VIRGINIA BECOMES THE FIRST STATE TO OPT IN TO FirstNet

Virginia is the first state to opt in to FirstNet, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced after signing a letter of intent Monday.

FirstNet, the federal agency responsible for building the first nationwide interoperable communications network for first responders,released plans to states on June 20 that provided leaders their first look at what the network will look like. The details included in the plans, which remain available only to state officials, enabled leaders to begin deciding whether they would “opt in” to the network being designed and built by contractor AT&T or instead “opt out” and procure a comparable solution from a third party to be connected to the national system.

“I am proud that Virginia is the first state in the nation to opt in to this program that will help our first responders communicate during times of emergency,” McAuliffe said in a statement.

While Virginia has already made a decision, some states are only just getting their first look at the plans. Vermont’s FirstNet state point of contact Terry LaValley told StateScoop Monday that he hasn’t yet viewed his state’s plan and that “a couple members” of the Vermont Public Safety Broadband Commission only got their first look at the plan late last week after a dispute over the terms of use outlined by FirstNet had halted progress stated website statescoop.com

Courtesy: statescoop.com

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