1. Georgia Emergency Management Agency \ Homeland Security
FirstNet Georgia: Overview and Update
Warren Shepard, FirstNet Coordinator
Special Projects
August 10, 2017

2. What is FirstNet
WHAT IS THE FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK AUTHORITY or FIRSTNET?
FirstNet is an independent authority within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. FirstNet is governed by a 15-member Board consisting of the Attorney General of the United States, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and 12 members appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. The FirstNet Board is composed of representatives from public safety; local, state and federal government; and the wireless industry.
Signed into law on February 22, 2012, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act created FirstNet. The law gives FirstNet the duty to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of the first nationwide public safety broadband network. FirstNet will provide a single interoperable platform for public safety communications.

3. Implementing the Vision
THE LAW
FUNDING
FirstNet becomes law PL
$7B authorized to build the FirstNet network. Funded by spectrum auctions through 2022.
GOVERNANCE
BAND CLASS (BC) 14
20MHz of bandwidth has been dedicated to public safety in the prime upper 700MHz frequency range.
The FirstNet Board has 15 members, including those with telecommunications and public safety backgrounds
Each Governor appoints 1 Single Point of Contact (SPOC) and governing body to represent the state’s interests to FirstNet.
42 member Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) advises FirstNet on public safety intergovernmental matters.
The Law
FirstNet was created by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 on February 22, 2012, specifically Title VI – Public Safety Communications and Electromagnetic Spectrum Auctions.
FirstNet’s mandate is to establish a nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN) based on a single, national network architecture.
The Act established FirstNet as an independent authority within NTIA
Governance
FirstNet is organized as an independent authority within NTIA with a Board of Directors.
FirstNet has been charged to coordinate with the state or territory Single Point of Contact (SPOC).
The Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) is a 40-member committee that advises FirstNet on public safety matters.
Funding
FirstNet was authorized $7B to build the network.
FirstNet is funded through proceeds of spectrum auctions through FY 2022.
The network must be self-sustained over the long-term through user fees
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a single license to FirstNet for the use of both the 700 MHz D block and existing public safety broadband spectrum.
7/25/2016

4. FirstNet Aims to Be a Win-Win-Win

5. National Deployment Approach

6. FirstNet and Public Safety Grade

7. Public Safety Grade
Cannot have single point of failure (must have backup power and multiple network paths).
Sites/towers must be hardened to local or national standards, whichever is more stringent.
Bullet-resistant materials must be used.
Perimeter fencing is required (unless the public is already restricted from area).
The site must be access controlled.
Video monitoring system of interior and exterior must be installed.

8. FirstNet Network Benefits
Public Safety Apps / Services
Dedicated to Public Safety
QoS, Priority & Preemption (QPP)
Situational Awareness
This is where our acquisition and consultation is leading us to – a network with these key capabilities and benefits
Dedicated Network for Public Safety: This is a nationwide network dedicated to public safety  This is a key attribute of what we offer as a mission critical service to public safety
Decision factors for the NPSBN will always be based on how we continue to serve public safety’s mission (coverage, enhancements, features, etc.) different from a commercial network’s decision (consumers, shareholders, etc.)
We have to be self-sustaining, not profitable and as a result we reinvest the funds collected through this network
Public Safety Applications: There are already applications in use by public safety agencies that leverage commercial networks for data needs [provide examples]
Once the network is deployed, we anticipate a rapid expansion in application development so public safety can fully leverage the capabilities of this network
FirstNet will integrate public safety specific services (PTT (Push to talk), emergency alerting, direct mode, etc.) and create a critical component for an ecosystem that will foster growth of Public Safety specific application development
QoS (Quality of Service), Priority & Preemption: network that provides priority and preemption
The network we envision is intended to ensure service is always dedicated to public safety especially when it’s needed
Situational Awareness: Power of tools that provide information to us, you and your colleagues to make you informed and to do your job safely and quickly
Improved situational awareness (end user perspective) pushing information down to frontline personnel including video, unit tracking and sharing (as appropriate), messaging/alerting, etc.
Local Control: Giving you the ability to govern and manage this in a customized way for your operational areas
FirstNet will provide access for local control and management of some network functions. For example, device provisioning and access management will need to be done at an appropriate level where agencies can identify appropriate users. Additionally, like what is done with many LMR networks today, network monitoring is a benefit to monitor network operations and status (the types of things you’d typically do in a NOC – situational awareness from the network perspective)
Public Safety Grade: Has to be redundant and available every time public safety needs it
Improved reliability, redundancy, resiliency, and security 
Need to protect our network from when bad things happen
Local Control
Public Safety Grade
7/25/2016

9. How Can FirstNet Be Used
Field Based Reporting
Instant Messaging
Geo-Location and Asset Tracking
Video Surveillance
Dynamic Mapping, Weather, Traffic
Automated License Plate Recognition
Remote Database Access/Queries (mug shots, finger prints, reporting, criminal history, hot files)
Real-time, One- and Two-Way Video in Vehicles or Handhelds
Mobile Office (bulk file transfer, , Internet web access, VPN)

10. Priority and Preemption
NORMAL OPERATIONS
QPP PARKWAY
AT&T Proprietary (Restricted) Only for use by authorized individuals or any above-designated team(s) within the AT&T companies and not for general distribution
© 2016 AT&T Intellectual Property.  All rights reserved.  AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.  The information contained herein is not an offer, nor commitment, and not for use outside AT&T except under written agreement.

