Devices

The University Fire Department at the University of Alaska Fairbanks helps prepare the next generation of firefighters by providing students with on-the-ground training, certifications, and a colle

In the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Report to Congress, the FirstNet Authority highlights efforts to advance public safety communications technology through innovation and insight. The report details the forward-thinking, state-of-the-art technology made available to the public safety community through FirstNet and ongoing efforts by the FirstNet Authority to enhance the nationwide public safety broadband network.

In the City of St. Augustine, Florida, when multiple public safety agencies are involved in different aspects of securing the city―whether in the aftermath of a hurricane or during a large planned event―communication is critical to ensure all partners are informed and working as a single unit. Agency personnel citywide are connected to FirstNet, an interoperable network that provides reliable communication when they need it most.

Emergency management thrives on good communications. One FirstNet tool that aids communications is push-to-talk on hand-held mobile devices. Push-to-talk capabilities over FirstNet deliver better situational awareness for responders in the field and in the emergency operations.

The fourth-quarterly 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Plenary e-meetings of 2022 concluded in December. Participants focused work on 3GPP Release 18’s (R18) feature progress and schedule. During the meetings, the group decided to extend the R18 freeze date by three months to March 2024 to ensure the quality of the R18 3GPP specifications.

The Oregon Department of Human Services is preparing for a potential Cascadia subduction zone earthquake. The agency identified locations that could become isolated from the surrounding communities if a disaster occurred. To prepare the state for this and other hazards, ODHS purchased 10 Compact Rapid Deployables from FirstNet and stationed them across the state, specifically targeting vulnerable areas.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Emergency Communication Networks division has partnered with FirstNet to ensure seamless communication in emergency situations. During a flood assessment, Beltrami County’s disaster recovery team used a MegaGo​ kit – a network boosting device – to connect to FirstNet to bolster communication in this remote part of Northern Minnesota.

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.

In 2022, the FirstNet Authority reached two major milestones: the 10-year anniversary of the legislation that created FirstNet and the five-year anniversary of the FirstNet Authority’s public-private partnership with AT&T. In the coming years, the FirstNet Authority will continue to build out the network, bring dedicated coverage to urban and rural areas, and invest in cutting-edge public safety technologies.

The community of Jackman, Maine, has taken an innovative approach to providing emergency care quickly and efficiently. With the help of FirstNet, paramedics in Jackman can conduct telehealth sessions and treat residents at the local health clinic or in their homes, rather than transporting patients to a hospital over an hour away.

The third-quarterly Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Plenary e-meetings of 2022 concluded in September. Participants focused on 3GPP Release 18, which will become the inaugural release for 5G Advanced that includes new innovations toward the 5G vision. The plenary meetings made solid progress on the study items and work items that form the basis to advance Release 18 features.

The FirstNet Authority Roadmap lays out six domains that public safety identified as critical to the network’s success. The User Experience domain helps to provide public safety with an intuitively designed user experience on the FirstNet network. The FirstNet Authority engaged with public safety to develop a deep understanding of how first responders interact with the FirstNet network through devices and applications, as well as their needs and expectations of the network.

From missing person searches to HAZMAT incidents and holiday celebrations, first responders in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Texas use drone technology to gather critical situational awareness during emergencies and planned events. With FirstNet, footage from the drones can be streamed seamlessly back to decision makers on the ground.

The Dallas Police Department in Georgia is the first in the state—and one of the first in the country—to completely switch from land mobile radios (LMR) to public safety broadband for their communications. Dallas Police Chief Joe Duvall shared how they made the decision to switch and how it’s going so far.

Deputy Chief Gavin Babieracki of Otsego County EMS Rescue shares his experience responding when a tornado struck his community, a rare event in northern Michigan. Though the tornado was unexpected, Babieracki and his team were prepared with FirstNet and other technologies to keep first responders connected throughout the disaster.

Fire departments around the country are investing in drone technology to keep firefighters safe. Division Chief Dan Cremeans of the Durham Fire Department in North Carolina explained how their drone program helped keep firefighters safe as they battled a fire at a fertilizer plant containing hundreds of tons of highly flammable chemicals.

Thunderbird and Whale was the first-ever national-level exercise fully planned and executed by tribal nations. Lynda Zambrano, Executive Director of the National Tribal Emergency Management Council, recounts her team’s approach to the exercise and how they maximized resources to benefit tribal communities in the Pacific Northwest.

First responders in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) are benefitting from FirstNet. Now with FirstNet, LAPD is equipping officers with new tools, expanded capabilities, and reliable access to critical information while in the field, allowing the department to better serve those who live, work, and visit Los Angeles.

The Orleans Parish Communications District celebrates the adoption of AT&T ESInet to support Next Generation 911 call handling systems. AT&T ESInet gives emergency call handlers greater location accuracy and added redundancy to ensure that 911 services remain operational during localized events. The new system along with acquiring a FirstNet Compact Rapid Deployable asset will provide reliable communications systems for Louisiana public safety.

Jeff Pierce has served for decades as South Dakota’s statewide interoperability coordinator and engineering manager for the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. On the brink of retirement, Pierce shares his vantage point looking at the past, present, and future of public safety communications. No matter where Pierce looks, he sees interoperability as the key to effective public safety communications.