Speaking at the Michigan Cybersecurity Summit on October 25, Thomas MacLellan, Director, Homeland Security and Public Safety Division, National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices, called FirstNet  the “largest network deployment in US history.”

FirstNet was established by The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 as the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). It is an independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the US Commerce Department. It is meant to provide emergency responders with the first high-speed, nationwide network dedicated to public safety.

The scope of a new national wireless broadband network is astounding when you consider that the coverage is expected to match that of Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and numerous regional cell phone networks, combined.

At the October Board meeting of FirstNet it was determined that Northern Virginia would be selected for the location of FirstNet’s headquarters and Boulder, Colorado, would be home to the Technical, Engineering and Network Design headquarters.

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