Swenson named as new head of FirstNet; Ginn steps down from chairman role

Today’s announcement comes at a time of significant transition within FirstNet. Last month, Bill D’Agostino resigned as FirstNet’s general manager, leaving Deputy General Manager TJ Kennedy to lead the FirstNet staff as it prepares to conduct consultations with 56 states and territories beginning as early as July 1.

In August 2012, Ginn was named as the initial chairman of the FirstNet board, which had no staff at the time and was tasked with designing and building a nationwide broadband network for first responders. Since then, more than 45 full-time employees have been hired to the FirstNet staff, and the board approved a roadmap that outlines the steps it plans to take to make the much-anticipated public-safety network a reality.

Ginn’s term as FirstNet chairman has been subject to considerable scrutiny. Many public-safety representatives expressed concern when an outline of a proposed network design was unveiled during the first FirstNet board meeting in the fall of 2012 without consulting with public-safety entities. Today, some in the first-responder community have criticized the FirstNet board for not making more tangible progress toward building the network.

In addition, a little more than a year ago, FirstNet board member Paul Fitzgerald alleged that the FirstNet board failed to follow proper procurement procedures when hiring contractors, did not inform all board members equally on relevant topics, and some board members had conflicts of interest.

Ginn immediately called for an internal investigation of Fitzgerald’s allegations, with the result of the first phase finding that no wrongdoing occurred. Ginn asked the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Inspector General to investigate the conflict-of-interest allegations, but no action has been taken publicly on those matters.