The Public Safety Broadband Network Commission (PSBC) was reconstituted into the Emergency Communications Advisory Council on July 9, 2019. The PSBC was formed in 2013 to help plan, develop and implement the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) in Vermont. The PSBC was charged with advising the Governor on issues related to the development of the network, particularly as it related to Vermont's decision to opt-in or opt-out of the federal proposal. Each state is required to have the public safety network. However, the enabling federal legislation gave states the option of either accepting the federal FirstNet plan (opt-in) or building the network itself (opt-out). The opt-in option put the burden of building, operating and maintaining the network on the shoulders of the federal FirstNet authority. As the PSBC fulfilled this initial role, the Governor renamed and reconstituted the commission by broadening its advisory charge to encompass other types of emergency communication.
Opt-In or Opt-Out Decision
On November 29, 2017, Governor Phil Scott announced his decision to accept the FirstNet and AT&T plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the state’s public safety community. This decision followed a recommendation made earlier in November by the PSBC that Vermont allow FirstNet/AT&T to build the network, rather than the State working to build its own. The Governor’s decision is supported by several independent opt-in recommendations:
- Televate, a technical consultant hired by the PSBC to evaluate the federal plan
- Coeur Business Group, hired by the Agency of Digital Services to evaluate opt-in/opt-out proposals
- State Treasurer’s Office, issuing a financial risks opinion on the State of Vermont opting-in or opting-out
Nationally, all states opted in to the FirstNet plan.
Archival Materials
Historic Timeline of FirstNet Project in Vermont
PSBC Annual Reports
- 2019 Annual Report
- 2018 Annual Report
- 2017 Annual Report
- 2016 Annual Report
- 2015 Annual Report
- 2014 Annual Report
PSBC Minutes & Agenda
The PSBC met on an as-needed basis. From 2013 until 2019 the commission met 34 times. More