SIEC | FirstNet in Oregon -- Outreach events in Central and Southern Oregon

FirstNet in Oregon outreach sessions in Florence, Central Point and Roseburg

The Statewide Wireless Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) is pleased to announce the second in a series of informational outreach events for Education and Awareness of the FirstNet in Oregon project.

FirstNet was created by Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (PL112-96). The law includes provisions to fund and govern a nationwide public safety wireless broadband network, reallocate the 700 MHz D Block spectrum to public safety, and authorize the Federal Communications Commission to conduct incentive auctions to raise $7 billion for building and managing the new network. It establishes the First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet, within the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to oversee network planning, construction, and operation. FirstNet is in the process of seeking coordination with individual states in the implementation of the project.

To ensure interoperability and availability of low cost user devices, the Act directs the use of Long Term Evolution or LTE – the fourth generation (4G) cellular technology currently being deployed by commercial service providers.

The real value of FirstNet is the broad range of new public safety applications that it will enable. The expansive data throughput of LTE broadband, which is theoretically more than 15 times faster than 3G cellular data today, enables capabilities that, until now, were simply not possible – from multimedia command and control of video and graphics, to geo-location and asset tracking, and automated license plate recognition. FirstNet plans to include a Service Delivery Platform (SDP) and “app store” from which local, regional, and national software applications can be obtained as well as access to key public safety data sources such as the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) databases.

The workshops will provide information to stakeholders and seek input from stakeholders in the following areas to assist in future planning and development:

• In what ways do you see this capability benefiting your role and your organization?
•  What potential secondary users do you see for this network?
•  What local communications assets might be shared to support FirstNet?

 

The third outreach circuit includes the following sites: 

 

• Florence | Tues. Oct. 29, 2013, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
  • Siuslaw Valley Fire and Rescue | 2625 U.S. Hwy 101, Florence, Oregon
• Central Point | Wed. Oct. 30, 2013, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
  • Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon | 400 Pech Road, Central Point, Oregon
• Roseburg | Thur., Oct. 31, 2013, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
  • Douglas Forest Protective Association | 1758 NE Airport Road, Roseburg, Oregon

One additional outreach circuit is planned in the metropolitan Portland and Willamette valley area. An announcement will be made once details have been finalized. 

Questions?

Contact Steve Noel, Oregon Statewide Interoperability Coordinator

P: 503-934-6940 | E: Steve.Noel@odot.state.or.us