Transcripts For CSPAN Senators Receive Update On Emergency R

Att and the Virginia Office of Public Safety. This is an hour and 40 minutes. It is precisely 10 00 a. M. Good morning and the subcommittee will come to order. Good morning. The subcommittee comes to order. The exciting efforts to deploy the nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network. Im glad to convene this hearing and i look forward to the attendance and a moment to from my different friend and Ranking Member mr. Schatz. In 2012 congress created the First Responder Network Authority to lead the development of a nationwide interoperable Public Safety Broadband Network in the United States. With the Communications Failures that plague Recovery Efforts during 9 11 and other National Emergencies including Hurricane Katrina there was and still is a clear need for a Reliable Communications network to support the central work of our Public Safety officials such a network would improve coordination on First Responders across multiple jurisdictions and enhance the ability of First Responders to provide lifesaving Emergency Services quickly. Last year the subcommittee convened for an update on firstnets progress in establishing Public Safety networks. At that time we learn from firstnet that but how it intended to address individualized needs of each state in deploying access network. Firstnet reiterated its commitment to providing reliable coverage to rural areas, an issue near and dear to my heart and to a number of members of the subcommittee. Firstnet assured members of the subcommittee that user fees would be reasonably and affordably priced for Public Safety users, two issues of great importance to First Responders around the country. Since that time much has happened. Last November Firstnet opened a test lab to develop and test new devices and applications that can be used by First Responders on the future Public Safety network. In march firstnet formally selected at t as its Industry Partners to maintain the network over the next 25 years. Last months firstnet issued the initial state plans which detailed its deployment proposals for the Radio Access Network in the states of jurisdiction. The states are now reviewing this plan and providing feedback to firstnet in at t before the finalized plans are issued in the fall. Today i look forward to hearing more about each of these actions im eager to learn about firstnet and at ts network will tout plans and how they will leverage infrastructure assets to maximize coverage in rural areas and save taxpayer dollars. I hope our witnesses will also address the development of subscription pricing plans for Public Safety officials to network and how those plans are being developed in coordination with the states. Likewise i look forward to hearing about the resiliency of the networks in particular how firstnet in at t will harden and secure its individual Cyber Threats of Natural Disasters and other planned events. Additionally im interested in how firstnet and at t will incorporate feedback from the states before the initial plans are finalized. By any estimation the developments of this nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network is a challenge but it is an important endeavor to ensure that First Responders can fulfill their Daily Mission to save lives and at the center of this effort is the courage of our nations First Responders who put their lives on the line every day. In my state of mississippi and senator schatz state of hawaii and across the nation to protect our families, neighborhoods and communities. They deserve a network that is interoperable, reliable and secure. I welcome all of our witnesses today. Include mr. Curtis brown, deputy Secretary Office of the virginias secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Mr. Damon darcey assistant Professor University of mississippi Medical Center, mr. Mark goldstein physical issues director Government Accountability office. Mr. Michael poth chief executor officer firstnet and mr. Chris sambar Senior Vice President at t. Thank you all for being here and im delighted at this point to recognize my friend and Ranking Member senator schatz. Thank you mr. Chairman and thank you to our witnesses for being here. In 2012 when congress created the firstnet we made an important commitment to Public Safety. The time we knew from the tragedies of september 11 and Hurricane Katrina that are First Responders faced glaring communications problems. They often couldnt communicate with one another in an emergency. We also knew these problems could be solved with a nationwide interoperable Public Safety communication network. Today we are closer than ever to making that solution a reality. Firstnet firefighters loibl be able to down like download the blueprints. The Police Officer can get pictures of the suspect by accessing a federal Law Enforcement database the most important Emergency Personnel will not be competing with commercial users are for bandwidth. They will have priority in the network which will be built to harden the Public Safety specifications and will have competitive devices and specified Public Safety applications. Theres no doubt firstnet will revolutionize Public Safety committee patients for decades to come but its also a huge task. This is the first time we done anything like this. Firstnet staff and the board had made progress since the hearing last year. We now have a vendor, at t that brings assets that go beyond what firstnet envisioned. Firstnet in at t have delivered plans to each state three months ahead of schedule. Five states have opted into firstnet and many are in the review process. We hope that our First Responders learn more about the value of this network to participate many of us represent rural and remote areas of the country. These communities suffer from a lack of adequate access to commercial Broadband Services so its critical firstnet in at t address this challenge headon so every purse First Responder in all parts of our country benefit from the new network. Firstnet and at t have a responsibility to insurers the specific needs of all states and territories are respected throughout all aspects of this program from deployment to operations and management. Once each state has made its final decision on how to participate firstnet at t and their partners can begin in earnest to build a network that delivers on the promise made to the public in 2012. I want to thank witnesses for appearing before the committee and i look forward to your testimony. Thank you senator schatz and i think the attendance today reflects the importance of this topic and also the interest of americans in this exciting new chapter. If its all right we will take the testimony in this order and sort of go from one end of the table to the other end than we will end up in the middle. Mr. Brown you are recognized to go first. Thank you and good morning chairman wicker Ranking Member schatz and members of the committee. On behalf of Governor Terry mcauliffe and the secretary of public Homeland Security i would like to thank you