Mississippi was one of several Gulf states that experienced the wrath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In Katrina’s aftermath, our nation was reminded once again of the importance of interoperability for first responders across state lines and among public safety disciplines. Today, interoperability and reliable network coverage remain vital to Mississippi’s first responders and their ability to save lives and secure communities.

The First Responder Network Authority understands the importance of having reliable public safety communications. We have been working closely with Mississippi 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 Mississippi leaders to ensure the plan was customized to address their needs, including:

• Expanding rural coverage beyond what is currently available from commercial carriers
• Providing quick access to deployable network assets
• Offering feature-rich services at competitive prices

Following this close collaboration, Mississippi 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 Mississippi public safety officials more than 10 times. Our engagements in Mississippi included attending the Mississippi Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Conference, participating in the Mississippi Wireless Communications Commission Monthly Meetings, and meeting with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. 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.