Deployables
FirstNet is making a difference for law enforcement agencies across the nation—in both daily operations and at big events, whether planned or unplanned. In northern Virginia, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office relies on FirstNet for everyday use, emergencies, and large events. They also partner with other FirstNet users in the region to collaborate on how to best use the network.
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 Christmas Day bombing of an AT&T building in Nashville remains under investigation, and restoration of the damaged and destroyed buildings, property, and infrastructure continues.
On Christmas morning, a motorhome packed with explosives detonated directly in front of the AT&T central office facility in Nashville. The bombing resulted in an outage that affected the Internet, phone, and wireless services of all major carriers, including FirstNet, in the local area as well the wider region. The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) has been working closely with AT&T and local, state, and federal officials following the attack. Based upon initial analysis, it appears the FirstNet network infrastructure was not directly impacted by the explosion, and service continued operating on temporary battery power in the hours immediately following the event. However, because the bomb destroyed two local water mains, backup power generators were flooded and inoperable, and there was insufficient time to reroute all services before backup batteries were exhausted.
When heavy rain caused two dams to breach in Midland, Michigan, over 10,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes. The Midland Fire Department requested statewide assistance, and the Oakland Communications Support Team answered the call. Using a FirstNet deployable and devices, first responders were able to access forms, maps, and other key information as they conducted damage assessment and cleanup.
When a wildfire broke out near Glenwood, Washington, first responders quickly discovered the remote area had nearly no cell service. Needing to communicate with one another as well as check weather reports and order additional supplies, the incident management team requested a FirstNet deployable asset. Within hours, the firefighters were connected with the situational awareness they needed.
The Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System (ISICS) Board, led by Board Chair Tom Lampe, was formed in 2007 to create and manage the statewide land mobile radio system known as ISICS. Coupled with the buildout of FirstNet, ISICS has given first responders across Iowa’s 99 counties access to reliable, redundant communications. The LMR and LTE systems have played critical roles in day-to-day response as well as major incidents, including the 2020 derecho storms and a recent missing children’s case.
First responders in tribal nations are tackling the COVID-19 health crisis with dedication and innovation, and many are turning to technology solutions to enhance their operations. Tribal nations like the Colville Tribes in Washington have gotten a boost in coverage from FirstNet at testing sites and emergency operation centers.
The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota covers a diverse jurisdiction, from the Badlands to Black Elk Peak. Communication is key for deputies in every part of the largely rural county. FirstNet provides the coverage and capacity they need when seconds count.
With a fleet of 76 deployable assets ranging from Satellite Cell on Light Trucks to the FirstNet One Aerostat, FirstNet is prepared for hurricane season. These assets are pre-staged and available to respond when disasters strike.
During a missing person search last fall in a remote part of the western Black Hills in South Dakota, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office had no cell-phone service. Within hours of calling FirstNet, Captain Tony Harrison said that the AT&T-FirstNet team set up a mobile cell tower to allow deputies to communicate with dispatch and locate the missing person.
The FirstNet Authority is taking part in several panel discussions, as well as a virtual booth for the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ 2020 Fire-Rescue International ReIGNITE conference. During the event, attendees can take the opportunity to learn about FirstNet’s innovations for public safety agencies and all of the resources available to them through the network.
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.
Harris County, Texas, was one of the early adopters of FirstNet. As the nation’s third most populous county, first responders in the area need to be prepared for any event. The Harris County Radio Services Organization operates the regional radio system for public safety in Harris County, and FirstNet is allowing them augment that radio system in remote areas and in times of heavy network congestion.
The FirstNet Authority Public Safety Advocacy team is engaging with public safety to better understand the operational and technical needs of first responders. These engagements give the public safety community important information on the network, the FirstNet Authority Roadmap, and the many resources available for public safety operations.
Bobby Gelormine, the Senior Planner for the Chesapeake Fire Department’s Office of Emergency Management, helps the city plan for everything from hurricanes and flooding to terrorism and other man-made disasters. Being in a constant state of readiness means that Gelormine and his colleagues rely on FirstNet to provide reliable communications, no matter the emergencies they face.
Sacred Cross EMS provides EMS and emergency and non-emergency ambulance transport services across North and West Texas. Many of the areas that the company services are rural, and cellular coverage is traditionally sparse. With the help of FirstNet, Sacred Cross is able to communicate among crews, with hospitals, and with dispatch provide better patient care in these remote areas during everyday incidents and planned events.
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.
Thirty-year fire service veteran and board member for the FirstNet Authority Brian Crawford knows firsthand the impact that innovative communications technology has for our nation’s first responders. In this time of national crisis, it is imperative that public safety benefits from interoperability and stable coverage to keep agencies working at their best.