Local

In Drums, Pennsylvania, U.S. Congressman Rob Bresnahan and the FirstNet Authority joined local first responders, public safety officials, and community leaders to celebrate a new hilltop cell site, which improves coverage and capacity around Luzerne County. The new site will strengthen reliable communications, helping public safety stay connected.

In Swaine County, North Carolina, U.S. Senator Ted Budd and the FirstNet Authority joined local first responders, public safety officials, and company leaders to celebrate a new cell site delivering improved connectivity in Bryson City and rural Swain County and a new FirstNet collaboration with the North Carolina 911 Board.

When the Groundhog Day annual ceremony attracted more than 50,000 visitors to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Police alongside local, state, and federal agencies, tapped into operational assistance from the FirstNet Authority. The FirstNet Authority worked closely with public safety officials to evaluate network coverage and ensure reliable communication for the event. Throughout the day, FirstNet provided high-speed coverage that allowed the multiple agencies to coordinate seamlessly and respond swiftly to emerging needs.

The First Responder Network Authority presented the Patriot Award to six distinguished leaders in public safety, recognizing their innovative use of broadband technologies to protect and safeguard their communities.

EMS personnel must be able to rely on their communications — especially during worst-case scenarios. Assistant Chief Troy Harmison of Bondurant Emergency Services in Iowa shared how a communications failure at a critical moment changed how his agency managed communications.

As Fire Chief of San Bernardino County, one of the top three disaster counties in United States, Dan Munsey knows that reliable connectivity is the foundation of modern firefighting. He details how the county uses FirstNet for data transmission, dual connectivity, maintaining a common operating picture, and staying connected throughout diverse terrain and features. Chief Munsey was a recipient of the 2024 Patriot Award.

Law enforcement officers need to stay connected while doing their job — during extreme weather, among large crowds, inside buildings, or at the edge of the network’s reach. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Nebraska is taking advantage of multiple FirstNet solutions to support their everyday operations and get coverage where officers work.

Sudden cardiac events are the top cause of firefighter death. The District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department is testing a wearable device to track the cardiac health of its training class. Deputy Fire Chief Shawn talks about what they are learning from the pilot program and what they hope to achieve.

AT&T announced a new FirstNet cell site during a special event in Hagerstown, Maryland that featured federal and county officials, local public safety personnel, business leaders, and representatives from AT&T. This new site is part of AT&T and the FirstNet Authority’s 10-year, $8+ billion investment commitment into the FirstNet network – including launching 1,000 new cell sites to further expand the reach of public safety’s dedicated Band 14 spectrum across the country by the end of 2025.

FirstNet provides first responders with reliable and secure communications. The Clark County Fire Department in Las Vegas, Nevada relies on FirstNet for routine service calls, as well as major events such as the Big Game, the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the Electric Daisy Carnival.

After an underground fire cut power and disabled radio communications in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office relied on FirstNet devices to maintain contact and coordinate emergency response. The experience marked the first deployment of FirstNet and initiated the agency’s transition to using broadband for daily operations. FirstNet has since helped the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office improve field reporting, stay connected during long prisoner transports, and enhance officer safety.

The 2024 conventions from both U.S. political parties were supported by the FirstNet Authority’s pre-planning efforts. Party conventions are major national events, yet the same planning framework applies to smaller local events. The Network Experience Engagement Program is designed to meet the needs of public safety, whether planning for a major party convention, a pumpkin festival, or the homecoming parade.

Chief Joe Duvall led the Dallas Police Department to becoming first in the state — and one of the first in the country — to completely switch from land mobile radios (LMR) to public safety broadban

The total solar eclipse in April brought massive crowds to 15 U.S. states in the path of totality. The FirstNet Authority began working with public safety officials two years in advance to incorporate broadband into their eclipse planning and support each state in unique ways to prepare for the influx of people

Volunteer firefighters are the heart of our nation’s fire services community. Volunteer agencies are often smaller, rural, and have fewer resources. FirstNet offers several ways that help volunteer agencies level the playing field, including the Toms River Fire Department in New Jersey and the San Marcos Pass Volunteer Fire Department in California.

Nestled between the Cascades and the Coast Mountains in Douglas County, the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians host their annual Pow Wow in this remote region of Oregon. With little to no wireless coverage in this area, the event presents communications challenges for local public safety agencies each year. In 2023, the Cow Creek Tribal Police Department turned to FirstNet to keep their responders connected at the Pow Wow and when a car crash on the mountain led to rapid response.

Firefighters need specialized communication tools when battling wildland fires, especially when they threaten wildland urban interfaces. FirstNet was designed for public safety operations and has unique tools for fighting fires in the wildland urban interface, including versatile deployables and high-power user equipment.

Grundy County, Illinois, is a rural community 45 minutes south of Chicago. Deputy Chief Kevin Bogard of the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office shared the unique challenges the county faces - including the annual Corn Festival, which brings in thousands of tourists – and how making the switch to FirstNet helped simplify and consolidate their communication technology.

The U.S. Pacific territories — American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam — are home to a quarter million Americans. Located thousands of miles from the mainland, these territories are among the most remote regions in the nation. The FirstNet Authority sent a delegation to all three island territories to discuss the current status of FirstNet in the territories and to further understand their public safety operations and emergency communications needs.

In rural Elbert County, Colorado, a lack of connectivity posed serious safety risks for deputies and those they serve. Elbert County Sheriff Tim Norton addressed these communication challenges and brought his deputies better technology by switching to FirstNet, the broadband network dedicated to public safety. This enables faster, safer responses.