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
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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
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
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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.
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
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
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