FirstNet helps those who work tirelessly to protect us
FirstNet helps keep Iowa’s first responders connected.
A lot can happen in a few seconds. You can send a text. Lightning can strike. A picture can be taken. In a few seconds, there can also be an emergency. When every second counts to save a life, we rely on our first responders. Whether it’s a crisis situation, a natural disaster or a medical emergency, mere moments can be life-altering. And when we turn to first responders, they must be able to rely on the technology they use.
Now first responders can get a new tool to count on when seconds matter most: FirstNet. A little over a year ago, Governor Kim Reynolds announced that Iowa would be the fifth state to opt-in to FirstNet. Now, all 50 states, 5 territories and Washington D.C. have opted-in to the communications platform. The importance of this decision cannot be overstated, but many people may still be wondering: what is FirstNet?
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During the attacks on September 11, 2001, every second was crucial as first responders worked tirelessly to save the lives of so many. But on that harrowing day, networks became overwhelmingly congested by the extreme volume of calls. This made it difficult for first responders to communicate and coordinate their response using the same overcrowded networks.
The 9/11 attacks were a catalyst for change. The communication challenges that day exposed capability gaps in public safety response and made it clear that their needs demanded more than what traditional commercial offerings provided at the time.
This resulted in the recommendation for a dedicated solution for first responders – a resilient platform to bolster their capabilities and address their communications needs. The public safety community championed this recommendation and Congress advanced their vision in 2012 when it created the First Responder Network Authority.
Through the formation of a public-private partnership between AT&T and the FirstNet Authority, this recommendation has become a reality. Through this partnership, AT&T is building on its existing footprint to expand coverage and capacity, benefitting first responders in areas across the state of Iowa. And with the deployment of Band 14 — nationwide, high-quality spectrum set aside by the government specifically for FirstNet — it will give first responders access to better connectivity than ever before, which will be crucial for supporting emergency situations and daily operations.
As a dedicated platform, FirstNet provides always-on priority and preemption for first responders. This allows first responders to send and receive data, video, images and text without concerns about network congestion.
FirstNet is also optimizing the ways the public safety community communicates. Think about a time you may have called 9-1-1. Depending on the type of emergency, it’s not uncommon for fire, police, EMS or a combination of first responders to be dispatched. Right now, across the country, it is not uncommon to hear that fire and police departments have issues when attempting to communicate with each other. Enter FirstNet. It makes interoperable communications between agencies achievable. This empowers information sharing across disciplines and jurisdictions while facilitating a dramatic increase in situational awareness for first responders across the country.
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When there is a disaster, we are reminded that resiliency is not a siloed effort — an emergency response often relies on its community. That’s why FirstNet is also available to extended primary users that could be called on to help support public safety services. These extended primary users include individuals, agencies, organizations, non-profit or for-profit companies.
There are now more than 250,000 subscribers from more than 3,600 public safety agencies across the country using FirstNet services. And FirstNet will only continue to grow and improve. The public safety community has a new, vital ecosystem — one that can improve their ability to serve and protect individuals across the country and throughout Iowa. For years to come, FirstNet will continue to make an impact on the lives of those who work tirelessly to protect us — every second of every day.
Dustin Blythe is the director of external affairs at AT&T Iowa. He works with community leaders, legislators and policymakers to manage AT&T’s legislative and community affairs activities.
