[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 91 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27442-27443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing 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 [email protected]; 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, 
[email protected].

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]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P