FirstNet is an independent government authority established in 2012 by Congress. FirstNet’s public safety mission is to build and deploy the first-ever nationwide broadband network dedicated to first responders.
This Is Public Safety’s Network
The FirstNet network grew out of and addresses a 9/11 Commission recommendation calling for interoperable communications for all U.S. first responders. With the FirstNet network, first responders will have access to fast, highly secure and reliable communications whenever they need them. This will help first responders stay safe while they help others during both day-to-day operations and disaster response and recovery, and when securing large events.
FirstNet Law-Title VI Public Safety
Last week APCO took part in international 5G standards meetings held by 3GPP in Prague, Czech Republic to develop technical specifications for the 4.9 GHz spectrum band, an important step…
Learn what ECCs and PSAPs are, how they support 911 and emergency response, and why FirstNet is essential for enhancing dispatcher communication and coordination.
On June 13, dedicated FirstNet assets – including a FirstNet Satellite Cell on Light Truck (SatCOLT) and a FirstNet Compact Rapid Deployable (CRD)– were deployed to support federal, state, and local public safety near the Pentagon and Lincoln Memorial for the U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday Parade and Celebration, which is being held from 6/13 – 6/14 in Washington, D.C.
Federal Reports
Lennard G. Kruger Specialist in Science and Technology Policy January 26, 2017 Summary Congress included provisions in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96)…
Linda K. Moore Specialist in Telecommunications Policy June 17, 2016 Summary Congress included provisions in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96) for planning,…
Linda K. Moore Specialist in Telecommunications Policy February 27, 2015 Summary Congress included provisions in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96) for planning,…
Linda K. Moore Specialist in Telecommunications Policy March 12, 2014 Summary Since September 11, 2001, when communications failures contributed to the tragedies of the day, Congress has passed several laws…
Linda K. Moore Specialist in Telecommunications Policy May 28, 2013 Summary Since September 11, 2001, when communications failures contributed to the tragedies of the day, Congress has passed several laws…
Public Safety Alliance (PSA)
“Awarded To: Andrew Seybold, For your outstanding vision, commitment and contributions to the critical communications industry” I am deeply humbled to have been only the second person to receive this…
Those who have been reading the Advocate for any length of time know I rarely feature individuals in my articles but when I do, it is to impart information that…
After the article about the lack of data interoperability across the FirstNet (Built with AT&T) network appeared last week in the Advocate, I received comments indicating that serious work has indeed…
BFN (Before FirstNet) and before Next-Generation 9-1-1 (NG911), the public-safety communications world was fairly organized. A few companies offered complete systems consisting of base stations, mobiles and portables, and radio…
In early November, I will be at the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) Critical LTE Communications Conference in Chicago. On the second day, I will be moderating a panel entitled,…
Rural Broadband I write and speak about this subject quite often. The reason is simple. FirstNet is the result of a public/private partnership that continues to work well and is…
The past several weeks have seen some interesting changes in the FirstNet Board of Directors and the U.S. Senate. First and foremost, the passing of John McCain was very sad…
With AT&T beating every due date, dealing with its coverage issues head-on, and deploying Band 14 ahead of schedule, not to mention certifying new FirstNet-approved devices, sometimes we forget FirstNet…
For the past few weeks I have been talking with folks in D.C., states, and locally about FirstNet and if and when it will replace Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems….
December 2017 December is an important month for FirstNet, the states, and the public safety community. Already this month, we have seen more states opt in to FirstNet before the…
The law that created FirstNet is very clear when it comes to states and territories opting in or out of FirstNet. There are two ways to opt in: The governor…
A number of people within the various states and the public safety community are not happy with the coverage AT&T/FirstNet is offering on day one. Perhaps if they had a…
During the quest to obtain enough nationwide broadband spectrum for public safety, the Public Safety Alliance (PSA) and its member organizations worked industriously to convince members of the U.S. Congress…
The vision for the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) is to provide comprehensive high-speed wireless communication services to more than 60,000 public safety and emergency response agencies.1 The First…
The leaders of Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) agencies across the country have joined together to form the Public Safety Alliance (PSA) to urge Congress to pass legislation…
Public Safety Alliance The Public Safety Alliance (PSA) is a partnership among the nation’s leading public safety associations, including the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, the International Association…
RICHARD MIRGON PAST PRESIDENT, APCO INTL The PSA’s 3 Core Principles Spectrum – Reallocation of the D Block to public safety Funding – Provide sufficient funding to build the network…