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A cell tower surrounded by trees; an abstract illustration of lines; a headshot of FirstNet Authority Board Member Alexandra Fernández Navarro.

FirstNet Authority Board member serves her community, advocates for territories

FirstNet Authority Board Member Alexandra Fernández Navarro’s extensive career in public service and telecommunications gives her a unique understanding of the interaction between utilities and telecommunication organizations during emergency response and recovery. We sat down with Ms. Fernández Navarro to discuss the unique communications challenges U.S. territories face, how FirstNet supports territories, and her career in public service.

Boulder responders talk while holding a fire hose in a parking lot; City of Boulder staff member wheels out a FirstNet Compact Rapid Deployable

Fire on the mountain: FirstNet connects responders during Colorado wildfire

The NCAR Fire, named for its proximity to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Facility, broke out near Boulder, Colorado in March 2022. The fire prompted the evacuation of 19,000 people and burned 190 acres. Public safety relied on FirstNet deployables, including a Compact Rapid Deployable, to connect their devices and communicate efficiently while managing the evacuations and battling the blaze.

A group of people at a conference, an illustration depicting technology and connection, “AHGC,” “IAB,” “MCdata,” “RAN,” “5G,” “R19,” “CORE”

As 3GPP Release 18 advances, planning starts for Release 19

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Plenary e-meetings concluded in March 2023. The meetings focused on the feature progress and schedule for Release 18 (R18) and included the initial discussions of Release 19 planning. The remaining stage 2 architectural work in R18 is advancing well and is expected to complete in June 2023, as scheduled, allowing the R18 stage 3 protocol work to proceed.

Fallen tree trunk on side of road after a storm, utility workers at work in background; a police officer closing a main road with tape in aftermath of a storm

When law enforcement needs help—elevating extended primary users on FirstNet

Law enforcement officers are among the most important users of the FirstNet network, along with other public safety agencies like EMS, fire services, 9-1-1, and emergency management. When help is needed from the wider community, public safety can temporarily give other subscribing organizations elevated access to the network. This keeps everyone connected and communicating when it matters most.

Renee Gordon in front of a microphone at a FirstNet Authority board meeting.

FirstNet Authority Board member Renee Gordon examines the intersection of FirstNet and 9-1-1

A prominent leader in the 9-1-1 community—Renee Gordon, Director of the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) in the City of Alexandria, Virginia—recently joined the FirstNet Authority Board. Renee has led some particularly innovative efforts in remote 9-1-1 operations and in regionalizing ECCs. We asked Renee about the current and future state of 9-1-1, the role of FirstNet in the ECC, and her priorities while serving on the FirstNet Authority Board.