Guest Blog Post by Victoria Lee, FirstNet Association Manager
I was pleased to participate in the 2014 Metro Fire Chiefs Conference hosted by the Baltimore City Fire Department yesterday. The conference brought together more than 150 attendees, including fire chiefs from across the country and other distinguished guests such as Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. It was a great opportunity to catch up with Chief Richard Bowers from Fairfax County, VA and Chief Jon Hannan from Charlotte, NC about recent developments in their jurisdictions.
An earlier presentation on fire and emergency medical services (EMS) technologies included a mention of FirstNet and how the broadband network could have helped emergency workers who responded to Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina and to the crash of ValuJet flight 592. These use cases were a great lead into my presentation about FirstNet’s efforts to build a nationwide public safety broadband network to improve communications and sharing of video and data during all types of emergencies.
I described how FirstNet would use terrestrial, satellite and deployable technologies to provide coverage where the fire and EMS service needs it and discussed the importance of continuing to invest in land mobile radio (LMR) systems for mission critical voice needs. I also talked about current outreach and consultation efforts and offered recommendations to the fire chiefs on how to provide input on their unique metropolitan-focused needs and requirements for the network. It is our hope at FirstNet that these capabilities are embraced throughout the emergency response community because the network will help save lives – those of first responders and members of the public.
During the conference, representatives of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (MFCA), the Chief Fire Officers Association, and the International Association of Fire and Rescue Service (CTIF) signed Memorandums of Understanding to reaffirm their commitment to "advancing the fire service through the exchange of experience and information.”
FirstNet shares their commitment to enhancing information sharing in support of the public safety mission – and that’s what so many of us are working hard to build.
Thanks to the Baltimore City Fire Department and the MFCA for the opportunity to speak about FirstNet.
-Vicki
