Data Security

FirstNet can be an important and cost-effective tool for enhancing EMS operations. From push-to-talk capabilities for budget-friendly interoperability to devices that operate like mini cell sites for improved indoor coverage, FirstNet can support communications for EMS practitioners.

Ambulance runs can go to the most remote of places—in both rural and urban environments. A useful piece of technology for EMS is FirstNet’s high-power user equipment, or HPUE. HPUE boosts signal power up to six times the normal strength at the edges of the network. Lieutenant Humza Shamsuddin, Technology Director for the Bristol Kendall Fire Protection District in Illinois, explains how his agency uses HPUE for EMS.

Tennessee is upgrading its 9-1-1 network and leading the nation by instituting FirstNet as backup for every primary public safety answering point or PSAP. Curtis Sutton, Executive Director of the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board, discusses the lessons learned, the benefits of FirstNet, and the future of 9-1-1 in Tennessee.

The FirstNet Authority invested in an in-building solution called Cell Booster Pro to bring better indoor FirstNet coverage to police headquarters and other public safety buildings. With this new program, public safety agencies can install up to 50 devices across multiple locations—at no cost to the agency—to boost FirstNet inside the buildings where they work.

Nlets – the International Justice and Public Safety Network is an international, not-for-profit corporation owned and managed by the 50 states and 5 U.S. territories. Since its establishment, Nlets has served the law enforcement community by enabling state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies to exchange and access public safety information. As a member of the Public Safety Advisory Committee, Nlets provides critical input related to criminal justice information sharing and secure data exchange.

When Mason County, West Virginia needed broadband for their public safety agencies, they considered many options and ultimately decided to go with FirstNet because of coverage. Now all EMS agencies in this rural county use FirstNet for their communications, making a difference for providers and patients alike, especially when ambulance rides can be 45 minutes to the nearest advanced care hospital.

Law enforcement agencies in Michigan are taking advantage of mission critical capabilities on FirstNet, such as priority and preemption. For the Grand Rapids Police Department and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, this means officers and deputies are able to communicate and have access to the tools they need in the field, ultimately helping them better serve their communities.

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 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 National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) is a national association representing all EMS practitioners, including paramedics, EMTs, and other emergency response personnel. As a member of the FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, NAEMT provides input on issues that are essential to emergency medical technicians.

The momentum continued at the September 2020 3GPP Plenary meetings with Release 17 (R17) work fully underway. Several studies are moving into the normative work phase and address public safety areas of interest, including enhanced location services, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) such as drones, direct mode enhancements including sidelink relay, and 5G multicast-broadcast.

The U.S. Coast Guard acts as a key part of our nation’s maritime safety, supporting a wide range of missions—from search and rescue to counter-drug operations. The Coast Guard has equipped more than 1,300 pilots and aircrew with FirstNet-enabled devices to aid in day-to-day operations as well as during major events and incidents, such as Fleet Week and the Super Bowl.

As the nation continues to face the effects of COVID-19, call centers have had adjust their operations in order to maintain communications for 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 calls, while keeping their employees safe. Thanks to FirstNet, the Office of Unified Communications has been able to continue operating safely and securely.