[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 91 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27442-27443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11283]
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DEPARMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Recruitment of First Responder Network Authority Board of
Directors
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act
of 2012 (``the Act''), Public Law 112-96, 126 Stat. 156 (2012), the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
announces the recruitment of the Board of Directors of the First
Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). The Act created FirstNet as an
independent authority within NTIA that will establish a single
nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network. The Board of
Directors will be responsible for making strategic decisions regarding
FirstNet's operations. Expressions of interest for membership on the
FirstNet Board of Directors will be accepted until May 25, 2012.
DATES: Expressions of interest must be postmarked or electronically
transmitted on or before May 25, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit expressions of interest as
described below should send that information to: Jim Wasilewski, Deputy
Chief of Staff, by email to FirstNetBoard@ntia.doc.gov; by U.S. mail or
commercial delivery service to: Office of the Assistant Secretary,
National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4898, Washington, DC 20230; or by
facsimile transmission to (202) 501-0536.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Wasilewski, National
Telecommunications and Information Administration, 1401 Constitution
Avenue NW., Room 4898, Washington, DC 20230, (202) 482-1840,
jwasilewski@ntia.doc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background and Authority
Title VI of the Act provides 20 megahertz of spectrum and $7
billion to establish a single nationwide, interoperable public safety
broadband network. It also establishes FirstNet as an independent
authority within NTIA to build, deploy, and operate the network and to
hold the single public safety license granted for wireless public
safety broadband deployment.\1\ The Act also sets forth the structure
of FirstNet's Board of Directors.\2\ Under the Act, the Board will be
responsible for making strategic decisions regarding FirstNet's
operations and ensuring the success of Congress's vision for the
network. The Act requires that the Board be established no later than
August 20, 2012.
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\1\ See Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012
Sec. 6201, Public Law 112-96, 126 Stat. 156 (2012).
\2\ Id. Sec. 6204(a).
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II. Structure
The FirstNet Board of Directors will be composed of 15
individuals.\3\ The Act names the Secretary of Homeland Security, the
Attorney General, and the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget as permanent members of the Board.\4\ The Secretary of Commerce
will select the remaining 12 members.\5\ Each Board member must have
expertise in at least one of the following substantive areas: Public
safety, technical, network, and financial.\6\ In addition, three Board
members must represent the collective interests of states, localities,
tribes, and territories; three Board members must have served as public
safety professionals; and the Board as a whole should reflect
geographical and regional diversity as well as rural and urban
representation.\7\
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\3\ Id. Sec. 6204(b).
\4\ Id. Sec. 6204(b)(1).
\5\ Id. Sec. 6204(b)(1)(d).
\6\ Id. Sec. 6204(b)(2)(B)(i).
\7\ Id. Sec. 6204(b)(2)(A).
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Responsibilities of the Board will include creating the over-
arching strategic framework for the public safety network, ensuring
nationwide standards for use and access to the network based on
commercial standards, working to deliver economies of scale for public
safety, maximizing opportunities for long-term cost savings and
improved functionality, integrating federal first responders and
public-safety-related uses to maximize the efficiency of the new
network, and formulating a fee collection system to ensure FirstNet
self-sustainability.
III. Compensation and Status as Government Employees
FirstNet Board members will be appointed as federal government
employees. FirstNet Board members will be compensated at the daily rate
of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule (approximately
$155,000 per year).\8\ Each Board member must be a United States
citizen, cannot be a registered lobbyist, and cannot be a registered
agent of, employed by, or receive payments from, a foreign government.
The Board will meet at the call of the Chair and not less than once
each quarter. Initial Board members will serve one, two, or three year
terms. Subsequent Board members will be appointed for a term of three
years, and Board members may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
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\8\ Id. Sec. 6204(g)(1).
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IV. Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
FirstNet Board members will be required to comply with certain
federal conflict of interest statutes and ethics regulations, including
some financial disclosure requirements. FirstNet Board members will
generally be prohibited from participating on any particular matter
that will have a direct and predictable effect on his or her personal
financial interests or on the interests of the appointee's spouse,
minor children, or non-Federal employer.
V. Selection Process
At the direction of the Secretary of Commerce, NTIA has been
conducting outreach to the public safety community and industry to
solicit nominations for candidates to the Board who satisfy the
statutory requirements for membership. In addition, by this Notice, the
Secretary of Commerce, through NTIA, will accept expressions of
interest from any individual or organization who wishes to propose a
candidate. All parties wishing to be considered should submit their
full name, address, telephone number, email address, a current resume,
and a statement of qualifications referencing the Act's eligibility
requirements as described in this Notice.
The Secretary of Commerce will select FirstNet Board candidates
based on the eligibility requirements in the Act and input and
recommendations from NTIA. Board candidates will be evaluated based on
their ability to contribute to the goals and objectives of FirstNet as
set forth in the Act. Board candidates will be vetted through the
Department of Commerce. FirstNet Board candidates may be subject to an
appropriate background check for security clearance.
[[Page 27443]]
Dated: May 7, 2012.
Lawrence E. Strickling,
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.
[FR Doc. 2012-11283 Filed 5-9-12; 8:45 am]
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