Local

The Farmville Police Department protects a Virginia town that sits along U.S. 460 and U.S. 15, drawing steady traffic from Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Richmond. With local universities and major events bringing visitors to the town year-round, the department relies on FirstNet for reliable communications. The network is strengthening officer safety, operational readiness, and the department’s ability to serve a rapidly changing community.

Through Coverage Enhancement Workshops, the FirstNet Authority works alongside public safety nationwide to identify coverage needs and ensure network investments meet those needs.

The FirstNet Authority understands that coverage must be expanded in strategic areas that reflect the needs of public safety. Our Coverage Enhancement Program gathers input from public safety on where they need coverage to help guide strategic network investments. Workshops across the nation have provided a forum for state and local government officials and public safety leaders to meet with FirstNet Authority staff to relay where coverage is inadequate and how that impacts operations.

In rural southern Utah, where red rock canyons, forests, small towns, and wide-open terrain coexist, communications for public safety can be a challenge. Given the dramatic differences in the terrain, Northwest Fire and Rescue turned to FirstNet for a secure, robust and dependable network that provides improved communications and rescue capabilities in the backcountry.

The rugged terrain and remote geography of Luzerne County, North Carolina have long presented challenges for first responders who depend on communications to protect residents and visitors. With the addition of a new hilltop cell site in Drums, which improves coverage and capacity around Butler Drive and Old Turnpike Road, the Valley Regional Fire and Rescue team and surrounding public safety agencies will now benefit from expanded coverage.

FirstNet Authority Senior Public Safety Advisor Gerald Risner and Senior Emergency Management Advisor Bruce Fitzgerald sit down with Woodford County, Kentucky Emergency Management Agency Director Drew Chandler to discuss the communication challenges emergency managers face in Kentucky and nationwide. Learn more about how teamwork between the FirstNet Authority and emergency managers nationwide helps solve daily problems and prepare communities for a variety of events planned and unplanned alike.

Sandusky, Ohio sees massive population swings — from a tight-knit community of 25,000 to thousands of visitors on peak summer weekends at Cedar Point and Lake Erie — putting pressure on public safety’s ability to communicate. By adopting FirstNet, local fire, police, public works, and other city departments now have reliable connectivity, improved coverage, and a new level of interoperability across agencies.

In Corning, New York, first responders and local government agencies use FirstNet to enhance public safety and connectivity across city departments.

In Corning, New York, local leaders are finding new ways to enhance public safety and improve communications across city departments with FirstNet. From real-time body camera streaming to improved data access in emergency vehicles, FirstNet is transforming how the city delivers public safety services while saving money and expanding coverage.

Swain County, North Carolina’s rugged terrain and remote geography have long presented challenges for first responders who depend on communications to protect residents and visitors. With the addition of a new FirstNet cell tower and integrating the network as a wireless backup solution, the Swain County Emergency Communication Center and surrounding public safety agencies now benefit from expanded coverage and improved backup connectivity.

In Drums, Pennsylvania, U.S. Congressman Rob Bresnahan and the FirstNet Authority joined local first responders, public safety officials, and community leaders to celebrate a new hilltop cell site, which improves coverage and capacity around Luzerne County. The new site will strengthen reliable communications, helping public safety stay connected.

In Swaine County, North Carolina, U.S. Senator Ted Budd and the FirstNet Authority joined local first responders, public safety officials, and company leaders to celebrate a new cell site delivering improved connectivity in Bryson City and rural Swain County and a new FirstNet collaboration with the North Carolina 911 Board.

When the Groundhog Day annual ceremony attracted more than 50,000 visitors to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Police alongside local, state, and federal agencies, tapped into operational assistance from the FirstNet Authority. The FirstNet Authority worked closely with public safety officials to evaluate network coverage and ensure reliable communication for the event. Throughout the day, FirstNet provided high-speed coverage that allowed the multiple agencies to coordinate seamlessly and respond swiftly to emerging needs.

The First Responder Network Authority presented the Patriot Award to six distinguished leaders in public safety, recognizing their innovative use of broadband technologies to protect and safeguard their communities.

EMS personnel must be able to rely on their communications — especially during worst-case scenarios. Assistant Chief Troy Harmison of Bondurant Emergency Services in Iowa shared how a communications failure at a critical moment changed how his agency managed communications.

As Fire Chief of San Bernardino County, one of the top three disaster counties in United States, Dan Munsey knows that reliable connectivity is the foundation of modern firefighting. He details how the county uses FirstNet for data transmission, dual connectivity, maintaining a common operating picture, and staying connected throughout diverse terrain and features. Chief Munsey was a recipient of the 2024 Patriot Award.

Law enforcement officers need to stay connected while doing their job — during extreme weather, among large crowds, inside buildings, or at the edge of the network’s reach. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Nebraska is taking advantage of multiple FirstNet solutions to support their everyday operations and get coverage where officers work.

Sudden cardiac events are the top cause of firefighter death. The District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department is testing a wearable device to track the cardiac health of its training class. Deputy Fire Chief Shawn talks about what they are learning from the pilot program and what they hope to achieve.

AT&T announced a new FirstNet cell site during a special event in Hagerstown, Maryland that featured federal and county officials, local public safety personnel, business leaders, and representatives from AT&T. This new site is part of AT&T and the FirstNet Authority’s 10-year, $8+ billion investment commitment into the FirstNet network – including launching 1,000 new cell sites to further expand the reach of public safety’s dedicated Band 14 spectrum across the country by the end of 2025.

FirstNet provides first responders with reliable and secure communications. The Clark County Fire Department in Las Vegas, Nevada relies on FirstNet for routine service calls, as well as major events such as the Big Game, the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the Electric Daisy Carnival.