How PSCR and FirstNet Authority are Connected for Public Safety
At the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR), we are frequently asked about our relationship to the National…
NTIA
Senate confirms Davidson to head NTIA
NTIA houses the FirstNet Authority, the entity charged with building and maintaining the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) with AT&T as its selected partner. SOURCE:…
Solutions for FirstNet/Broadband Expansion and How to Fund It for Tribal Nations
Join us Wednesday, July 14, 2021 9:30 PT | 10:30 MT | 11:30 CT | 12:30 EDT for an informative webinar to learn what you need to know and what you need to do to adopt and deploy FirstNet, as well as how to pursue stimulus/grant funds supporting broadband expansion and adoption. We have invited special guests from FirstNet Built with AT&T to discuss solutions available to Tribal Nations. Then, join our Program Director for Grants Assistance to gain a deeper understanding of how the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 and the NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program are allocated and how they may be used to support these endeavors.
The Continuing Saga Of Bilking Public Safety To Protect Market Share
By Al Gillespie, Fire Chief (Ret) What do you call it when someone tells you one thing but continues to do something that isn’t exactly…
Top U.S. telecommunications, spectrum adviser stepping down
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who oversees the agency, said in a statement: “Diane has led NTIA to multiple successes on 5G, supply chain security,…
911 Grant Program Now Accepting Applications to Upgrade Nation’s Call Centers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: News Media Contact: NTIA, Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-7002, press@ntia.doc.gov Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Transportation…
Long-awaited next-generation-911 cost study released
Upgrading U.S. public-safety answering points to IP-based next-generation 911 (NG911) technology will cost $9.5 billion to $12.7 billion during a 10-year period, according to a…
FirstNet Association Inaugural Event
The FirstNet Association held their Inaugural FirstNet Association Regional Forum in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 29, 2018. It facilitated the kind of networking and First…
Public Safety Advocate: Rural Broadband, the Headless Horseman!
Why the Headless Horseman? The more complex issues are outlined below, but the simple answer is that there has never been more interest in extending…
Public Safety, Industry Entities Weigh in on NG-911 Grant Program
Public safety and industry entities have weighed in on proposed regulations for a next-generation 911 (NG-911) grant program, including on who should be eligible for…
NTIA Releases Funding Levels, Governors Have Until Dec. 28 To Make FirstNet ‘Opt-in/opt-out’ Decisions
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) releases construction-grant funding levels to FirstNet, which will deliver the figures to most governors tomorrow—an action that means…
NTIA releases information about SLIGP 2.0 grants to states, territories for FirstNet purposes
States and territories can apply for their shares of State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP) 2.0 funding that could total as much as $43.4…
NTIA Does Not Release State Funding Levels, Pushing ‘Opt-in/opt-out’ Deadline Deeper Into December
Most governors will have at least until Dec. 21 to decide whether their states and territories will “opt-in” to FirstNet or pursue the “opt-out” option…
FirstNet Updates State-plan Portals, But Missing NTIA Funding Levels Mean 90-day Decision ‘Clock’ On Hold
FirstNet updates the state-plan portals, but official state-plan delivery—the action needed to start the statutory 90-day decision window for most governors—must wait until the National…
FirstNet Rejects FOIA Request for State Plan Information, AT&T Contracts
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) rejected a request for records from an attorney who specializes in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, saying the…