Todd Early is announced as the new Chair of First Responder Network Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC). Todd replaces Interim PSAC Chair Paul Patrick, who was named to the First Responder Network Authority Board. He brings more than 25 years of professional experience in public safety to this leadership role.

This year, the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) debuted new methods of working with the FirstNet Authority and its partner, AT&T, on advising their work towards the FirstNet mission.  With the FirstNet network realized in 2018, this is bringing a new focus and flurry of work and activity to the PSAC in their advisory role.        

The Washington County Sheriff’s office was among the first in the nation – and the very first in Maryland – to subscribe to FirstNet. In 2018, the southern portion of the county was badly affected by a powerful line of thunderstorms. Within hours, FirstNet mobilized a Satellite Cell on Light Truck (SatCOLT), boosting the ability to communicate and coordinate emergency response efforts.

EMS using FirstNet are already seeing its possibilities and learning how the dedicated communication system dramatically supports their work in the field.

More than 3,600 agencies have now joined FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network dedicated to America’s first responders. As public safety agencies sign up for FirstNet and tap into the key capabilities of their network, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) continues to work hand-in-hand with them to understand their current and future broadband needs.