FirstNet board member Charles Dowd reportedly submitted paperwork...

Transit Division and plans to retire from the department (http://nydn.us/1lBKyBI). An NTIA spokeswoman declined to comment Monday. Down departure from the NYPD would not necessarily preclude service on the FirstNet board. FirstNet General Manager Bill D'Agostino announced last month he was leaving after less than a year on the job, as questions continue to swirl around the network (CD April 16 p1). Angela Simpson, NTIA deputy assistant secretary, said FirstNet is doing “really well,” in remarks to the FCBA’s annual retreat Saturday. “This is another instance where a program was created out of legislation and it’s a terrific opportunity,” she said. “FirstNet has ... been in a state of constant change, in terms of getting the organization set up and it’s growing exponentially.” NTIA Administrator Larry Strickling said the agency has played a key role in the startup of FirstNet. “From day one, when you had inquiries of how do [FirstNet officials] spend money, how do they travel, who makes their airplane reservations, all of those services we had to provide at the beginning,” he said. Since FirstNet hired its own staff, “as much as possible we get out of the day-to-day activities,” Strickling said. “At the end of the day our oversight will be to ensure they're complying with federal regulation, federal law.” Pending FCC auctions are slated to provide $7 billion to pay for the network. “My own belief is that the FCC should do what is right with their spectrum policy and the FirstNet money will take care of itself,” he said.