Press Releases

The FirstNet network is enabling more resilient communities nationwide. With more than 5,250 public safety agencies using 425,000+ connections on FirstNet today, the network is helping first responders and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

AT&T customers and FirstNet subscribers got a big boost in wireless connectivity last year. We increased the LTE coverage area for the AT&T network and FirstNet public safety communications platform by more than 50,000 square miles nationwide, covering an additional 1 million individuals.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) capped off a year of significant progress for public safety by welcoming new members to the Board and outlining an enhanced strategic direction for the organization.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the appointment of six individuals to serve on the Board of the First Responder Network Authority, including five new members. The following are statements on today’s announcement from the FirstNet Board Chair, Edward Horowitz, and the six appointees.

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.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that Edward Parkinson will serve as Acting Chief Executive Officer, following the recent resignation of Mike Poth, who had served as CEO since 2015.

More than 2,500 public safety agencies across the country have joined FirstNet. This is nearly double the number of agencies since the last update in July.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) announced today that Chair Edward Horowitz has named Sheriff Richard W. Stanek to be Vice Chair of the Board, effective immediately. Appointed to the FirstNet Board in 2014, Sheriff Stanek has served on the Board’s Public Safety Advocacy Committee, where he has helped strengthen relationships with the Nation’s law enforcement community

Today, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has reappointed Edward Horowitz to the FirstNet Board and named him Chair of the Board for a two-year term.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board today approved an $81 million budget for operations in Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19), with a focus on the priority areas of public safety engagement and deployment of the nationwide public safety broadband network. The Board also gave the FirstNet Authority the green light to explore reinvestment opportunities in network enhancements and innovation for public safety.