5G

During its third quarterly meeting of 2021, the FirstNet Authority Board approved a $253 million budget for Fiscal Year 2022, with a focus on overseeing deployment of the nationwide public safety broadband network, supporting public safety engagement on their communications priorities, and directing investments in the network based on public safety’s feedback.

The second quarterly Third Generational Partnership Project (3GPP) Plenary e-meetings of 2021 focused on the completion of Release 17 (R17) stage 2 (architecture) work and preparation for prioritization of features for R18. The group declared the stage 2 work frozen, while allowing some work items to continue into the third quarter of 2021. At this time, the R17 stage 3 (protocol) freeze date remains on schedule for March 2022.

The FirstNet Authority is joining PSCR 2021, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division’s virtual annual Stakeholder Meeting. Through plenaries, on-demand sessions, and live question and answer sessions, the FirstNet Authority team will discuss standards work, innovation in public safety communications technology, and how the pandemic changed operations for first responders.

The first quarterly Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Plenary e-meetings of 2021 recently concluded. At the March meetings, the 3GPP momentum continued with more Release 17 progress and a focus on the upcoming June deadline for stage 2 (architecture) work. There were major discussions on the use of the 5G New Radio (NR) sidelink interface to support both user equipment (UE) to network (U2N) relay and UE to UE (U2U) relay.

Over the last four years, this partnership between the FirstNet Authority and AT&T has brought together the very best in the public and private sectors with a singular focus on supporting public safety’s mission. Together, we are delivering on our commitment to the public safety community: to provide a single nationwide, interoperable network for the millions of police, fire, EMS, and public safety workers across the country. Last year, the FirstNet Authority Board directed our first investments for the network, which included initial upgrades to the FirstNet Core to enable access to 5G services for FirstNet subscribers. Today, we are pleased to join AT&T in announcing this initial investment is becoming a reality. FirstNet subscribers will have access to AT&T’s 5G mmWave spectrum in parts of 38 cities and more than 20 venues across the country beginning this month. 

Nine years after the passage of the legislation that created FirstNet, retired Police Chief Harlin McEwen reflects on the evolution of FirstNet and how the network is benefiting first responders today.  Harlin also talks about the future of FirstNet and how new technologies, such as high-powered user equipment and Z-axis features, are “game changers” for public safety.  

Leonard S. Weiss, MD, FACEP, FAEMS talks about the importance of having public safety give guidance to the FirstNet Authority. Dr. Weiss is the liaison for NAEMSP on the FirstNet Authority's Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC). Learn more at FirstNet.gov/PSAC and at FirstNet.gov/EMS.

The Association of Public Works Association (APWA) released its Top Five Trending Technologies of 2021 survey and report announcing promising technologies that best support public works agencies. APWA reached out to the FirstNet Authority to discuss small cell/5G technologies’ growing impact on FirstNet’s vision to expand and enhance coverage into communities located in urban, rural, or other hard to reach areas. 

FirstNet is pushing the envelope for public safety communications, opening up new capabilities for emergency managers and the first responders they work with. Through real-time data sharing, tools like the Advanced Network Status Tool, and advances in 5G, FirstNet is shaping the future of emergency management.

At the December 2020 3GPP Plenary meetings, there was continued momentum with Release 17 and mission critical features, including continued inclusion and clarification of 5G direct mode and broadcast mode communications. Many public safety agencies from across the globe co-signed two contributions authored and led by the FirstNet Authority to emphasize the importance of these features. 

The National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) represents over 1,500 paramedics, physicians, nurses, administrators, educators, and researchers. NAEMSP provides educational resources and evidence-based guidance to its members and partners with organizations and federal agencies as an advocate for EMS-related decisions. As a member of the FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, NAEMSP provides input on issues that are essential EMS practitioners.

The First Responder Network Authority is pleased to unveil the 2020 FirstNet Roadmap. The newly updated Roadmap incorporates feedback from thousands of public safety stakeholders and reflects emerging technology trends identified by academic and industry experts in the fields of communications and technology. The Roadmap is central to the delivery of a differentiated broadband communications experience for public safety.

The FirstNet Authority is joining the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR) virtually at PSCR 2020: The Digital Experience. Live and on-demand sessions will discuss standards work, innovation in public safety technology, and the FirstNet Authority Roadmap.

Edward Parkinson was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the FirstNet Authority on March 12, 2020. One hundred days into the job, he reflects back on the creation of the FirstNet Authority and how far the organization has come, including recent investments that will prepare the network for the future.

The Texas A&M Internet2 Technology Evaluation Center (ITEC) in College Station, Texas plays an important role in developing public safety broadband technologies. Through its annual Winter Institute Workshop and Exercise, ITEC has brought together industry and public safety leaders to test and developing apps and services that benefit first responders.

The First Responder Network Authority Board today approved the first set of investments for enhancing FirstNet, the nationwide public safety broadband network. Specifically, the Board approved more than $200 million for initial network upgrades to set FirstNet on the path to 5G and to expand the dedicated fleet of deployable assets.

With experience as a radio operator in a rural region, Oregon Congressman Greg Walden understands the importance of communication, especially for first responders. Motivated by the challenges he has seen for public safety, he authored and helped pass the legislation that created FirstNet.

This blog post is part of the "Tech Talk" series focused on the FirstNet Authority’s standards development activities to support public safety. This post recaps discussions linked to public safety and other related topics from the 3GPP Plenary meetings that were conducted online March 16-20, 2020. The FirstNet Authority represented public safety interests at the Plenary meetings.

The FirstNet Core serves as the brain and the nervous system of a network, enabling critical network functions like priority, preemption, and future mission critical services. In this blog, FirstNet Authority core experts discuss how the FirstNet Core was originally designed to meet public safety’s needs and how it will continue to evolve through the FirstNet Authority Roadmap priorities and initiatives.

To celebrate the second anniversary of the FirstNet Core, Carlos L’Abbate, FirstNet Authority Senior Director of Product Technology and Architecture, and Chuck Shaughnessy, FirstNet Authority Senior Advisor join host Dave Buchanan, FirstNet Authority Director of Public Safety Advocacy, to discuss how the Core was built for public safety and how it will continue to evolve to meet the needs of first responders.