Priority and Preemption

In Hamilton County, Ohio, FirstNet’s robust and reliable platform is making it possible for technical dispatch teams responding to high-profile, large scale events to remain as fully functional as if they were operating within the four-walls of their Emergency Communications Center.

A cell tower on the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation brings connectivity to a rural area of Wisconsin, protecting locals and the many tourists who visit the area. 

When a tornado struck 14.5 square miles and 12,000 properties of Beavercreek, Ohio, public safety utilized FirstNet to do damage assessments during recovery efforts. Beavercreek Township Fire Department Battalion Chief, Nathan Hiester shares why having a dedicated public safety network, when ‘those seconds actually count.’

On Memorial Day 2019, nearly 55 tornadoes touched down in eight states across the country. Ohio saw some of the worst damage, including an EF3 tornado that tore through Beavercreek Township. The Beavercreek Township Fire Department used FirstNet to assist with damage assessment efforts.

When disaster strikes or large crowds gather, public safety officials need a broadband network they can rely on to remain connected. FirstNet’s fleet of deployables is an important resource for emergency managers for planned and unplanned events to ensure that connection is available. First Responder Network Authority Senior Public Safety Advisor Timothy Pierce describes the deployables that are available to FirstNet subscribers and how those resources can make a difference for first responders.

With FirstNet's reliable broadband connection, Derry police officers are always connected and able to extend their LMR footprint.

The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota is exploring the benefits that FirstNet can bring to the rural area, including priority and preemption and cost savings.

The FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) formed a Strike Team to examine the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport program. Chief Jonathan Olson of Wake County, NC EMS and FirstNet Authority PSAC Executive Committee member, details how the FirstNet network is uniquely situated to support this program and how under this program, patients will receive increased access to the services they need.

The Seattle Fire Department experienced the benefits of FirstNet during the SeaFair 2019 festival. Despite the more than 350,000 people in attendance, firefighters and paramedics were able to communicate important safety information during the event.

The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s in Wisconsin was the first tribe to participate in in-depth discussions with the FirstNet Authority, and they were the first to sign an agreement with AT&T to build a new cell tower on tribal land. This buildout will help both the first responders supporting the Red Cliff Band and the residents who live there.

When Super Bowl LIII came to Atlanta, the Fulton County E9-1-1 Center used FirstNet to support the backup center.

The Seattle Fire Department is equipping firefighters and paramedics with access to FirstNet on smartphones and rig apparatus, keeping them connected through everyday emergencies and natural disasters.

The New Hampshire Department of Public Safety’s Office of Interoperability hosted the FirstNet Authority for two User Forums – for New Hampshire and for Region I states. Public safety officials from across the region gathered to learn more about the FirstNet Authority Roadmap and had the opportunity to explore some FirstNet dedicated assets for first responders.

Technology is revolutionizing how medical professionals work, communicate and care for patients.  Nowhere is that more true than in the emergency medical services (EMS) field. As new technologies enter the marketplace and promise improved patient outcomes and access to care, EMS professionals require a reliable and effective communications network every day and for every emergency. The answer lies in FirstNet.

The City of Columbia, South Carolina, has joined FirstNet, keeping first responders connected during every day incidents and critical moments.

When wildfires broke out near Stanley, Idaho, first responders turned to FirstNet to help connect responding agencies. With the help of a Satellite Cell on Light Truck (SatCOLT) deployable asset, first responders from multiple agencies were able to communicate as they fought the blazes.

Signal Mountain became the first city in Tennessee to join FirstNet, bringing first responders access to a dedicated, reliable network that connects them to the critical information they need during everyday incidents and emergencies.

Recently, the New Hampshire Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) hosted the FirstNet Authority for a focused engagement session on the Roadmap.

The Anchorage Police Department has equipped its officers with devices connected to FirstNet. With these smartphones, officers have access to a dedicated network with priority and preemption capabilities, giving them a reliable connection whenever and wherever they need it.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security has relied on FirstNet for a variety of incidents and emergencies, from Hurricane Michael to a lost hiker to the 2019 Super Bowl. With priority and preemption on the FirstNet network and access to deployable assets such as SatCOLTs (satellite cells on light trucks) and COWs (cells on wheels), first responders have reliable connection when and where they need it.