Vermont § 57 - Executive Order No. 20-57 (No. 05-19) [Emergency Communications Advisory Council]

§ 57. Executive Order No. 20-57 (No. 05-19) [Emergency Communications Advisory Council]

• WHEREAS, in 2012, Congress enacted The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act
  that created FirstNet, the authority within the National Telecommunications and Information
  Administration (NTIA) to oversee the building, deployment and operation of the Nationwide
  Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN); and WHEREAS, by Executive Order 05-13 (codified as Executive Order 20-49), effective April
  30, 2013, Governor Peter Shumlin created the Vermont Public Safety Broadband Network
  Commission (“Commission”), to help plan, develop, and implement an interoperable wireless
  network to support the communication needs of Vermont’s first responders and others;
  and WHEREAS, after four years of study and consideration, in consultation with a professional
  technical consultant, the first responder community and the Treasurer’s Office, and
  after a competitive process conducted to assess the alternatives and an independent
  review conducted on behalf of the Agency of Digital Services, at its November 20,
  2017 meeting the Commission voted to recommend the Governor opt-in to the FirstNet
  solution for the State of Vermont, thus fulfilling the Commission’s charge to advise
  the Governor on issues related to the development of a public safety broadband network
  in Vermont; and WHEREAS, on November 29, 2017, Governor Philip B. Scott officially “opted-in” to the
  federal FirstNet plan, allowing FirstNet and AT to begin deployment of the NPSBN in
  Vermont; and WHEREAS, the initial deployment of the NPSBN will take place over a five-year period
  from 2018-2022 and will require feedback and evaluation from Vermont’s public safety
  community; and WHEREAS, the deployment of broadband technology interfaces with other types of emergency
  communication, such as Next Generation 911, Land Mobile Radio, microwave and fiber-based
  systems; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Vermont public safety community to plan
  for the use of this evolving technology. NOW THEREFORE, I, Philip B. Scott, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor,
  do hereby amend and reconstitute the Commission as follows: I. Composition and Appointments. The Vermont Public Safety Broadband Network Commission is hereby renamed the “Emergency
  Communications Advisory Council.” The Council shall include the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, or
  designee, the Director of Vermont Emergency Management and the Statewide Interoperability
  Coordinator from the Department of Public Safety and the Colonel of the Vermont State
  Police, or designee; the Executive Director of the Enhanced 9-1-1 Board, or designee;
  the Commissioner of the Department of Public Service, or designee; the Secretary of
  the Agency of Transportation, or designee; and the Secretary of Digital Services,
  or designee. The Governor shall appoint members from the Vermont State Firefighters Association;
  Professional Firefighters of Vermont; Vermont Fire Coalition; municipal law enforcement;
  Sheriffs; Emergency Medical Service personnel; and one at-large member. These Council members Council members shall be appointed by the Governor to three-year
  terms, except that the Governor shall stagger initial appointments so that the terms
  of no more than four members expire during a calendar year. In appointing Council
  members, the Governor shall give due consideration to the different geographical regions
  of the State, and the need for balance between rural and urban areas. Council members
  shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. All Council members shall be voting members. II. Charge. The purpose of the Council shall be the following: • Advise the Governor on issues related to the NPSBN and on emergency communications, generally, in Vermont; • Advise on the needs of Vermont’s public safety community as it relates to FirstNet and the need for an interoperable, robust, reliable and affordable cellular broadband network, including advice on the placement of fixed network assets and deployables; • Advise on protocols and policies related to the NPSBN and, as needed, on emergency communications generally; and • Advise on planning activities needed to prepare Vermont’s public safety community for emergency communications technology transitions. The Council shall report to the Governor bi-annually on the NPSBN in Vermont and nationally,
  and shall include information regarding the use of grant money received in Vermont
  for coordination efforts during the initial deployment phases of the NPSBN. III. Council Process. The Commissioner of the department of Public Safety shall appoint the Chair of the
  Council, which may be the Commissioner. The Council shall meet at the call of the
  Chair and shall keep the Governor apprised on the State’s overall interactions with
  FirstNet and the deployment of the NPSBN in Vermont and emergency communications generally.
  The Council may select a Vice Chair. If necessary, the Council may designate an Executive
  Committee and other subcommittees. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum. The Council shall receive administrative support from the Department of Public Safety
  and meet on an as-needed basis. Members who are not otherwise employed by the State, a County or a municipality may
  receive per diem compensation in accordance with 32 V.S.A. § 1010(e). IV. Effective Date. This Executive Order shall take effect upon signing and shall supersede and replace
  Executive Order 05-13 (codified as Executive Order 20-49), dated April 30, 2019 and
  Executive Order No. 02-12 (codified as E.O. 20-44), dated January 17, 2012. Dated July 9, 2019