for the opportunity to discuss firstnet to ensure First Responders have the emergency capabilities necessary to respond to all hazards. The governor was proud to announce virginia was the first in the nation to opt in to firstnet. Virginia opted in to provide current at t Public Safety to travelers with the benefit of Priority Services now at no cost to the commonwealth as well as to greenlight the bill out of virginias portion of the national Public Safety Broadband Network could we believe the decision to opt in will promote competition within the Public Safety Communications Marketplace that will reduce costs and drive innovation. The unknown costs and risks associated with deploying and operating a network was not feasible. Virginia has long been the leader of interoperability across the state and the decision to often continues. Our unique geography and Critical Infrastructure requires robust Public Safety and Homeland Security programs for example for a wide range of potential threats from terrorism to hurricanes. It is vital that a Public Safety professionals are quick with the tools they need to save lives. Since the attacks of 9 11 virginia Public Safety leaders have helped to develop the government structure and policy provisions needed so that Lessons Learned during a tragedies they are implemented through me the people who sit on the states during the surmontil signing of the governors often letter and the response of 9 11 at the pentagon. Im joined here today by my colleague from virginia who have been and should meddle with our efforts to engage virginia public stakeholders including Law Enforcement fire ems and emergency management. Megan peterson or Homeland Security staff director our state point of contact have been instrumental in our efforts to review firstnet documents. Fire chief americus Charles Warner from charlottesville is recognized as a National Leader in the subject of Communications Innovation for Public Safety. Terry hall serves in our state interoperability as Committee Chair was passed past present and publish them and have lent their expertise enduser service to improve emergency to medications and virginia nationally. Therefore virginias decision to opt in and talk to now is based on years of study our reach and collaboration with our public stakeholders firstnet and now with at t. Moving word we will work with firstnet at t to maximize the benefit for the commonwealth Public Safety at the committee. Essential to this collaborative effort is her commitment to ensuring adequate coverage especially for responders in rural communities. It is also critical to expedite the effort to provide missioncritical voice and enhanced location capabilities in 2019 to adequately protect our men and women in uniform. As governor mcauliffe mentioned last week are decision marks another significant step forward in advancing broadband capabilities for Public Safety but our work continues. As more states find in this report are now collectively we will continue to provide feedback for congress through firstnet at t. We can realize the ultimate goal of furthering emergency clinic patients in creating a secure and Reliable Network for Public Safety. I look forward to answering any of your questions. Thank you very much. Now dr. Darcy the professor at the university of mississippi jackson. You are recognized five minutes. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on firstnet and what the end opportunities specifically in the medical arena. I am an alert is a physician by trade Public Safety by background and passion to serve as the medical director for the mississippi director medical service could be that the Research Clinical care and coronation of that care in the rural parts of our state. As many of you know mississippi has challenges and health care unlike any other state. Challenges that are accident rates chronic disease location of providers and with limited providers as our state progresses forward. The integration of a reliable Public Safety Broadband Network is vital for us to make things happen in mississippi that we cannot currently do. Mississippi has been one of leading states in telemedicine and Public Safety communications for a number of years. After Hurricane Katrina mississippi developed a land mobile radio system and now has 30,000 users in this revolutionize the way we Practice Medicine in mississippi from a trooper on the side to run his medical care to the Critical Care teams flying helicopters and ambulances. In 2010 mississippi one of broadband opportunity were to overlay broadband data over an existing plant opal radio network. We believe this is a vital next step to integrate and improve our health care. We still firmly believe that. During the development of the system we have learned many lessons on how to deploy, develop an integrated system to improve Public Safety and medical care for rural providers. Firstnet has the potential to meet many of these needs. Many of us in small rural states dont have capacity were meaningful capacity in rural a america where we need it most and medicine. Its very easy to coverage outside the stores but now that coverage in the middle of nowhere to provide lifesaving medical care. Whether strom on the side of the road or chronic medical disease keeping those patients out of the Health Care System at home with the same level of care. Much of the same discussions going on at the rooms we believe firstnet broadband are vital to that discussion to move forward. As rolling out any questions from our experience deploying nearly an entire network and take the questions. From a medical perspective we need reliable Public Safety data communications. Its a vital and the biggest questions we have our service and preemption. We embark on the niquette at to improve health care in her state had one example is the grant received from Homeland Security the rural could merge the administration where we are collect data on how to move for. We have talked about retooled to dassey we are going to do innovation and r d network to look at the ability to take the same data and happily transmit over wireless system . We believe this is a vital step in mississippi and other states going for it. In closing i appreciate the opportunity to be here and talk about medicine. As i see it Going Forward this is the vital link for us. We have to get innovative in Rural America and this is one of the ways we can do it. We hope this committee in its oversight role will help firstnet become what we all need as we help them as well. The vast areas of the state that are currently underserved in Broadband Service proves important to know not to take issue with the large events we talked about Hurricane Katrina 9 11 but i challenge you that these events have the same impact on Rural America almost weekly. A three car accident in rural suzuki rural hawaii rural nevada is the same resources as one of the largest cities and thats where we need it the most. The possibility of firstnet is to provide the resources to allow local Public Safety officials to push the boundaries of poss