THIS IS AN ARCHIVED SITE

This site contains information from 2014-2018. Visit the current www.FirstNet.gov site.

Homepage Sub Blog

Home / Newsroom » Homepage Sub Blog

Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of First 9-1-1 Call at NENA’s “9-1-1 Goes to Washington” Conference

NENA’s “9-1-1 Goes to Washington” event commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first 9-1-1 call, which was made on Feb. 16, 1968 from a rotary style phone in Haleyville, AL.
February 20, 2018
By William Hinkle, FirstNet Senior 9-1-1 Advisor

Last week, the NENA: the 911 Association (NENA) and the NG 9-1-1 Institute jointly held its annual “9-1-1 Goes to Washington” event for hundreds of public safety communications officials. Without fail, the event provides a unique networking opportunity for first responders to meet with Members of Congress and Congressional staff, and to learn about important federal initiatives and policy discussions impacting the needs of 9-1-1 centers and the public safety community.

Prioritizing Public Safety at the International Balloon Festival

February 1, 2018
By Jacque Miller-Waring, FirstNet Region 6 Lead

During the 2017 International Balloon Festival, at the exact moment when hundreds of brightly colored balloons were released into Albuquerque’s clear blue skies, tens of thousands of spectators simultaneously posted photos, videos and social media updates to share with friends and family.

For area law enforcement and public safety officials who rely on the same bandwidth to communicate and maintain safety, ordinarily they would experience clogged networks causing signal delay or failure, making their already difficult jobs nearly impossible to perform.

The Public Safety Advisory Committee of the Future

Photo of Tom Sorley, PSAC Chair
January 25, 2018
Tom Sorley, PSAC Chair

The Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) took steps in 2017 to plan and prepare for what is sure to be an exciting future for public safety.  I’m thrilled to lead the PSAC during this time of tremendous growth and the buildout and operation of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network.

The Next Phase of FirstNet: Delivering Lifesaving Technologies to Public Safety

January 22, 2018
By Mike Poth, First Responder Network Authority CEO

With the governor’s decision process complete and every state and territory on board, we are excited to be in the next phase of FirstNet and delivering public safety’s vision for a nationwide network.

Along with our partner, AT&T, we are laser focused on expanding the network and supporting public safety’s use of FirstNet, making sure it delivers what they need, when they need it.

Tech Talk: Lisbon, Portugal 3GPP Plenary Meetings Recap

The First Responder Network Authority represented public safety interests at the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Plenary meetings held in Lisbon, Portugal last month. (Photo courtesy of 3GPP)
January 17, 2018
By Dean Prochaska, Director of Standards, First Responder Network Authority

This blog post is part of the "Tech Talk" series focused on FirstNet’s standards development activities to support the public safety community needs.  This post recaps discussions related to public safety and other related topics from the 3GPP Plenary meetings that were conducted December 18-22, 2017 in Lisbon, Portugal. 

With First Responder Network Set to Launch, ‘Communications Is Everything’ says Fire Captain

Alexandria (Va.) Fire Captain Phil Perry uses a mobile device while on board a fire boat on the Potomac River. The First Responder Network Authority is modernizing public safety communications infrastructure to provide fire, EMS, law enforcement and other public safety personnel enhanced data communications via wireless broadband services.
January 16, 2018
By Kyle Richardson, FirstNet Senior Public Safety Liaison

In this blog, Captain Phil Perry of the Alexandria (Va.) Fire Department talks about the benefits of having an interoperable, high speed network that is dedicated and specialized for police, fire, and EMS responders.

New Year, New Network, New FirstNet

With all 50 states, two U.S territories, and Washington, DC, opting-in, FirstNet will move full speed ahead to deploy the network nationwide
January 2, 2018
By Mike Poth, First Responder Network Authority

Happy New Year. 

Indeed, it is a new beginning for public safety, as their vision of a nationwide, interoperable communications network is now reality.  It is also a new era for the First Responder Network Authority, as we start 2018 in deployment mode after years of consulting, planning, and designing the network.

Meet FirstNet, the Future of Public Safety Broadband Communications at CES 2018

Fireman holding mobile device.
December 20, 2017
Bill Schrier, FirstNet Senior Adviser

FirstNet will debut the first Public Safety Track at the 2018 CES conference in Las Vegas, NV. The Consumer Technology Association invited FirstNet’s Senior Advisor Bill Schrier to author a guest blog introducing FirstNet to the Tech community, originally posted on www.cta.tech

PSAC Winter 2017 Meeting; Looking Ahead to 2018

(from left to right) PSAC Executive Committee Member Paul Patrick, PSAC Chair Tom Sorley, and FirstNet Board Chair Sue Swenson at the 2017 Winter Meeting in Atlanta
December 15, 2017
Kenzie Capece, FirstNet Senior Outreach Advisor

Yesterday, members of FirstNet’s Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) met in Atlanta, Georgia, for their final meeting of 2017.  Over 30 PSAC members were in attendance, along with FirstNet Board Chair Sue Swenson and several members of the Board and FirstNet staff.

First Responder Network: “The Time is Now,” says Virginia Fire Chief

Excitement for the FirstNet Network continues to grow across the country with <a href="https://firstnet.gov/the-governors-decision-media-kit">more than 35 states</a> having joined the network already.
December 7, 2017

Virginia became the first state or territory to “opt in” and participate in the deployment of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) public safety broadband network. This dedicated, interoperable, data communications network will enhance emergency response operations throughout the fire and emergency service for years to come.

Pages

Go to top