Two of the original board members for FirstNet resigned. FirstNet Board Chair Sue Swenson and Vice Chair Jeffrey Johnson notified Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Redl of their resignation from the FirstNet board yesterday.
Swenson’s term as board chair expired yesterday, and Johnson stepped down from his vice chair role, also effective yesterday. They began their terms on the board in 2012; they both had one year left on their 2016 three-year appointments.
“Having accomplished what Chief Johnson and I set out to do back in 2012, with the deployment of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network across all 56 states and territories with AT&T, it seems like the right time to transition,” Swenson said. “We remain committed to the FirstNet mission and will seek ways to continue our support of FirstNet in the years following our service.”
In an NTIA announcement, Redl said the Commerce Department and FirstNet have identified experienced candidates for the FirstNet board to carry on Swenson and Johnson’s work. NTIA and FirstNet intend to announce those appointments later this year. In April, NTIA issued a notice to recruit candidates to replace board members whose terms were ending.
NTIA says it’s received responses from a range of qualified applicants for the 15-member board. With yesterday’s resignations, and several other board members reaching term limits, there will be seven seats to fill. The board’s next quarterly meeting is in December.
August 21, 2018
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