Maine is known for its natural beauty, with rocky beaches on its coast and expansive forests inland. In fact, our northeastern-most state is almost 90 percent forested. Although it’s a highly rural state, it is also home to a thriving tourist industry. Public safety must work to protect both the residents and the numerous visitors who enjoy Maine’s beaches, waterways, and wilderness, year-round.
The First Responder Network Authority team recognizes the unique communications challenges that Maine first responders face. We have been working closely with Maine public safety officials since 2014, capturing their feedback and translating it into the design of the FirstNet network. During the development of state deployment plans, our team worked hand-in-hand with Maine leaders to ensure the plan was customized to address their needs, including:
- Enhancing coverage along Maine’s vast shoreline and waterways
- Enabling seamless communications among New England’s first responders through expanded coverage and innovative solutions
- Providing an interoperable network experience across the State and along the Canadian border, allowing state, local, and federal agencies to effectively communicate with each other and with volunteer emergency responders
Following this close collaboration, Maine chose to adopt the plan and “opt in” to FirstNet. Today, we continue to meet regularly with state and local officials to discuss their public safety broadband needs. Engagements like these are crucial to the ongoing success of the network and the advancement of public safety communications across the state and the nation.