In a letter released on September 19 from the National Governors Association (NGA) to the Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank, the NGA expresses its “strong concern and disappointment that the recent appointments to the board of the First responder Network Authority (FirstNet) failed to provide states with adequate representation on this important decision-making body.” The board composition of 12 members was announced by the Acting Secretary of Commerce on August 20.

The NGA letter goes on: “The decision to appoint a current senior federal official to one of only three board positions designated for representatives of state and local government missed an important opportunity to ensure that the board is appropriately representative of critical stakeholders. While this individual previously served in state government, her current duties do not reflect and should not be assumed to represent governors’ perspectives and priorities.” The NGA also asks that future appointments “increase the number of representatives of state and local government beyond the statutory minimum of three,” and that an “additional advisory committee that specifically represents the interests of governors and other state and local elected leaders” be established as soon as possible.