For FirstNet to succeed in Michigan, it’s important to have teamwork among all public safety entities and it’s imperative that cybersecurity concerns be addressed, stakeholders said at the state’s Initial Consultation Meeting with FirstNet earlier this year, FirstNet said in a blog post. More than 100 stakeholders from local, state and tribal entities in Michigan met in East Lansing. For the purpose of outreach, Michigan maintains ongoing involvement with a number of organizations, including the APCO Broadband Committee, Michigan’s Public Safety Communications Interoperability Board, the National Association of State 911 Administrators, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, the Public Safety Communications Research Program and the State 911 Committee, the post said.

Dig once legislation that is getting attention in Congress was sought Tuesday at an NTIA California broadband event. Some speakers, including public officials, said that such legislation could help expedite broadband penetration in the state. Many members of Congress support the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act. House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., was unsuccessful in her effort earlier this fall to attach HR-3805 to the highway bill (see 1511040047), but the issue continues to get attention on Capitol Hill.

Dig once legislation that is getting attention in Congress was sought Tuesday at an NTIA California broadband event. Some speakers, including public officials, said that such legislation could help expedite broadband penetration in the state. Many members of Congress support the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act. House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., was unsuccessful in her effort earlier this fall to attach HR-3805 to the highway bill (see 1511040047), but the issue continues to get attention on Capitol Hill.

AUSTIN -- NARUC's Telecom Committee adopted two of three proposed substantive telecom resolutions at its business meeting Monday, as expected (see 1510290050). The resolutions would accelerate the deployment of next-generation 911 systems, and expedite availability of remote areas funding (RAF) and Connect America Funding (CAF) to unserved and underserved areas where carriers haven't accepted funding. The resolution to preserve competition on government-supported networks was tabled by the subcommittee Sunday and will likely be reworked for a later meeting.

AUSTIN -- NARUC's Telecom Committee adopted two of three proposed substantive telecom resolutions at its business meeting Monday, as expected (see 1510290050). The resolutions would accelerate the deployment of next-generation 911 systems, and expedite availability of remote areas funding (RAF) and Connect America Funding (CAF) to unserved and underserved areas where carriers haven't accepted funding. The resolution to preserve competition on government-supported networks was tabled by the subcommittee Sunday and will likely be reworked for a later meeting.

Comcast promotes Lynn Charytan to executive vice president-general counsel, Comcast Cable ... National Governors Association hires Scott Pattison, National Association of State Budget Officers, as executive director-CEO, effective Dec. 1 ... Financial Services Roundtable hires Murray Kenyon, ex-NSA, as senior vice president, and Heather Hogsett, ex-National Governors Association, as vice president-technology and risk strategy, both to Bits team, expanding group's work on cybersecurity, technology and other issues ... Neal Cohen, ex-Orbital ATK, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority agreed he won't be considered anymore to be general manager, WMATA said ... FirstNet hires as regional tribal government liaisons Margaret Muhr, ex-Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians emergency official, and Adam Geisler, La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians.

Bipartisan enthusiasm surrounded the package of draft measures and the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act (HR-3805) considered during Wednesday’s House Communications Subcommittee hearing. Witnesses and lawmakers agreed on the merits of the ideas, posted in draft form earlier this week on the committee website, addressing such deployment concerns as pole attachments, deadlines for the General Services Administration and creation of an inventory of federal assets (see 1510260057).

Bipartisan enthusiasm surrounded the package of draft measures and the Broadband Conduit Deployment Act (HR-3805) considered during Wednesday’s House Communications Subcommittee hearing. Witnesses and lawmakers agreed on the merits of the ideas, posted in draft form earlier this week on the committee website, addressing such deployment concerns as pole attachments, deadlines for the General Services Administration and creation of an inventory of federal assets (see 1510260057).

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity Strategy Act (HR-3510) won't have a significant effect on DHS' budget and won't affect state, local or tribal budgets, the Congressional Budget Office said Monday in a cost estimate. The House was to begin debate on HR-3510 after our deadline Tuesday. The bill, which the House Homeland Security Committee cleared last week (see 1509300065), would require DHS to develop a formalized cybersecurity strategy. HR-3510 would mandate that DHS be the hub for federal and civilian cybersecurity information sharing and mandate that the department be the main federal provider of technical assistance to entities that suffer data breaches.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity Strategy Act (HR-3510) won't have a significant effect on DHS' budget and won't affect state, local or tribal budgets, the Congressional Budget Office said Monday in a cost estimate. The House was to begin debate on HR-3510 after our deadline Tuesday. The bill, which the House Homeland Security Committee cleared last week (see 1509300065), would require DHS to develop a formalized cybersecurity strategy. HR-3510 would mandate that DHS be the hub for federal and civilian cybersecurity information sharing and mandate that the department be the main federal provider of technical assistance to entities that suffer data breaches.