11. Priority and Preemption
CRISIS OCCURS
QPP PARKWAY
COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
AT&T Proprietary (Restricted) Only for use by authorized individuals or any above-designated team(s) within the AT&T companies and not for general distribution
© 2016 AT&T Intellectual Property.  All rights reserved.  AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.  The information contained herein is not an offer, nor commitment, and not for use outside AT&T except under written agreement.

12. Priority and Preemption
CRISIS WORSENS
QPP PARKWAY
AT&T Proprietary (Restricted) Only for use by authorized individuals or any above-designated team(s) within the AT&T companies and not for general distribution
© 2016 AT&T Intellectual Property.  All rights reserved.  AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.  The information contained herein is not an offer, nor commitment, and not for use outside AT&T except under written agreement.

13. Priority and Preemption
CRISIS WORSENS
QPP PARKWAY
AT&T Proprietary (Restricted) Only for use by authorized individuals or any above-designated team(s) within the AT&T companies and not for general distribution
© 2016 AT&T Intellectual Property.  All rights reserved.  AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.  The information contained herein is not an offer, nor commitment, and not for use outside AT&T except under written agreement.

14. Continue to Invest in LMR
Public safety’s use of LMR systems will continue for the foreseeable future. There is no defined timeframe when LTE broadband technology may provide the same level of mission-critical voice services that are available today or when mission-critical voice services will be incorporated in the NPSBN.
Land Mobile Radio (LMR)
Long Term Evolution (LTE)
Definition
LMR is a land-based wireless narrowband communications system commonly used by emergency responders across all levels of government, commercial companies, and the military to support voice and low-speed data communications
LTE is the next evolution of commercial broadband wireless communications technology, initially developed to address the demand for high-speed, data intensive communications. This aids public safety officials in improving situational awareness, advanced analytics, database lookups, and video applications

15. Public Safety Population
Agency Type
Total Agencies
Total
Police (Local Law Enforcement)
407
10,336
Sheriff (County Law Enforcement)
171
15,589
State Police (State Law Enforcement) 1
1,048
Fire Departments (All/Most Career)
181
15,066
Fire Departments (All/Most Volunteer)
517
8,159
Emergency Medical Services (partial)
117
3,244
TOTAL
1,394
53,442

16. FirstNet Timeline 2018- Fall 2017 August 4, 2017 June 19, 2017
FirstNet built in Georgia
(Phase 1)
Fall 2017
Georgia Governor Opts-In or Opts-Out
August 4, 2017
Comments on Proposed State Plan
June 19, 2017
Proposed State Plan
June 19, 2017
Georgia RFI issued
FirstNet Consults with States
States Outreach to Their Constituents
March 2017
2012
FirstNet Formed
2015
2016
2016
Delay announced
Nov 1, 2016

17. Post RFP Award: State Plan Delivery
FirstNet and AT&T delivered Proposed State Plans to each state/territory in on June 19, 2017.
Georgia SPOC Team reviewed Proposed State Plan and returned comments to FirstNet on August 4, 2017.
FirstNet now has up to 45 day to deliver final State Plan to the Governor.
Under the Act, the Governor has 90 days to choose whether to :
Participate in the FirstNet proposed RAN deployment or
Assume responsibility to design, build, and maintain its own state RAN deployment or
Do nothing and participate by default

18. What is a State Plan? Contains the Information the Act Requires
Contains the Information the State Desires
Captures a Snap Shot in Time
Allows the Governor to Make an Informed Decision on the FirstNet Value
Is a Non-Binding Document
Defines Coverage Area
Defines cost to end users

19. Who pays? Must I Join?
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING THE NETWORK COMPONENTS?
Unless a State Opt Out, FirstNet is responsible for ensuring the building of the network core. If a state decides to opt-in and accept FirstNet’s State Plan, FirstNet will pay to build out the State’s radio access network (RAN) that will connect to the Core. FirstNet will also be financially responsible for the network’s operations and maintenance.
Any State that Opts Out will assume the responsibility for all related cost associated with creating and maintaining the RAN. This State RAN, by law, must be able to connect to the FirstNet Core and meet all established network technical requirements.
WILL ALL MY PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES HAVE TO SUBSCRIBE TO FIRSTNET?
Use of the FirstNet network is voluntary, and no public safety agency is required to participate. However, a network built for and dedicated to public safety agencies should provide a dependable and affordable user experience making FirstNet network an attractive choice for first responders.

20. Costs to End-Users
Network User Fee: Fee from each entity, including public safety or secondary users, that uses FirstNET. Currently users pay a per device fee to a commercial provider (AT&T, Southern Lync, Verizon) for data and voice services. The national average is $50 per device per month. FirstNet’s goal is to provide better service at a competitive price. Plans range from unlimited data to pools plans with shared data. All FirstNet Plans will be unlimited voice and text.
Devices: Cost of smartphones, air cards, and other devices used to access the Network are paid by the entity accessing the network. AT&T is now requiring all future wireless telephones and devices to be Band 14 compatible.

21. Where are we going?
Georgia is waiting for the release of the final State Plan before making an opt-in/opt-out recommendation.
Working with FirstNet to discuss Georgia’s specific needs and desires for the network
Concerns expressed about affordability and coverage timeline
Georgia received and reviewed five responses to our 2017 Request for Information for a Public Safety Broadband Network.
Continuing outreach to Georgia public safety to make them aware of the coming system and possible options.

22. 11 States and 1 Territory have Opted In as of August 9, 2017

23. Georgia Emergency Management Agency \ Homeland Security Agency
Thank You!