FirstNet Trailblazer

Ensuring students enjoy their college experience safely is a top priority for campus safety officials at Delaware State University (DSU). At DSU, keeping students safe and first responders connected means making the FirstNet network — the nationwide network dedicated to emergency communication — a key part of its campus safety initiative. FirstNet helps ensure that students can reach university police at all times.

The Amherst Fire Department in Massachusetts is transforming the city’s public safety communications with broadband technology. Chief Lindsay Stromgren details the college town’s journey from traditional radio systems to the advanced functionalities of push-to-talk on FirstNet.

In northeastern Kansas, volunteer firefighters respond to incidents that have increasingly grown more intense in the area. Bigger and faster fires mean dependable communications are key to protecting the community. Shawnee County Fire District #4 installed FirstNet High Power User Equipment and routers in their firetrucks, keeping firefighters connected across the rural landscape.

The evolution of technology has changed the landscape of search and rescue missions — clearing radio airwaves for essential traffic and mission critical information. Travis Hull, Kate Cummings, Ben Lawrence, and Jason Day explore how broadband solutions have increased operation efficiencies, live at 5x5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit. 

At the FirstNet Authority, we support all FirstNet users, including federal agencies, helping them better communicate and operate. Our Government Engagement team works closely with federal users to educate them about the capabilities FirstNet offers and to ensure their unique communication needs are met by the network.

The FirstNet Authority Government Engagement team collaborates with federal agencies with a public safety, emergency management, or homeland security mission – such as the Department of Defense (DOD) – to advance and support broadband technology planning and operations. To learn more about how we work with federal agencies, visit FirstNet.gov/Federal

Grundy County, Illinois, is a rural community 45 minutes south of Chicago. Deputy Chief Kevin Bogard of the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office shared the unique challenges the county faces - including the annual Corn Festival, which brings in thousands of tourists – and how making the switch to FirstNet helped simplify and consolidate their communication technology.

To prepare for the reality of extreme weather, emergency managers are turning to a new tool: virtual emergency operations centers (EOCs). When a virtual EOC is activated, staff can log on from anywhere and response operations can start without delay. Emergency managers are looking at ways to integrate FirstNet into virtual EOCs to provide the reliable connectivity for public safety to consistently communicate in a virtual environment.

The University of Virginia (UVA) Health system uses nearly 4,000 mobile devices, powered by FirstNet, to enhance care for patients. The leader of UVA Health’s Mobile Device Technologies program, Anthony Thompson, discusses the impact of FirstNet in healthcare and how it’s supporting telemedicine capabilities, translation services, and rural healthcare.

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.

In Charles County, Maryland, the school district has adopted FirstNet’s secure and dependable network to ensure communication during emergency and day-to-day situations. The school district has also integrated the use of drones into their school security plans, enhancing situational awareness for responders so they can more efficiently respond to emergencies.

When Iowa needed a backup communications network for its public safety answering points, the state turned to FirstNet. Blake DeRouchey, 9-1-1 program manager for the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, shared how Iowa uses FirstNet as a failover so 9-1-1 calls stay connected.

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.

Renee Gordon leads a large, innovative 9-1-1 center in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. She is an effective 9-1-1 leader because she understands all sides of a 9-1-1 call. She has been a public safety dispatcher, a police officer, and a person who has experienced emergencies. Gordon and her team in Alexandria are known for creative problem-solving, like pioneering remote call-taking during the pandemic. She empowers her public safety colleagues to identify the next innovative solution with the goal of providing better service to their communities.

Harris County, Texas, has several large COVID-19 testing and vaccination centers to serve the Greater Harris County area. FirstNet-enabled “Go-Kits” are ensuring healthcare providers remain connected and able to quickly deliver tests and vaccines.

With the help of FirstNet-enabled “Go-Kits,” responders in Harris County, Texas, were able to expand mobile testing and vaccination throughout the county. Broadband modems ensured healthcare providers had access to a reliable, uninterrupted internet connection.

The Cameron Peak Fire was the largest wildland fire in Colorado’s history. Don Patterson, a firefighter and communications expert, deployed to the fire knowing that broadband communications would play a huge role, particularly with the threat of COVID-19. Deployables and other advanced technologies helped everyone communicate — from incident command at the base camp to frontline firefighters.

The Baltimore Police Department is the largest public safety agency in Maryland on FirstNet. With department-issued smartphones, laptops, and in-vehicle routers and modems connected to the network, officers have reliable access to the tools they need. And in-building solutions ensure that coverage reaches officers throughout all police facilities.

The Green Bay Police Department is the main law enforcement agency for the Green Bay Packers football games. Even during big plays when network congestion is the highest, FirstNet gives them faster speeds, better data exchanges, and clearer calls. FirstNet has also made a difference for Green Bay police outside the stadium, like when they tracked a fleeing shooting suspect.

The Green Bay Police Department is the main law enforcement agency for the Green Bay Packers football games. Even during big plays when network congestion is the highest, FirstNet gives them faster speeds, better data exchanges, and clearer calls. FirstNet has also made a difference for Green Bay police outside the stadium, like when they tracked a fleeing shooting suspect.