By Tonia Rogers

Presenters: Dave Buchanan, Marsha McBride, Carolyn Dunn

Since the awarding of the FirstNet contract to AT&T on March 30, FirstNet has been busy informing states and their associated decision-makers about their FirstNet options. Within FirstNet’s timeline, states have been providing comment and questions to FirstNet regarding the implementation, with questions so far focusing on coverage during build out of the FirstNet network, deployables available through the FirstNet program and other issues.

The next steps for FirstNet include consulting with public safety, engaging in dialog about network experiences, and advocating for enhancements, upgrades and improvements in the network. David Buchanan assured attendees, “We will be advocates for public safety.” According to the FirstNet timeline, states must choose whether to opt-in or opt-out of FirstNet no later than mid-December 2017.

Representatives from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) also presented information on the State Alternative Plan Program (SAPP), outlining the necessary steps that states who opt-out of FirstNet must meet. The SAPP plan would assure that states choosing not to follow the FirstNet plan would meet the same criteria within the same time frames from a technical, coverage, budget, planning and many other standpoints as the chosen FirstNet contractor, AT&T.

NTIA also provided a quick overview of the SLIGP grants program, including the existing grants that will end in February 2018 and the new SLIGP 2.0 grants program that will be announced this fall. Additional information about the SLIGP grants program and the SAPP program will be available on the NTIA website as the process continues to move forward.