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Public Safety First

The FirstNet Authority Podcast

The Public Safety First podcast takes a deep dive into public safety communications, highlighting the creative ways responders are using technology to serve their communities. Join FirstNet Authority experts and public safety leaders to hear success stories, best practices, and lessons learned related to broadband in public safety operations.

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All Episodes

Panelists from the 2025 5x5 in front of an audience presenting on satellite to device technologies, Public Safety First podcast logo

Episode 95: Live at 5x5: The cellular space race continues

Captured in June 2025 at 5x5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit, this panel of public safety broadband experts discusses the latest in the quickly evolving satellite to device services marketplace and how FirstNet fits in.

A hand holding a FirstNet phone over a device cache, tornado damage in Kentucky, Public Safety First Podcast logo

Episode 94: Emergency Management Teamwork

FirstNet Authority Senior Public Safety Advisor Gerald Risner and Senior Emergency Management Advisor Bruce Fitzgerald sit down with Woodford County, Kentucky Emergency Management Agency Director Drew Chandler to discuss the communication challenges emergency managers face in Kentucky and nationwide. Learn more about how teamwork between the FirstNet Authority and emergency managers nationwide helps solve daily problems and prepare communities for a variety of events planned and unplanned alike.

Four panelists — Pokey Harris, Josh Briggs, Tom Rogers, and Renee Gordon — seated and speaking with microphones in front of them “Live at 5x5” with a blue abstract background.

Episode 93: Live at 5x5: Navigating a Hurricane

In October of 2024, the North Carolina 911 Board deployed the FirstNet Wireless Redundant Solution to a public safety answering point (PSAP) whose infrastructure was obliterated by Hurricane Helene. The PSAP received and processed 911 calls for one month using FirstNet connectivity. Renee Gordon, Pokey Harris, Tom Rogers, and Josh Briggs share best practices and lessons learned from rolling out this solution across North Carolina, live at 5x5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit.  

A speech bubble with jumbled shapes connects via a line to a speech bubble where there is an orderly checklist. The line crosses over a police cruiser, a fire services apparatus, a cell tower, and a drone.

Episode 92: At Its Core: Network Experience Engagement Program

Public Affairs Specialist Molly Hahn joins FirstNet Authority Public Safety Advisor Doug Harder to delve into the Network Experience Engagement Program (NEEP). Explore how the FirstNet Authority’s NEEP helps agencies operationalize FirstNet with pre-incident and event planning, post-incident and event reviews, and exercise planning.

Speech bubbles expressing a complicated topic being made clear, drawings of smartphones and LMR radios showing push-to-talk capabilities

Episode 91: At Its Core: Mission Critical Push-to-Talk

Public Affairs Specialist Molly Hahn joins FirstNet Authority Senior Device Engineer Barry Leitch to understand the basics of Mission Critical Push-to-Talk and its capabilities. Learn how this technology enables instant, reliable communication for public safety— helping teams coordinate in real time, stay connected during emergencies, and enhance operational safety.