The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded $38.5 million to 33 research and development (R&D) projects aimed at advancing broadband communications technologies for first responders.

The fifth First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) in-person state single point of contact (SPOC) meeting — the first since FirstNet announced its industry partner AT&T at the end of March — wrapped up this week with FirstNet officials saying states can opt in as soon as they receive their first state plan and reassuring states that they will address state portal terms of use concerns.

Several state officials are concerned about the legal terms of use document the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) has requested they sign before they can access the draft state plans later this month. Washington state sent a letter to FirstNet outlining its concerns, including the short timeframe for review of the terms of use and requests in the document that conflict with state laws.

A First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) official and AT&T executive offered an advance look at some of the information state single points of contact (SPOCs) will receive this week in Dallas during a state plan kick-off meeting.

AT&T executives told FCC officials that opting out of the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) results in “an exceptionally difficult and costly process for the state involved.” Four AT&T employees met with FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) staff May 18.

The FCC plans to consider a report and order to establish the procedures and standards the commission will use to review alternative plans submitted by states seeking to opt out of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) at its June 22 meeting.

Massachusetts and Wisconsin joined a handful of other states in announcing requests for alternative options to compare to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) state plans set to be released later this year.

The buildout of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) should take less than the five years allowed under the contract, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said.

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An AT&T executive said the company plans to begin building the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) public-safety Long Term Evolution (LTE) network later this year.