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News and Publications

August 16, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON — First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) General Manager Bill D’Agostino announced today that FirstNet has named Randolph M. Lyon as its Chief Financial Officer. Lyon is the third FirstNet senior executive to be hired this year in the ongoing effort to fully staff the management team. He will be responsible for FirstNet financial strategy, management and oversight.

August 13, 2013 Press Release

FirstNet Logo

WASHINGTON – Marking its first anniversary, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board today adopted its business plan for FY ’14, signaling the most important progress in FirstNet’s short history.

The Board adopted a $194 million budget in support of management’s plans and priorities to continue developing the nationwide broadband network dedicated to public safety.

August 13, 2013 Press Release

FirstNet Logo

WASHINGTON – The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) announced today that it has approved an agreement with the state of New Mexico allowing it to lease access to FirstNet’s spectrum. This is the second such agreement between FirstNet and one of the seven public safety Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grantees, whose funding was partially suspended following enactment of the law creating FirstNet.

August 05, 2013 Press Release

FirstNet Logo

WASHINGTON — First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Chairman Sam Ginn announced that he has named FirstNet Board Member Kevin McGinnis to head the organization’s stakeholder outreach with tribes. McGinnis has begun meeting with tribal leaders.

July 25, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON — Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling issued the following statement on the multistakeholder process to develop the first privacy code of conduct aimed at improving disclosures on mobile devices.

July 24, 2013 Press Release

Washington — The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced it has awarded the first $13.1 million in grants under the State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP). The awards are going to Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, New York and Ohio, and will support state planning, consultation and outreach activities of these states as they prepare for the launch of the first nationwide public safety broadband network.

June 25, 2013 Press Release

Washington, DC — The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) plans to issue multiple requests for information (RFIs) within the next few weeks. The RFIs will request detailed information regarding potential deployment options for two crucial portions of the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network: the radio access network (RAN) and core network. The RFIs will be posted on www.fedbizopps.gov.

June 14, 2013 Press Release

BOULDER, Colo. - The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today announced plans to establish a national Center for Advanced Communications in Boulder, Colo. The new center will implement a key provision of a memorandum President Obama issued earlier today on “Expanding America’s Leadership in Wireless Innovation.”

June 14, 2013 Press Release

“The President’s action today confirms and strengthens the efforts of NTIA, working with other federal agencies, to allocate 500 megahertz of spectrum by 2020 for wireless broadband services while balancing the spectrum needs of federal agencies. Spectrum is an important driver of economic growth and innovation. The Presidential Memorandum will encourage greater collaboration between industry and the government necessary to facilitate greater sharing of spectrum and ensure that agencies will utilize spectrum as efficiently as possible.”

June 07, 2013 Press Release

In a new report released today, Exploring the Digital Nation: America’s Emerging Online Experience, NTIA examines how Americans connect to the Internet and what Americans do once they get online. The report, co-authored with the Economics and Statistics Administration, confirms the dramatic growth in the number of Americans who are going online to perform important tasks like applying for jobs, looking up health information, and learning about current events.

June 06, 2013 Press Release

“We look forward to working with the FCC, the Department of Education and all other stakeholders to achieve the president’s goal of ensuring that 99 percent of U.S. students have access to next-generation broadband within the next five years,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling.

June 04, 2013 Press Release

Westminster, Colo. – The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) today approved resolutions proposed by its new General Manager, Bill D’Agostino, to give FirstNet the funding and organizational structure it needs to advance its mission to build a nationwide, public safety broadband network for first responders.

May 08, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON – The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board voted today to establish a Special Review Committee that will review issues raised by Board member Sherriff Paul Fitzgerald at FirstNet’s April 23, 2013 Board meeting.

The committee will look at FirstNet’s compliance with applicable federal hiring and procurement rules, conflict of interest rules and open meeting requirements. The committee will also make recommendations on any process improvements the FirstNet Board should implement to address the concerns raised by Sheriff Fitzgerald.

May 06, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON – The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) announced today that the first in a summer-long series of consultations with states, tribes, territories and localities will take place May 15-16 in the Washington, D.C area. FirstNet will conduct regional workshops in six regions and will also meet with each state individually during the consultation process.

May 02, 2013 Press Release

The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today released its Broadband Adoption Toolkit, a document aimed at sharing best practices developed from broadband adoption and digital literacy projects funded by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). Leveraging the experience of about 100 communities served by BTOP to benefit the entire nation, the Toolkit gives practical ideas and tools for overcoming barriers to getting more Americans online access.

April 23, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON – The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board today adopted a resolution authorizing FirstNet Board member Sue Swenson to begin negotiations with the state of Texas to enter into a spectrum lease agreement for its public safety broadband project.

April 23, 2013 Press Release

WASHINGTON  –  The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Board announced today the hiring of Bill D’Agostino, Jr. to be its General Manager.  D’Agostino is an accomplished telecommunications and wireless industry executive, with 33 years of experience designing, operating and upgrading telecommunications networks.