States News Service, WASHINGTON, DC

The following information was released by U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA):

First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board Chairman Sam Ginn announced today the appointment of Harlin McEwen as Chairman of FirstNets Public Safety Advisory Committee.

Chief McEwen has over five decades of experience as both an advocate for public safety telecommunications issues and as a career law enforcement officer and administrator. As chairman of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corp. (PSST), he had been a leader in earlier efforts to establish a nationwide public safety broadband network. Chief McEwen also serves as Chairman of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Communications Committee and previously served as Communications Advisor to the Major Cities Police Chiefs Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association and the Major County Sheriffs’ Association. He also served as Deputy Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1996 2000.

Im delighted that Chief McEwen has agreed to serve as the inaugural Chairman of this critical group, said Ginn. Ive asked him to work closely with my FirstNet Board colleague, Jeff Johnson, to assist him in getting the final membership and organizational structure of the Advisory Committee in place. FirstNet is eager to begin our crucial dialogue with these governmental and first responder leaders on how we can best deploy and operate the nationwide public safety broadband network.

The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 created FirstNet and set out a requirement that its board establish a standing public safety advisory committee to assist it in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. The FirstNet Board at its inaugural meeting in September adopted a resolution designating a subgroup of SAFECOM as its public safety advisory committee, and directed Ginn to work with the Department of Homeland Security to establish the Committee and appoint the Chairman and Vice Chairs of the committee. An announcement regarding the final structure and membership of the PSAC will be forthcoming.

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