Articles by Editorial Staff
FirstNet Authority Board Approves FY20 Budget
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board today approved an $82 million budget for operations in Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20), with a focus on supporting public safety engagement, continued…
FirstNet, an app and smartphones as body cams: How one police department put them together
When the Platteville Police Department in Wisconsin was trying to figure out a way to outfit every officer with a body-worn camera during their shifts, the small department of 20…
Plans for FirstNet MCPTT unveiling ‘all on track,’ AT&T’s Sambar says
AT&T testing of 3GPP-compliant mission-critical-push-to-talk (MCPTT) technology is “going really well” and the carrier plans to offer the service later this year from multiple providers that will be announced separately,…
FirstNet Authority Releases Public Safety-Driven Roadmap for Future of Network
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) marked a significant milestone today with release of a new Roadmap for the future of FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network. PRESS…
PSCR pushes the envelope on public safety research
In virtual reality, a firefighter navigates a smoke-filled room and a police officer comes under fire in a parking garage. Wearing a set of augmented-reality glasses, a researcher examines a…
FirstNet Momentum: Platform Passes 750,000 Connections, Performs Faster Than Any Commercial Network for Second Consecutive Quarter
Coverage Enhancements, Redundant Solutions and Cybersecurity Training Coming to FirstNet Subscribers DALLAS and BALTIMORE, Aug. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Public safety personnel across the country continue to turn to FirstNet to advance their routine and emergency…
FirstNet Authority set to unveil investment roadmap within weeks, officials say
By the end of this month, the FirstNet Authority hopes to release the initial roadmap outlining organizational priorities for investing potentially more than $15 billion into the FirstNet nationwide public-safety…
Are Samsung Smartphones a Threat to Axon Body Cams?
At least one law enforcement agency is using the devices as body cameras, and more could follow By Rich Duprey Calls for greater police accountability and for protecting officers from…
New FirstNet Cell Sites Launch in Warren County to Support Public Safety
New Infrastructure Will Help Advance Public Safety, Improve Connectivity for Area Residents and Visitors WARRENTON, N.C., Aug. 7, 2019 – Warren County’s first responders are getting a major boost in…
Turning data into insights to improve public safety
By Kalyn Sims Municipalities are investing in technology to help them better protect their residents, infrastructure and reputations. There’s been tremendous growth in the number of drones, audio-recording devices and…
5G: Taking Public Safety Communications Into a Smarter Future
Increased bandwidth, low latencies enable advanced tech and better agency coordination with public safety communications in 5G, according to interviews with Telit. By Randall D. Larson As cellular technology advances…
Duck goes all in on FirstNet
The town of Duck in North Carolina’s famed Outer Banks is in the midst of its busy season. During the summer, it swells from 400 permanent residents to as many…
AT&T contract with DOJ worth up to $984 million includes FirstNet access for more than 40 federal agencies
“FirstNet is certainly part of a broader solution that we will be supporting DoJ with,” Schwartz said. “There are agencies within DoJ that are already using FirstNet—ATF is one of…
AT&T CEO says FirstNet buildout 60% done, with 70% mark targeted by end of year
AT&T’s FirstNet 700 MHz Band 14 deployment was about 60% finished at the end of June, and the carrier giant hopes to reach the 70% completion mark by the end…