Will FirstNet Become the Next Healthcare.gov?

[Commentary] On Oct. 1, 2013, the Healthcare.gov website opened for business. This website was the centerpiece of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA” commonly known as “Obamacare”). ACA is one of the signature achievements of President Barack Obama. Certainly the core of Obamacare would have the latest in innovative technology, interactivity and customer experience, right? Healthcare.gov’s debut was a bomb. But then Healthcare.gov was resurrected. Through an extraordinary effort, the website was rapidly fixed and rebuilt by a top-notch team that was freed from most of the stultifying bureaucracy and regulations of the federal government.

Now, another signature achievement of the Obama Administration -- the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) -- appears headed down a path similar to the original Healthcare.gov. We can recognize the danger signs. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and other Administration officials have the authority to free FirstNet from the shackles of “Fedgov,” allowing it to innovatively accomplish its mission of creating a nationwide public safety wireless broadband network for our responders. But will they act?

[Bill Schrier is senior policy advisor in the Office of the Chief Information Officer at the State of Washington]