Most states are making progress in planning for...
Most states are making progress in planning for FirstNet, though there are “significant” differences in the maturity and preparation of states, said a report by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (http://bit.ly/1mMuPQQ). NASCIO said “states are taking a…
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range of approaches in everything from outreach to governance. Some states are focused intensely on becoming organized and raising awareness internally, while others are focusing on interstate and regional solutions.” It surveyed 44 states and territories between April and May. More than 70 percent had developed a governance model, and means to support FirstNet planning and outreach activities, and organized activities with other key stakeholders in the state and potentially with other states. Sixteen percent had collected the necessary data on operations, assets and user baselines necessary for their state plans, said the report released Wednesday. The figure is “surprising,” because this is an element of the second round of the State and Local Government Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP), which has not yet been awarded nor outlined, the report said. It’s also surprising that almost a quarter of respondents said their states are not actively conducting FirstNet outreach and education activities, said NASCIO. “Some of those who are not actively engaged in outreach stated that they were waiting on funds, planning, or material from FirstNet before conducting extensive education activities, while others stated that the outreach had ceased for the time being as they waited on additional collaboration with FirstNet,” the report said. “FirstNet is a major intergovernmental undertaking, with the need for states to do budgeting forecasts, infrastructure and technology planning, and education and outreach to potential users. How states approach this problem will have a significant bearing on whether we end up with a successful, sustainable model for this major national endeavor,” said NASCIO Broadband Committee co-chairman and Wisconsin Chief Information Officer David Cagigal, in a news release (http://bit.ly/1lcZjua).