Situated in the heart of Tornado Alley, Kansas is prone to severe weather, including thunderstorms that produce an average of 50 tornadoes every year, as well as hail, flooding, and straight-line winds. The state's first responders are responsible for large rural areas, including tribal lands that stretch across the Great Plains. First responders in the Free State benefit from the broadened coverage FirstNet provides, as well as access to deployables that can be set up in damaged areas.

The First Responder Network Authority team recognizes the unique communications challenges that Kansas first responders face. We have been working closely with Kansas public safety officials since 2014, capturing their feedback and translating it into the design of the FirstNet network. During the development of state deployment plans, our team worked hand-in-hand with Kansas leaders to ensure the plan was customized to address their needs, including:

• Creating an interoperable communications experience with Kansas’ four border states
• Integrating state infrastructure into the network build as appropriate

Following this close collaboration, Kansas chose to adopt the plan and “opt in” to FirstNet. Today, we continue to meet regularly with state and local officials to discuss their public safety broadband needs. In 2019 alone, our team met with Kansas public safety officials more than 15 times. Our engagements in Kansas included the Kansas Firefighters Association Conference, the Kansas Emergency Management Association Conference, and the Kansas Statewide FirstNet User Forum. Engagements like these are crucial to the ongoing success of the network and the advancement of public safety communications across the state and the nation.

Connect with our team of Public Safety Advisors to learn about FirstNet in your community.