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

The 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.

AT&T has been actively deploying public safety's Band 14 spectrum as part of our FirstNet build. The buildout will be validated by the FirstNet Authority and will ultimately bring first responders the additional coverage and capacity they need. So far, Band 14 has been added to more than 2,500 sites across the country – with the process for 10,000+ more currently underway. And the first FirstNet-dedicated deployable network assets are ready for use.

First responders championed the creation of FirstNet. And now that it's here, they continue to show their support. More than 1,000 public safety agencies across 52 states and territories have joined FirstNet, nearly doubling the network's adoption since April.

Wireless broadband is transforming communications for emergency responders worldwide. Today, government leaders from more than 20 countries gathered to discuss their experiences, challenges, and solutions for deploying broadband networks to help first responders communicate.