The Kentucky State Police (KSP), is working together with the Kentucky Wireless Interoperability Executive Committee (KWIEC) and the Public Safety Broadband Working Group (PSBWG) to advance development and implementation of a plan of action under the FirstNet State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP). The grant provides funding to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for planning for the National Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN).
Phase 1 of SLIGP addressed
strategy, methodology, governance and outreach and education to begin consultations with FirstNet. The focus was on the Commonwealth’s First Responder community, educating local jurisdictions about FirstNet. Education, outreach and input from the Public Safety community are the keystone to building our nation’s first nationwide public safety wireless broadband network.
Phase 2 of SLIGP commenced in 2015, focusing on
continued outreach and the collection of network requirements from first responders and public safety agencies. An online Public Safety User Assessment was administered via the "FirstNet in Kentucky" website which collected network requirements information from the public safety community. This data was aggregated and analyzed to develop a “Data Elements” submission which provided information for FirstNet’s RFP for buildout of the NPSBN.
FirstNet has developed
three goals to guide the consultation activities
for 2016. These goals include:
- Expanding outreach and education with state/territory, tribal, local, and public safety entities,
- Obtaining state and territory input to inform State Plans and network deployment policies, processes, and procedures, and
- Preparing key decision-makers for State Plan delivery and network deployment.
To achieve these goals,
four major milestones are planned
for 2016:
- Conduct FirstNet/SPOC (KY: SLIGP Single Point of Contact) Kick-Off Meeting (held: March 9)\
- FirstNet Participation in Governance Body (KWIEC) Meetings
- Establishment of KY Consultation Task Teams (CTT)
These activities will help FirstNet with development of the statewide plan to support the Commonwealth’s portion of the Public Safety Broadband Network. Ultimately SLIGP work will lead to the development of a thorough business plan for the Commonwealth that will inform executive leadership on all aspects of the proposed FirstNet Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.