Bryan does not seek reappointment to FirstNet board, cites potential perception for conflict of interest
What is in this article?
Bryan does not seek reappointment to FirstNet board, cites potential perception for conflict of interest
One of FirstNet’s original board members when it was created in 2012, Bryan served as chairman of FirstNet board’s finance committee during his initial three-year term, which expired today. Neither Bryan nor Frank Palestine—a FirstNet board member who recently was named as CEO for a future spinoff of Cree’s power and RF divisions—sought another term on the FirstNet board.
Bryan said he remains passionate about FirstNet’s mission.
“Man, I love serving on this board,” he said. “The public-safety people have been great; the feds have been great to us—the Commerce Department and Larry [Stickling, administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which serves as the umbrella federal agency for FirstNet]. Doing the work on the budget and the RFP is an intellectual challenge—it’s fun and for the right thing.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’m going to miss it and miss these people.”
During his presentation during today’s APCO session, Bryan reiterated the fundamental components of FirstNet’s business plan, which calls for $7 billion in federal funding to be supplemented with several unknown quantities—revenue from user fees, potential synergies with existing network infrastructure, and the value associated with a partner’s secondary use of FirstNet’s 20 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum.
After the session, Bryan said he believes FirstNet can be successful.
“I think there is an answer to that [business-model] equation,” Bryan said. “I’m looking forward to seeing it. Obviously, I won’t get to see it as exactly as it develops, but I think there’s an answer to that equation.”