FirstNet sets finance meeting for Aug. 6, special board meeting for Aug. 17, Industry Day for Aug. 27

FirstNet has announced a series of meetings this month, beginning with Thursday’s finance-committee meeting to discuss budget issues. FirstNet also has scheduled a special board meeting on Aug. 17 and the organization’s second Industry Day event, which will be conducted on Aug. 27.

Although the date of the finance-committee meeting was not announced until yesterday, the notion that the committee would meet prior to the full FirstNet board meeting in September has been planned since June. During the June meeting, board members expressed a desire to have the finance committee convene in August to prepare the organization’s budget for fiscal year 2016.

FirstNet’s fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, so having this week’s finance-committee meeting and the Aug. 17 special board meeting will provide board members and staff an opportunity to focus on budget matters before the fiscal year begins. The next regular meeting of the full board is scheduled for Oct. 2.

As is the case every year, there is a potential that new members could be appointed to the FirstNet board during the latter part of this month, but only current board members will participate in this week’s finance committee and the special board meeting, according to FirstNet spokesman Ryan Oremland.

Finance committee members will meet via teleconference at 1:30 p.m. EST on Thursday. The special board meeting—also conducted via teleconference—will begin at 10:00 a.m. EST on Aug. 17.

FirstNet will wrap up the month with its second Industry Day event at 1:00 p.m. EST on Aug. 27, when FirstNet officials will provide some information about the recent draft-RFP process and stakeholders will be allowed to ask questions about plans to deploy a nationwide broadband network for public safety. As was the case with FirstNet’s initial Industry Day in May, participants can attend the event in Reston, Va., or via a webcast.