Maine is known for its natural beauty, with rocky beaches on its coast and expansive forests inland. In fact, our northeastern-most state is almost 90 percent forested. Although it’s a highly rural state, it is also home to a thriving tourist industry. Public safety must work to protect both the residents and the numerous visitors who enjoy Maine’s beaches, waterways, and wilderness, year-round.
The First Responder Network Authority team recognizes the unique communications challenges that Maine first responders face. We have been working closely with Maine 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 Maine leaders to ensure the plan was customized to address their needs, including:
- Enhancing coverage along Maine’s vast shoreline and waterways
- Enabling seamless communications among New England’s first responders through expanded coverage and innovative solutions
- Providing an interoperable network experience across the State and along the Canadian border, allowing state, local, and federal agencies to effectively communicate with each other and with volunteer emergency responders
Following this close collaboration, Maine 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 Maine public safety officials more than 20 times. Our engagements in Maine included participating in the Convention of Maine Counties, attending the Maine Municipal Association Fall Conference, and meeting with the Maine Interoperable Committee. 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.
Maine's FirstNet Authority Public Safety Advisor
FirstNet in Action in Maine
- The total solar eclipse in April brought massive crowds to 15 U.S. states in the path of totality. The FirstNet Authority began working with public safety officials two years in advance to incorporate broadband into their eclipse planning and support each state in unique ways to prepare for the influx of people
- Maine is undertaking a statewide project to install FirstNet in all its ambulances — to keep them connected and communicating wherever the call takes them. Integrating FirstNet into ambulances improves pre-hospital care and safety for patients, responders, vehicles, and roads.
- The remote region of Jackman, Maine, was experiencing dwindling healthcare options, especially on nights and weekends when the local health clinic was closed. Through an innovative telehealth project, the region now has 24/7 urgent care with the help of FirstNet. The network connects local paramedics to emergency physicians at a hospital 120 miles away, allowing them to treat patients after hours and improve access to quality of care across the region.
- The community of Jackman, Maine, has taken an innovative approach to providing emergency care quickly and efficiently. With the help of FirstNet, paramedics in Jackman can conduct telehealth sessions and treat residents at the local health clinic or in their homes, rather than transporting patients to a hospital over an hour away.
