Alexandria, Va. – The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) held its first meeting today since Acting Commerce Secretary Dr. Rebecca Blank announced the board appointments Aug. 20, 2012, during the Opening Ceremony at APCO’s Annual Conference & Expo.

Under the public safety provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, enacted in February of this year, FirstNet is responsible for ensuring the implementation of a nationwide, interoperable, public safety broadband network.  The Board took a number of actions, including adopting the FirstNet bylaws and a resolution calling for the use of a subgroup of SAFECOM as the basis for its public safety advisory committee.

Board members also provided comprehensive, conceptual presentations of the network architecture and applications, which will help to engage public discourse and implementation in quick fashion.

“We are very pleased to have such an outstanding Board in place and look forward to working with FirstNet, state and local governments, and the public safety community to ensure timely and responsible progress in establishing the public safety broadband network,” said APCO President Terry Hall.