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PCCA Journal|2

nd

Quarter 2015

33

NTIA Announces Second Phase of FirstNet

Implementation Funding

T

he U.S. Commerce Depart-

ment’s National Telecom-

munications and Information

Administration (NTIA) an-

nounced in April that it will be releasing

the second phase of previously awarded

grant funding for states and territories

to begin collecting data necessary to

plan for the nationwide public safety

broadband network being developed by

the First Responder Network Authority

(FirstNet).

The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job

Creation Act of 2012 authorized the

creation of FirstNet, which is develop-

ing a nationwide network to enable first

responders to better communicate and

save lives. The law also directed NTIA to

develop a grant program, the State and

Local Implementation Grant Program

(SLIGP), to assist states and territories

in planning, education, and outreach as

they consult with FirstNet on the deploy-

ment of the broadband network.

In 2013, NTIA awarded grants to 54

states and territories. The first phase

of funding, totaling about $58 million,

has helped states conduct outreach

with public safety and state and local

officials to determine their needs, gaps,

and priorities for public safety wireless

broadband and to prepare for formal

consultations with FirstNet, which is an

independent authority within NTIA.

This second phase of SLIGP funding

($58 million) will allow states to collect

data identifying and prioritizing where

public safety broadband coverage is

needed, identifying potential users and

their capacity needs, and detailing current

providers and procurement mechanisms.

“So far, states and territories are mak-

ing good progress planning for FirstNet,”

said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for

Communications and Information and

NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strick-

ling. “This second phase of funding will

help states and territories ensure the

network meets their most pressing needs

for coverage.”

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Continued on page 34