Join the Broadband Emerging Technologies Working Group next week on Wednesday, April 28 for a special presentation from FirstNet on the Nashville Bombing: Public Safety Communications Impacts.  On December 25, 2020, a motorhome packed with explosives detonated directly in front of the AT&T building in Nashville, TN, causing significant communications outages.  Since the incident, the FirstNet Authority (www.firstnet.gov) has engaged with numerous affected public safety partners – as well as AT&T – to understand event impacts and response/recovery operations.  In this presentation, the FirstNet Authority will provide an overview of the incident and services that were impacted, along with how the FirstNet Authority and AT&T FirstNet responded.  Our presenters will also cover the lessons learned from the event, next steps for improving the safety and resiliency network, and recommendations for public safety agencies who may face similar challenges.

Presenters

Michael Varney, FirstNet Authority Director, Stakeholder Collaboration

Ehrin Ehlert, FirstNet Authority, Public Safety Engagement Area Director

12:00 Noon – 1:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Conference Line:  510-227-1018; Conference ID:  869 9040#
Screen Share link:  https://join.me/npstcsupport1

During the next few months, there are several grants-related webinars that may be of interest to the public safety community.  Beginning April 21 and running through July 29, 2021, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will hold a webinar series on upcoming 2021 NTIA grant programs.  These sessions will offer information on NTIA's three new grant opportunities:  the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Grant, the Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Grant, and the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program.  The goal of this series is to provide potential grant applicants with details on each program and assist in preparation of strong grant applications.

We encourage public safety communications professionals to sign up for webinars to learn more about funding opportunities, ask relevant questions, and share their expertise.  Register and get more information on past and upcoming webinars here:

Home | BroadbandUSA (doc.gov).

In addition, on April 20 the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) held a webinar to discuss the Fiscal Year 2021 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.  You can register to listen to a recording of that webinar here:

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program – 1451251 (webcasts.com).

This information is courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Interoperability Committee, 2–3 p.m. ET
Conference Line:  510-227-1018; Conference ID:  446 1830#
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Public Safety IOT Working Group, 12–1:30 p.m. ET
Conference Line:  510-227-1018; Conference ID:  869 9040#
Screen Share link:  https://join.me/npstcsupport1

NPSTC NASEMSO Joint Working Group on EMS Communications and Technology, 1–2:30 p.m. ET
Conference Line:  510-227-1018; Conference ID:  446 1830#
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