Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/05/16/2012-11818/development-of-the-state-and-local-implementation-grant-program-for-the-nationwide-public-safety
Timestamp: 2016-12-03 20:15:57
Document Index: 551410350

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u20096206', '§\u20096302', '§\u20096301', '§\u20096302', '§\u20096302', '§\u20096302']

:: Development of the State and Local Implementation Grant Program for the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network
A Notice by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration on 05/16/2012
28857-28860
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2012-11818
On February 22, 2012, President Obama signed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Act).[1] The Act meets a long-standing priority of the Obama Administration to create a single, nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network that will, for the first time, allow police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical service professionals, and other public safety officials to communicate with each other across agencies and jurisdictions. Public safety workers have long been hindered by incompatible, and often outdated, communications equipment and this Act will help them to do their jobs more safely and effectively.
The Act establishes the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) as an independent authority within NTIA and authorizes it to take all actions necessary to ensure the design, construction, and operation of a nationwide public safety broadband network (PSBN), based on a single, national network architecture.[2] FirstNet is responsible for, at a minimum, ensuring nationwide standards for use and access of the network; issuing open, transparent, and competitive requests for proposals (RFPs) to build, operate and maintain the network; leveraging, to the maximum extent economically desirable, existing commercial wireless infrastructure to speed deployment of the network; and overseeing contracts with non-federal entities to build, operate, and maintain the network.
Additionally, the Act charges NTIA with establishing a grant program to assist State, regional, tribal, and local jurisdictions with identifying, planning, and implementing the most efficient and effective means to use and integrate the infrastructure, equipment, and other architecture associated with the nationwide PSBN to satisfy the wireless and data services needs of their jurisdiction.[3] Up to $135 million will be available to NTIA for the State and Local Implementation grant program.[4] NTIA must establish requirements for this program not later than six months after the date of enactment (i.e., August 22, 2012). The programmatic requirements for the State and Local Implementation grant program must include, at a minimum, a determination of the scope of eligible activities that will be funded, a definition of eligible costs, and a method to prioritize grants for activities that ensure coverage in rural as well as urban areas.[5] NTIA is requesting public comment on certain aspects of the Act's provisions relating to the establishment of the State and Local Implementation grant program.
2. The Act requires that each State certify in its application for grant funds that the State has designated a single officer or governmental body to serve as the coordinator of implementation of the grant funds.[6] a. Who might serve in the role as a single officer within the State and will it or should it vary for each State?
17. The Act requires that the Federal share of the cost of activities carried out under the State and Local Implementation grant program not exceed 80 percent and it gives the Assistant Secretary the authority to waive the matching requirement, in whole or in part, if good cause is shown and upon determining that the waiver is in the public interest.[7] As NTIA develops the State and Local Implementation grant program, what are some of the factors it should consider regarding States' ability to secure matching funds?
Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Public Law 112-96, 126 Stat. 156 (2012) (Act).
Id. at § 6206(b)(1).
Id. at § 6302(a).
Id. at § 6301(c).
Id. at § 6302(c).
Id. at § 6302(d).
Id. at § 6302(b).