FirstNet officially launched its consultation program for the upcoming year, sending planning packages to the single points of contact (SPOCs) in all 56 states and territories. The package provides an overview of its consultation approach and includes a number of tools to assist the SPOCs with preparing for consultation, including a checklist and proposed agenda to help organize their kick-off meetings, according to a blog post by David Buchanan, FirstNet director of consultation.
The law that established FirstNet requires it to consult with federal, state, tribal and local public safety entities to make sure the FirstNet network is designed to meet the needs of public safety across the country. FirstNet plans to release its Request for Proposal (RFP) for the nation's first dedicated nationwide public safety broadband network in early January. FirstNet blog