FirstNet Board approves $6.5 Billion budget package

The FirstNet Board approved a major budget package, which at $6.585 billion would support a wide swath of developments targeted for Fiscal Year 2017. In addition to $85 million for FirstNet operations, the budget included $6.5 billion obligated toward supporting a network contract in FY17. FirstNet would contribute up to that amount to enable a public/private partnership in the contract, as well as 20 Megahertz of low-band spectrum.

“This mission-driven budget reflects our goals for the organization, for the Network, and for public safety,” said FirstNet Chair Sue Swenson. “It will drive the achievement of major milestones along our Strategic Roadmap in what will be a pivotal year for FirstNet, including critical post-award priorities such as State plans and continued outreach to public safety.” The development couldn’t come soon enough for first responders counting on the network to transmit life-saving information between centers such as police departments, fire departments or emergency medical services. Such responders been told to wait for years now, but are also in a profession that waits for no one.