NTIA Seeks Comment on State, Local Public Safety Network Grants

NTIA asked what steps states should take to prepare to consult with FirstNet regarding coverage, reliability, resiliency requirements and training needs of local users. It seeks comment on how states should plan to involve local and tribal entities in the grant program, how to facilitate regional participation through the states and how states could involve in the grant program federal users and entities located within their states. NTIA also seeks comments regarding existing public safety governance and planning authorities. It asked how states and localities can best use their existing infrastructure. The agency also seeks input on state funding and performance requirements.

To be successful, those putting together the FirstNet network of emergency responders must design services to meet the need of first responders; select a proper board of directors; and give the board the flexibility it needs to make a successful business model that can provide services at an attractive price for public agencies, said Strickling. “We know we have to get this right in order to ensure a successful network.” Finding candidates for the board is “like solving a multidimensional jigsaw puzzle,” he said, adding that it’s important to refrain from making decisions that would restrict the freedom and flexibility the board needs. NTIA is scrutinizing any decisions that might increase the cost of the network as it may affect the affordability downstream, Strickling said.

The timelines mandated in the spectrum legislation are “very aggressive,” meaning an efficient and cost-effective process is critical, said Ray Lehr, director of the Maryland Statewide Communications Interoperability Program. The application for grants could be a long process for states, he said. Instead of having a grant application process, the Maryland Office of Emergency Communications offers a technical assistance program, which provides a catalog to states to select the public safety components they want in their state, he noted. “I would love to see NTIA come up with a similar program” to simplify the grant application process, he said. “You also have more uniformity that way,” he said. Maryland, which is partnering with several other states, plans to roll out the network as a regional network versus a state network, he said.

It’s important to have an efficient procurement process and multi-state agreement in place during initial planning and implementation, said Ken Boley, principal with the Interoperability Group. He cited the Mid-Atlantic Consortium for Interoperable Nationwide Advanced Communications (MACINAC), formed by six states. The group has adopted a lightweight approach for its governance, he said. That means states will work together as a consortium while using their resources and budget independently, he said. The group created a cooperative procurement process that works for all members, he said. The goal is not just about building a public safety network, it’s also about states working together on interoperability, he said.

Boley noted that NTIA’s recent suspension of BTOP public safety grants appears to be a partial suspension. The agency appears to be suspending all but low-risk activities, he said. States should figure out what are low-risk activities before they move forward, he said. MACINAC had planned to issue a request for proposals before the spectrum legislation passed, he said. The group will now issue a request for information, which helps identify where it fits in FirstNet, potential partnerships and business models, he said.

Interstate agreement makes a lot of sense, said Robert LeGrande, former District of Columbia chief technology officer. For localities, establishing state and local governance is an important first step, he said. Additionally, states and localities need a comprehensive view of their communications infrastructure, what services and applications are needed, and fund distribution and public/private partnership opportunities, he said. States should gather technical and business information as they provide input to FirstNet, he said. Any public safety solutions need to be competitive and focus on adoption, said Joe Ross, partner at Televate. It’s important to establish conditions and terms for adoption, address capabilities, level of performance needed, coverage and devices as states and localities plan and implement their public safety networks, he said.