[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18300-18301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06379]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Recruitment of First Responder Network Authority Board Member

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA) issues this Notice to seek expressions of interest from 
individuals who would like to serve on the Board of the First Responder 
Network Authority (FirstNet Authority Board or Board). One of the 12 
non-permanent members to the FirstNet Authority Board resigned prior to 
the end of his term. The Secretary of Commerce will appoint an 
individual to complete that Board member's term through September 2024.

DATES: To be considered for this Board appointment, expressions of 
interest must be electronically transmitted on or before April 27, 
2023.

ADDRESSES:  Applicants should submit expressions of interest as 
described below to: Michael Dame, Acting Associate Administrator, 
Office of Public Safety Communications, National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration, by email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Michael Dame, Acting Associate 
Administrator, Office of Public Safety Communications, National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration; telephone: (202) 
482-1181; email: [email protected]. Please direct media inquiries to 
NTIA's Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-7002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background and Authority

    The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Act) 
created the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) as 
an independent authority within NTIA. The Act charged the FirstNet 
Authority with ensuring the building, deployment, and operation of a 
nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network, based on a 
single, national network architecture.\1\ The FirstNet Authority holds 
the single nationwide public safety license granted for wireless public 
safety broadband deployment. The FirstNet Authority Board is 
responsible for providing overall policy direction and oversight of 
FirstNet to ensure that the nationwide network continuously meets the 
needs of public safety.
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    \1\ 47 U.S.C. 1422(b).
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II. Structure

    The FirstNet Authority Board is composed of 15 voting members. The 
Act names the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General of 
the United States, and the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget as permanent members of the FirstNet Authority Board. The 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) appoints the 12 non-permanent members 
of the FirstNet Authority Board.\2\
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    \2\ 47 U.S.C. 1424(b).
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    The Act requires each Board member to have experience or expertise 
in at least one of the following substantive areas: public safety, 
network, technical, and/or financial.\3\ Additionally, the composition 
of the FirstNet Authority Board must satisfy the other requirements 
specified in the Act, including that: (i) at least three members have 
served as public safety professionals; (ii) at least three members 
represent the collective interests of states, localities, tribes, and 
territories; and (iii) its members reflect geographic and regional, as 
well as rural and urban, representation.\4\
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    \3\ 47 U.S.C. 1424(b)(2)(B).
    \4\ 47 U.S.C. 1424(b)(2)(A).
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    An individual Board member may satisfy more than one of these 
requirements. The current non-permanent FirstNet Authority Board 
members are (noting expiration of term):

 Vacant, formerly filled by Stephen Benjamin, resigned (Term 
expires: September 2024)
 Vice Chair Richard Carrizzo, Fire Chief, Southern Platte Fire 
Protection District, MO (Term expires: September 2024)
 Brian Crawford, SVP/Chief Administrative Officer for Willis-
Knighton Health System and retired Fire Chief and Municipal Government 
Executive (Term expires: September 2024)
 Alexandra Fernandez Navarro, Former Associate Member, Puerto 
Rico Public Service Regulatory Board (Term expires: September 2024)
 Kristin Graziano, Sheriff, Charleston County, SC (Term 
expires: September 2024)
 Billy Hewes, Mayor, Gulfport, MS (Term expires: September 
2024)
 Peter Koutoujian, Sheriff, Middlesex County, MA (Term expires: 
September 2024)
 Warren Mickens, Retired technology executive (Term expires: 
September 2024)
 Sylvia Moir, Undersheriff, Marin County, CA and former Police 
Chief (Term expires: September 2024)
 Jocelyn Moore, Senior Managing Director, Corporate Affairs, 
Pretium (Term expires: September 2024)
 Paul Patrick, Division Director, Family Health and 
Preparedness, Utah Department of Health (Term expires: September 2024)
 Renee Gordon, Director of Emergency Communications, City of 
Alexandria, VA (Term expires: September 2025)

    Any Board member whose term has expired may serve until such 
member's successor has taken office, or until the end of the calendar 
year in which such member's term has expired, whichever is earlier.\5\ 
Board members selected for a new term receive a three-year 
appointment.\6\ Board members may not serve more than two consecutive 
full three-year terms.\7\ More information about the FirstNet Authority 
Board is available at www.firstnet.gov/about/Board. Since this 
appointment is filling a mid-term vacancy, the newly appointed member 
will complete the existing term as a board member until September 2024.
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    \5\ 47 U.S.C. 1424(c)(2)(B).
    \6\ However, [a]ny member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring 
prior to the expiration of the term for which that member's 
predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of 
the predecessor's term. See 47 U.S.C. 1424(c)(2)(C).
    \7\ 47 U.S.C. 1424(c)(2)(A)(ii).
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III. Compensation and Status as Government Employees

    FirstNet Authority Board members are appointed as government 
employees. FirstNet Authority Board members are compensated at the 
daily rate of basic

[[Page 18301]]

pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule (approximately $183,500 per 
year) for each day worked on the FirstNet Authority Board.\8\ Board 
members work intermittent schedules and may not work more than 130 days 
per year during their term. 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.\9\
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    \8\ 47 U.S.C. 1424(g).
    \9\ See Revised Guidance on Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal 
Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions, Office of Management 
and Budget, 79 FR 47482 (Aug. 13, 2014).
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IV. Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

    FirstNet Authority Board members must comply with certain federal 
conflict of interest statutes and ethics regulations, including some 
financial disclosure requirements. A FirstNet Authority Board member 
will generally be prohibited from participating on any particular 
FirstNet Authority 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, NTIA will conduct outreach to 
the public safety community, state and local organizations, and 
industry to solicit nominations for candidates to the Board who satisfy 
the statutory requirements for membership. In addition, the Secretary, 
through NTIA, will accept expressions of interest from any individual, 
or from any organization proposing a candidate who satisfies the 
statutory requirements for membership on the FirstNet Authority Board. 
To be considered for this appointment, expressions of interest must be 
electronically transmitted on or before April 27, 2023.
    All parties submitting an expression of interest should submit the 
candidate's (i) full name, title, organization, address, telephone 
number, email address; (ii) current resume; (iii) brief bio; (iv) 
statement of qualifications that references how the candidate satisfies 
the Act's expertise, representational, and geographic requirements for 
FirstNet Authority Board membership, as described in this Notice; and 
(v) a statement describing why the candidate wants to serve on the 
FirstNet Authority Board, affirming their ability and availability to 
take a regular and active role in the Board's work.
    The Secretary will select FirstNet Authority Board candidates based 
on the eligibility requirements in the Act and recommendations 
submitted by NTIA. NTIA will recommend candidates based on an 
assessment of qualifications as well as demonstrated ability to work in 
a collaborative way to achieve the goals and objectives of the FirstNet 
Authority as set forth in the Act. NTIA may consult with FirstNet 
Authority Board members or executives in making its recommendation. 
Board candidates will be vetted through the Department of Commerce and 
are subject to an appropriate background check for security clearance.

Josephine Arnold,
Senior Attorney-Advisor, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-06379 Filed 3-27-23; 8:45 am]
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