‘FirstNet’ Game Changer for Emergency Response (Opinion)

Today we mark one year since the Pulse nightclub shooting. It showed how critical inter-departmental coordination is in responding to cross jurisdictional situations. Now we can serve Florida’s first responders even better.

Today we mark one year since the Pulse nightclub shooting, where 49 people lost their lives and many more were injured in what is the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

This horrific incident highlighted our first responders’ dedication to public service, and the individual stories of their heroic and selfless actions continue to shine through the terror of that night. It also showed how critical inter-departmental coordination is in responding to cross jurisdictional situations — where firefighters, EMS and police must all communicate. Over 200 first responders and 27 different public safety entities were acknowledged for their exemplary service in response to this tragedy.

Now, we can serve Florida’s first responders even better. On March 30, 2017, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) — a new, national high-speed wireless broadband network for public safety — announced it will enter into a public-private partnership with AT&T to construct and administer this long-awaited and vital program. FirstNet represents a major step forward for public safety and national security in the United States — a game-changing development as significant as the adoption of the 9-1-1 system during the latter decades of the 20th century.

This opinion article was written by Joe York, President of AT&T Florida, and appears in the Sun Sentinel. Please click below to go to their site and read the entire article

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