This year marks the tenth anniversary of the legislation that created the FirstNet Authority. From our earliest days, the FirstNet Authority has collaborated with tribal leadership and organizations to better understand the needs of responders in Indian Country. We are working to expand broadband coverage into tribal communities that have historically lacked access to reliable communication services and offering advanced technologies to keep them connected.
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Nlets – the International Justice and Public Safety Network is an international, not-for-profit corporation owned and managed by the 50 states and 5 U.S. territories. Since its establishment, Nlets has served the law enforcement community by enabling state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies to exchange and access public safety information. As a member of the Public Safety Advisory Committee, Nlets provides critical input related to criminal justice information sharing and secure data exchange.
The FirstNet Authority’s law enforcement expert, Harry Markley, recently sat down with Sheriff Peter Koutoujian who leads the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office in Massachusetts. Sheriff Koutoujian was appointed in October by the Secretary of Commerce to serve on the FirstNet Authority Board. The discussion covered the sheriff’s approach to law enforcement, his views on FirstNet’s value, and what he hopes to accomplish on the Board.
Bringing broadband to Tribal responders has always been a priority for the FirstNet Authority. When Board members visited the Navajo Nation – which spans Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah – they learned how deployables and expanded coverage are bringing interoperability to the tribe’s emergency communications. FirstNet has played an important role during major events like the pandemic response and a visit from the First Lady of the United States.
The FirstNet Authority worked with AT&T to host a first responder student innovation challenge at the University of Cincinnati. The two-week event brought UC students together with local public safety agencies to explore how technology could be used to enhance first responders’ ability to address critical situations.