Wyoming’s diverse landscape, which includes rural regions, mountainous landscapes, and federal and tribal lands, provide unique challenges for the state’s first responders. With several major attractions in the state, from Cheyenne Frontier Days to Yellowstone National Park, first responders are responsible for protecting nearly 9 million visitors annually, in addition to local residents, which can put a strain on public safety communications.
The First Responder Network Authority team recognizes the unique communications challenges that Wyoming first responders face. We have been working closely with Wyoming 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 Wyoming leaders to ensure the plan was customized to address their needs.
Following this close collaboration, Wyoming 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 Wyoming public safety officials more than 10 times. Our engagements in Wyoming included attending the Wyoming EMS Leaders and Directors Conference, meeting with the Wyoming Governor, and meeting with the Casper Police Department. 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.
Wyoming's FirstNet Authority Public Safety Advisor
FirstNet in Action in Wyoming
- The Casper Police Department in Wyoming was one of the first agencies to use the FirstNet network in August 2017 when the city’s population was expected to nearly double during a solar eclipse. Four years later, FirstNet is providing Casper police officers with coverage across the city, dedicated applications to enhance operations, and connectivity to other city agencies during everyday incidents and major emergencies.
- Teton County is a rural county in northwest Wyoming. Situated in the Teton Range, the county experiences weather hazards including fires, floods, and wintery conditions, as well as earthquakes, landslides, and avalanches. Teton County first responders rely on FirstNet’s hardened network to stay connected in the most remote parts of the county and during tourist season when cell networks grow congested.
- First responders rely on an extended community of support entities during major incidents, events, and disasters for clean-up, transportation, and other services. These entities are eligible to join FirstNet as Extended Primary users. During times of extreme network congestion, the FirstNet Uplift Request Tool can be used to provide temporary elevation for Extended Primary users to the same priority level as Primary users, ensuring they remain connected and able to communicate and coordinate response.
- Wyoming’s first responders are getting a major boost in their wireless communications with the addition of a new, purpose-built cell site located near Wyoming Highway 170 in Owl Creek.
