IPSC April Newsletter

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The Indiana FirstNet Connect

Welcome from IPSC


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It has been an exciting week in the public safety communications world!

In case you haven’t heard, FirstNet has announced that AT&T has been selected as the partner to build the nationwide public safety broadband network.  The announcement signals the transition from preparation, planning and waiting (and waiting) to implementation and operation mode.

The announcement is great timing for us here in Indiana. We’ve been busy preparing for the 2017 “Nothing but ‘Net” statewide FirstNet Conference, May 2-3, in French Lick. The FirstNet/AT&T partnership means we’ll have lots of information to share about how a nationwide public safety broadband network will transform public safety communications.

If you haven’t yet registered for the conference, do so TODAY!  Registration will close this Friday, April 7. Our conference rate will no longer be available after Friday, and we cannot pay for attendees who miss the registration deadline.  More information about the conference agenda, speakers and a registration link is included in the article below. 

I look forward to seeing you in French Lick in May.

Sincerely,

David Vice, IPSC Executive Director


Nothing But Net

Did you Procrastinate?

There are only a few spots left... Register TODAY!

Join the Integrated Public Safety Commission (IPSC) for the Nothing But ‘Net: FirstNet and the Future of Public Safety Broadband conference on May 2 & 3, 2017 at French Lick Springs Hotel in Orange County, Indiana.  

Attend for free!  We’re using FirstNet State and Local Implementation Grant Program  (SLIGP) funds to pay for three attendees per county.

Conference attendees will hear about developments and next steps with the NPSBN directly from FirstNet including T.J. Kennedy, FirstNet President.  You will learn from early builders about how the use of band 14 has enhanced public safety communications, as well as seeing new drone technology in action, courtesy of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Breakout sessions will include how to prepare for FirstNet in your community, how FirstNet will specifically impact rural communities, and what new tools may be available for use with dedicated public safety broadband. Download the conference schedule and session information at http://www.in.gov/ipsc/infirstnet/2970.htm

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 7. NO REGISTRATIONS CAN BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE!

eventmanagersystems.com/eventmanager/onlineregistration.asp?D=d&EventCode=U2R


Regional Seminars

Nine of the ten regional seminars have been completed with 437 registrants! Thank you to everyone who has been able to join us. There is one remaining seminar in District 4 located in Lafayette, Indiana starting at noon. If you would like to join the seminar you may register at:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/DPCSeminar


A “Milestone Moment” for Public Safety


On March 30,  the U.S. Department of Commerce and the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) announced the selection of AT&T to build the nationwide public safety broadband network dedicated to America’s first responders.  This public-private partnership is a significant investment in the communications infrastructure that public safety needs for day-to-day operations, disaster response and recovery, and securing of large events.

Public Safety senior leadership from around the country celebrated the news.

“For some in this room, this has been a 20-year journey,” said Chief Harlin McEwen, FirstNet’s Public Safety Advisory Council Chair and honorary IACP president. “Public safety and industry have done yeoman’s work to get us where we are today,” he said. “FirstNet needed steady public safety advice, and we’ve been able to give that. So many people in this room that brought us to where we are today, now what we want to do is watch this network get built.” 

IAFC President and Chairman Chief John Sinclair said that “the first job of every fire chief is the protection of their people. Firefighters die because of a lack of situational awareness. FirstNet is going to be helpful for everyone on scene – with interoperability and when we’re working with our law enforcement and EMS colleagues – as we look at facing down emergencies in all types of communities, from most urban to most rural.”

For more quotes following the announcement, visit http://firstnet.gov/newsroom/blog/firstnet-names-att-partner-build-network-first-responders-nationwide.

Next Steps: FirstNet staff has been working on a “100 Day Plan” in anticipation of the announcement.  Project timelines indicate that draft state plans will be released this summer, and a comment period will be integrated before final state plans are delivered in the fall. Details will be provided at our statewide conference in May.


Good to Know

AT&T is partnering with several other big-name companies to build the FirstNet network and ecosystem. The core team of collaborators includes Motorola Solutions, General Dynamics, Sapient Consulting and Inmarsat Government.

Source: Teaming to Make FirstNet a Reality. (n.d.). Retrieved April 05, 2017, from http://about.att.com/sites/first_net_selection


FirstNet Annual Report to Congress

FirstNet submitted the FY2016 Annual Report to Congress on February 22, 2017, which highlighted many recent achievements:

  • In January 2016, the RFP for a private sector partners for the FirstNet network deployment, operation and maintenance was released.
  • FirstNet opened the Innovation and Test Lab in Boulder, Colorado, as well as a collaborative, open workspace in Reston, Virginia, to move from planning activities to operational tasks.

To read the full report, visit: http://www.firstnet.gov/sites/default/files/FN-AnnualReport-2016_Final.pdf