The California Office of Emergency Services is scheduled to host another town hall meeting on the FirstNet U.S. public safety network, this time on Jan. 28 in Fortuna.
The Humboldt Town Hall is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the River Lodge Conference Center at 1800 Riverwalk Drive.
Attendees will hear from Karen Wong, California’s State Point of Contact; Sue Swenson, FirstNet Board of Directors Chairperson; and Carl Rebstock, FirstNet Tribal Outreach Lead.
Space is limited. Register to attend byy email CalFRN@caloes.ca.gov or phone at 916-657-9466 to attend in person, or register at https://pscdmeetings.webex.com to view the meeting via WebEX.
The outreach began last summer with an informational session in Lakeport. Meetings also were held in Bakersfield, Santa Ana and Vacaville. Read Techwire’s full report from the Sacramento meeting in November. A future meeting will be scheduled in the coming months in the Bay Area, according to CalOES.
FirstNet is the independent government authority spearheading the federal government’s plan to launch a nationwide public safety communications network. Its mission was authorized in congressional legislation signed into law in 2012.
The federal government has secured a 20 MHz block in the 700 MHz band, as well as $7 billion and future proceeds from a series of FCC spectrum auctions, to help build out the network, which first responders say, if done right, will help shorten response times, improve interoperability and help public safety users avoid congestion on commercial networks during emergencies.
FirstNet is in the process of consulting with all 50 states, territories and tribes, and the federal government about requirements for the network. The organization’s consultation with California has not yet been scheduled.
