South Dakota

With many rural jurisdictions in South Dakota experiencing degraded land mobile radio coverage in remote areas, the state of South Dakota began exploring how FirstNet Mission Critical Push-to-Talk could help address coverage, capacity, and interoperability limitations. By integrating this broadband solution with the statewide radio communications system to streamline emergency communications, South Dakota is using FirstNet-MCPTT to address interoperability challenges and expand radio capabilities.

First responders in South Dakota are benefiting from FirstNet’s expanding coverage, boosted capacity, and new capabilities. FirstNet’s Band 14 infrastructure is bringing public safety agencies nationwide access to the network’s unique features and functions.

Jeff Pierce has served for decades as South Dakota’s statewide interoperability coordinator and engineering manager for the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications. On the brink of retirement, Pierce shares his vantage point looking at the past, present, and future of public safety communications. No matter where Pierce looks, he sees interoperability as the key to effective public safety communications.

Since South Dakota’s public safety agencies in the Black Hills started using FirstNet for its emergency communication needs, first responders report experiencing much improved communication through

First responders’ inability to communicate after the 9/11 attacks underscored significant public safety communication shortfalls nationwide – including on tribal lands. The FirstNet Authority is working to bring FirstNet’s unique capabilities to tribal communities that are historically prone to communication challenges.

First responders serving the Yankton Sioux Tribal communities got a major boost in their wireless communications thanks to the FirstNet network expansion currently underway by AT&T.

The National Tribal Emergency Management Council (NTEMC) works to help tribes across the country build sustainable emergency management programs. When the pandemic hit, NTEMC began supporting Indian Country by leading logistics to distribute food and personal protective equipment. NTEMC requested FirstNet deployables to support communications in rural areas, allowing the non-profit to carry out operations.

First responders in Waubay and the surrounding area got a major boost in their wireless communications thanks to the FirstNet network expansion currently underway by AT&T. 

The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota covers a diverse jurisdiction, from the Badlands to Black Elk Peak. Communication is key for deputies in every part of the largely rural county. FirstNet provides the coverage and capacity they need when seconds count.

During a missing person search last fall in a remote part of the western Black Hills in South Dakota, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office had no cell-phone service. Within hours of calling FirstNet, Captain Tony Harrison said that the AT&T-FirstNet team set up a mobile cell tower to allow deputies to communicate with dispatch and locate the missing person.

 

The FirstNet Authority’s Public Safety Advocacy team works hand-in-hand with public safety to make sure their needs are represented in the FirstNet network buildout and evolution. In the North region, six public safety advisors cover 16 states and bring a wealth of public safety expertise to their roles as advocates.

Prairies, farmland, ranches, mountains, glacial lakes, and tribal lands cover South Dakota’s 77,000-plus square miles. This diverse geography can make communications and connections&

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.

After experiencing the difference in coverage and capacity offered by FirstNet, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office became one of the largest FirstNet subscribers in South Dakota.

First responders in Pennington County, South Dakota, operate in a remote county with unique terrain. With FirstNet bringing new tower infrastructure, deployables, and a reliable network connection, deputies with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office are able to move data and information quickly and securely.

FirstNet deployables were used by the Yankton Sioux Tribe Police Department in South Dakota, where rough terrain physically limits LTE coverage. During a critical search-and-rescue mission, the department reached out to the FirstNet Authority and AT&T, which deployed a SatCOLT within hours.

FirstNet is a new nationwide broadband network dedicated to first responders. Designed with the advice of public safety professionals, FirstNet aims to give first responders 21st-century communications tools to help save lives, solve crimes, and keep communities and emergency responders safe.

More than 3,600 public safety agencies across the country have now joined FirstNet. That’s a nearly 50% increase in the number of agencies subscribing to the nationwide public safety communications platform in less than 2 months.

RESTON, Va., Dec. 15, 2017 – South Dakota is modernizing communications technology for its first responders. Today, Governor Dennis Daugaard announced his decision to accept the First Responder Network Authority* and AT&T** plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the state's public safety community. FirstNet will bring advanced tools to help South Dakota's first responders save lives and protect communities.