Swenson, Johnson, Takei reappointed to the FirstNet board

FirstNet Chairwoman Sue Swenson, Vice Chairman Jeff Johnson and board member Teri Tekai have been reappointed to serve additional three-year terms on the board of FirstNet, according to an announcement today from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.

Like Swenson, Johnson and Takei, FirstNet board member Barry Boniface’s current term will expire, but Boniface “decided not to see reappointment to the FirstNet board due to the demands of his business,” according to a U.S. Department of Commerce press release. Boniface has agreed to continue serving on the FirstNet board until the end of the year or until a replacement is named, whichever comes first, according to the press release.

Swenson, Johnson and Tekai have served on the FirstNet board since it was created in 2012. Swenson and Johnson have served as chairwoman and vice chairman, respectively, for the past two years—a period in which FirstNet has developed a request for proposals (RFP) to build and operate a nationwide public-safety broadband network. Pritzker announced that Swenson would continue to serve as chairwoman of the FirstNet board for another two-year term, according to the press release.

“We are fortunate to have the service of individuals who bring a unique set of skills to the Board as it guides FirstNet in its important work,” Pritzker said in a prepared statement. “Their experience is essential as FirstNet moves closer toward launching a nationwide broadband network that will provide first responders with the 21^st century tools they need to save lives.”

Lawrence Strickling, assistant secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), echoed this sentiment.

“FirstNet is at a critical point as it decides on a strategic partner and will benefit from the steady and continued leadership of Sue, Jeff and Teri and the other board members,” Lawrence E. Strickling—who serves as assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, as well as NTIA administrator—said in a prepared statement. “At the same time, I want to thank Barry for his significant and dedicated service to the board and for his willingness to stay on until his successor is named.”

AT&T, Rivada Mercury and pdvWireless have announced publicly that they are leading three bidding teams that have submitted proposals to be FirstNet’s contractor for the next 25 years. FirstNet officials have said that all proposals are being evaluated, and they hope to identify the winning contractor by Nov. 1.