultation, standards development, and state plans.
“To date, the extraordinary cooperation among stakeholders has driven the remarkable progress we’ve made toward the NPSBN – but we still have much more to do,” said FirstNet President TJ Kennedy. “As we enter the next phase of the Roadmap, continued collaboration will be crucial to delivering the best, most cost effective nationwide network to public safety as quickly as possible.”
Additionally, FirstNet announced that the Band 14 Spectrum Relocation Grant Program was published today on grants.gov. This program will provide financial assistance to eligible public safety entities for relocating their existing radios and systems from Band 14 in advance of the deployment of the network.
“In addition to clearing the Band 14 spectrum for NPSBN deployment, this grant program will enable public safety incumbents to continue to operate their communications systems seamlessly,” said FirstNet Chief Executive Officer Mike Poth. “FirstNet will continue to work with the incumbents to help ensure the transition is as predictable as possible.”