FirstNet’s Dedicated Public Safety Broadband Network is Driving Innovation for Law Enforcement

By David Cook, Senior Public Safety Advisor, First Responder Network Authority

The last decade has brought about rapid advances in technology that have changed our daily lives. The first smartphones hit the streets in 2007, and today nearly every American has at least one in their pocket.

Police chiefs nationwide have also steadily increased their departments’ use of mobile broadband technology over the last ten years to help capture and share information and coordinate responses during both routine and emergency situations. But with the rise of consumer’s use of data via smartphones, commercial networks have become heavily congested and law enforcement often has to compete for a connection.  This might be why your phone has four bars and you still cannot make a call, your local cell site might be at capacity.