FirstNet readies spending plan
The board of the federal agency charged with managing the development of a nationwide wireless emergency communications network has approved an almost $200 million spending plan for the project in 2014 and appointed a White House budget official to manage it.
The board of the federal agency charged with managing the development of a nationwide wireless emergency communications network has approved an almost $200 million spending plan for the project in 2014 and appointed a White House budget official to manage it.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)’s First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) is managing the construction of a project that is set to become the first nationwide, high-speed network dedicated to public safety for 56 U.S. states and territories.
FirstNet is an independent entity within the NTIA, which is part of the Commerce Department, and is overseen by a board made up of representatives of public safety, government and the wireless industry.
Randolph Lyon was named the organization’s new chief financial officer. He has been detailed to FirstNet by the Office of Management and Budget since March, according to NTIA. At FirstNet, he will be responsible for financial strategy, management and oversight and will oversee the $194 million 2014 budget.
At OMB Lyon led the Commerce Branch responsible for budget, management and policy matters involving the Commerce Department, Federal Communications Commission, Small Business Administration and several smaller agencies, with budgets totaling more than $20 billion annually.
Lyon helped develop and oversee implementation of a variety of telecommunications, technology, environmental, economic and information policies carried out by these agencies. He also had a key role in developing the administration’s proposal that led to the creation of FirstNet and helped develop proposals leading to the creation of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, the Spectrum Relocation Fund, spectrum auction legislation, market-based regulatory programs and other program reforms.
Politico reported in early August that a member of the FirstNet board, Story County, Iowa, Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald, recently gave the Commerce Department’s inspector general evidence that some of the board members are too closely tied to wireless carriers and have ignored public safety officials’ communications needs. NTIA did not respond to an Aug. 21 FCW inquiry about the investigation’s status.