D’Agostino leaves large shoes to fill for FirstNet

Perhaps the biggest difference between this general-manager search and the one that resulted in the hiring of D’Agostino is that the challenges associated with FirstNet are clearer. A year ago, no one was certain what FirstNet’s statutory definition as an “independent entity” within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) really meant, but some board members referred to FirstNet as a “company” and may have believed that the organization would be given the latitude to operate much like a commercial enterprise.

Today, it appears that FirstNet will have to operate much more like a government entity, with the notable exception that it is not subject to disclosure laws like the Freedom of Information Act, based on the language in the law that established FirstNet. For candidates that are accustomed to working in a commercial setting—and this background may be typical for those who have significant experience building broadband networks—this may not be as attractive as the notion of FirstNet possibly being a quasi-government/quasi-commercial entity.

In addition, potential candidates will not have to look hard to see just how difficult the job of FirstNet general manager can be.

Little came easy for D’Agostino as general manager of FirstNet, literally from the beginning. During his first board meeting on April 23 last year, the announcement of D’Agostino’s hiring was overshadowed by board member Paul Fitzgerald accusing other board members of wrongdoings, including improper hiring practices, a failure to inform all board members of actions equally and conflict-of-interest violations.

The Fitzgerald controversy has not been resolved, as we continue to wait for the U.S. Department of Commerce inspector general to announce the results of its investigation into the conflict-of-interest complaint. In addition, a state open-records request for Fitzgerald’s FirstNet e-mails that were sent and received from his work e-mail address as the sheriff of Story County, Iowa, also is a matter of pending litigation in a federal court.

D’Agostino was charged with building a staff to support the deployment of a nationwide broadband network for first responders from scratch. Making this task more difficult were the many regulations surrounding the hiring of federal employees that delayed the ability for FirstNet to fill staff positions as quickly as it wanted—a fact that D’Agostino noted during an interview with this publication. Meanwhile, FirstNet Chairman Sam Ginn cited during testimony to Congress last year that other government rules could hamper potential partnership agreements.