The State of NH recently passed SB 46 which established the committee to oversee and advise statewide public communications strategies as well as help develop the NH portion of the FirstNet national public safety broadband network ($7.2B grant program administered by NTIA).
UNH Participates In FirstNet State Consultation
UNH staff members Brian Shepperd, Director of Broadband Services, Scott Valcourt, Director of Strategic Technology, and Fay Rubin, GRANIT Project Director participated in the FirstNet State Consultation on June 9, 2015. All three are members of the New Hampshire Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC). This initial FirstNet visit focused on roles and responsibilities, users, coverage needs, expectations for data collection and other state-specific issues that will be critical to the state’s Initial Consultation Package with FirstNet.
About FirstNet and the SIEC:
The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 created the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) as an independent authority within NTIA to provide emergency responders with the first nationwide high-speed broadband network dedicated to public safety. New Hampshire formed the Statewide lnteroperability Executive Committee (SIEC) to develop the state’s FirstNet network. The purpose of the SIEC is to establish partnerships throughout New Hampshire which encompass all first responder organizations, non-governmental agencies, the private sector, and the military. The SIEC will assist in development of the strategic roadmap for this first responder network by addressing communications systems, i.e. voice, data, video streaming, along with equipment, training, and resources. FirstNet will be the tool, but the SIEC will be the driving force behind its success.
