The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded the first $13.1 million in grant money for states to begin planning, consultation and outreach activities as they prepare for the launch of FirstNet.

Under NTIA’s State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP), five states were awarded grants: Colorado will receive $2.5 million, Connecticut will receive $1.4 million, Delaware will receive $724,613, New York will receive $4.86 million, and Ohio will receive $3.6 million. Future grants to the remaining states and territories will be awarded on a rolling basis.

“The input of states, tribes and local governments will be critical as FirstNet develops its plans for this historic network,” Lawrence E. Strickling, assistant secretary of commerce for information and communications and NTIA administrator, said in a statement. “NTIA’s State and Local Implementation Grant Program will give states the resources they need to consult with FirstNet on deployment of a nationwide public safety broadband network.”

All U.S. states and territories are eligible to apply for the grants and are required to provide a matching contribution of at least 20%. This first phase of planning will entail education, outreach to relevant parties and consultation with FirstNet. The next phase will entail gathering data on infrastructure, available partnerships and other resources. Second phase grants will not be awarded until FirstNet has finalized what data it wants collected.

The SLIGP is a $118.15 million grant program administered by the NTIA to assist regional, state, local and tribal governments as they plan for a nationwide public safety broadband network.