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Harry Markley sits with a panel of speakers at the 2018 National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Annual Conference in Hollywood, Florida

Reflecting on the 2018 NOBLE Conference: The importance of connections

I was honored to participate in this year’s National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Annual Conference in Hollywood, Florida.

Today, public safety agencies are already experiencing the benefits of PTT apps on FirstNet as a collaboration tool.

Early Benefits of FirstNet: Collaboration and Push-to-Talk Apps

The sharing of data via FirstNet is enabling first responders to have more information available at their fingertips to help with their lifesaving mission. Today, through over-the-top push-to-talk (PTT) apps, first responders can use FirstNet’s always-on, reliable connection to collaborate — including sharing pictures, videos, texts, and other data in real time. With enhanced communications, public safety can be better prepared to keep themselves and the communities they serve safe.

Four images from the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, NM: Two officers consult each other looking at their devices, hot air balloons rise over the city, a large crowd moves through the balloon fiesta fields, four police officers talk as one points with hot air balloons filling with air on the ground behind them

Early Benefits of FirstNet: Priority and Preemption

Priority and preemption are a few of the crucial features FirstNet provides to first responders, especially during large planned events with thousands of participants, such as the annual International Balloon Festival in Albuquerque. In years past, first responders at the festival reported poor connectivity on commercial networks due to attendees’ high volume of voice calls, texts, and social media posts. But using FirstNet, public safety’s dedicated network, for this year’s festival, they had a dramatically different—and better—experience.

A full room of people listen to a FirstNet panel at an APCO conference

Check out the First Responder Network Authority at APCO 2018

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) looks forward to participating in APCO 2018, APCO International’s 84th Annual Conference and Expo, which will be held August 5-8. Join us at this year’s event in Las Vegas to hear the latest developments in our efforts to drive innovation, advocate for public safety, and oversee the deployment of public safety’s own network.

A FirstNet enabled phone held by an officer displaying an app

FirstNet Enabled Location Services: Enhancing Situational Awareness and Improving Public Safety Outcomes

Whether securing large events or responding to local emergencies, it can be a challenge for public safety to keep track of where first responders are positioned. Historically, tracking first responders in the field meant repeated radio roll-calls where units identify with their call sign and location and incident scribes map the scene on a white board – a labor-intensive process that didn’t provide the up-to-the-minute situational awareness incident commanders need for optimal decision-making.