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When the spotlight is on for a major national event like the Super Bowl, the opportunities to demonstrate cutting-edge public safety communications technologies abound. In addition to better game-day communications, there is often the belief that the investment in innovative technologies will positively improve day-to-day operations when the spotlight fades.
From day-to-day operations to emergencies and large events, lives depend on public safety's ability to communicate. FirstNet not only provides reliable "always on" connections, but also allows first responders to confidently send and receive data, voice and text transmissions with the security their life-saving mission demands.
Although the distances and differences between nations are vast, the mission of public safety to protect lives and property is essentially the same globally, along with the need for reliable communications. Some nations are planning to create nationwide wireless networks dedicated to first responders.
The bravery of the firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel and other public safety personnel on that day is something America will never forget and always be grateful for. Their courage and resolve inspired many to public service and pushed those already serving to help their communities better prepare for any circumstance. FirstNet, America’s nationwide public safety broadband network, is one of those efforts that derived from the events on 9/11.
The FCC updated its location accuracy requirements in 2015, recognizing that technologies such as “Assisted GPS” offered opportunities for even greater improvements in location accuracy. And just this summer, Apple announced that its next software update will automatically make device-based location information available through its integration partner(s) (only one has been announced to date) to 911 centers when a person calls 911, thanks to a suite of technologies including Wi-Fi, cellular towers and GPS.
Nicknamed “Family City USA”, the Mayor’s recent efforts to bolster economic development and security for Orem’s 88,000+ residents have helped the city live up to its name. Recently one of these projects came to fruition when Orem became an early adopter of FirstNet by subscribing to the nation’s first broadband network dedicated exclusively to public safety emergency communication.
Every day and in every emergency, FirstNet is here to support the needs of public safety. From making sure first responders are connected when they need it most to scanning the horizon for the most useful public safety communication innovations, the First Responder Network Authority is committed to advocating for the lifesaving communications technology first responders need on the job.
No community is immune to emergencies or disasters. In every state, county, and municipality—across all levels of government and branches of public service—there are dedicated men and women working to prepare for and respond to incidents to keep communities safe and aid in recovery.
When the ongoing Miles Fire forced the residents and community of Prospect, OR, to evacuate, the Fire Incident Management Team called in FirstNet for support. A Satellite Cell on Light Truck (SatCOLT) is deployed at base camp where nearly 2,000 first responders gather to coordinate their response efforts as the wildfire has grown over the past month.
I was honored to participate in this year’s National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Annual Conference in Hollywood, Florida.