Public Safety First

Public safety leaders from tribal nations across the country discuss how FirstNet supports emergency communications in remote and rural areas. Guests share real-world communications challenges that are unique to Indian Country and highlight how FirstNet helps tribal first responders better protect their communities.

Captured in June 2025 at 5x5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit, this panel of public safety broadband experts discusses the latest in the quickly evolving satellite to device services marketplace and how FirstNet fits in.

FirstNet Authority Senior Public Safety Advisor Gerald Risner and Senior Emergency Management Advisor Bruce Fitzgerald sit down with Woodford County, Kentucky Emergency Management Agency Director Drew Chandler to discuss the communication challenges emergency managers face in Kentucky and nationwide. Learn more about how teamwork between the FirstNet Authority and emergency managers nationwide helps solve daily problems and prepare communities for a variety of events planned and unplanned alike.

In October of 2024, the North Carolina 911 Board deployed the FirstNet Wireless Redundant Solution to a public safety answering point (PSAP) whose infrastructure was obliterated by Hurricane Helene. The PSAP received and processed 911 calls for one month using FirstNet connectivity. Renee Gordon, Pokey Harris, Tom Rogers, and Josh Briggs share best practices and lessons learned from rolling out this solution across North Carolina, live at 5x5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit.  

Public Affairs Specialist Molly Hahn joins FirstNet Authority Public Safety Advisor Doug Harder to delve into the Network Experience Engagement Program (NEEP). Explore how the FirstNet Authority’s NEEP helps agencies operationalize FirstNet with pre-incident and event planning, post-incident and event reviews, and exercise planning.