In times of emergency, communications between first responders are of the utmost importance. Often traditional consumer phones and local Internet Service Providers can struggle to keep up with the extra demand that goes along with a large scale emergency situation. Having a dedicated first responders only network should alleviate the consumer wireless broadband network congestion while providing first responders with much-needed security and reliability. That's where the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) comes in.
The Winner is: AT&T
Last month, AT&T placed the winning bid as the primary contractor on the build out of the nationwide wireless broadband network for the federal government. The contract with FirstNet is set for a 25-year term, and AT&T will be responsible for building the towers and antennas for the network.
Communication is the Key
The ability of first responders to communicate with each other is the key to a well-organized situational response. Whether a situation is caused by man or the environment; whether it is in the city or in the mountains; whether it is a disaster or a planned event; all of these occasions will benefit from a well-thought-out, well-planned, and well-organized response. It will be much easier for FirstNet Network users to accomplish this with these new capabilities.
Locating the Emergency
Based on NENA (National Emergency Number Association) data, calls made to 911 each year are approaching 250 million with almost three-fourths of them made from mobile phones. This has caused a shift from landline-based caller ID technology and makes necessary more modern technology deployment.
New 911 Network Technology
The ESINet (Emergency Services IP network) is a network that was developed to improve the efficiency of calls handled by emergency services. Currently, the network can handle voice calls and text messaging, and in the near future, it will be able to receive videos and pictures as well. This technology should make it much easier for first responders like EMS (Emergency Medical Response Services), law enforcement agencies and fire departments to respond faster and more efficiently since they will be receiving more detailed information using the IP network.
First Responder Spectrum
The FirstNet network will get 20 MHz of radio spectrum for its own use. The ESINet set up will need to be compatible with other ESInets and most existing 911 systems. The guiding purpose of FirstNet is to create and run a nationwide wireless broadband network for public safety use.
The 700 MHz Club
The 20 MHz of spectrum that comes with the FirstNet contract is in the 700 MHz band, which has been called “beachfront property” by the FCC. The spectrum is reallocated from old UHF television broadcast bands. Now all television comes through cables so the FCC is putting the radio spectrum to other uses. The 700 MHz band is valuable because it has the ability to penetrate walls better than other spectrums.
All on the Same Page
Currently, there are up to 10,000 different networks that are being used by first responders across the US. The FirstNet program will work to increase interoperability within the systems. Each state in the US must either use the FirstNet RAN (Radio Access Network) or build its own RAN that works with the FirstNet RAN. The goal is to have every state, territory, and tribe connected to the national network.
Key Benefits To Law Enforcement
- Mapping and asset tracking
- Photos and real-time video
- Audio reporting from the field
Key Benefits To Fire Services
- Share images and video
- Mapping apps for access to water sources, escape routes and safety zones
- Tracking and communication with those in the field
Key Benefits To Emergency Medical Services
- Video feed from the field to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment
- Security of data transmission
- Access to tools like ultrasound and CT in the ambulance
FirstNet was created by the US Congress under the MCTRJCA (Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012). FirstNet was set up as an independent authority within the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration). The purpose of FirstNet is to establish, operate, and maintain an interoperable public safety broadband network. Congress has allotted $6.5 billion and 20 MHz of radio spectrum in the 700 MHz frequency band to build the network.
The Spectrum Benefit
The money for FirstNet was raised by selling off some of the reallocated UHF broadband spectrum to telcos. AT&T will invest an additional $40 billion building out the network but in addition to selling the FirstNet service to states and local first responders, AT&T will be able to sell any unused portions of the 20 MHz of the broadband spectrum it gets from the deal. That could be very lucrative indeed.
911 for 9/11
FirstNet has been a long time coming. The need for a nationwide interoperable first responder network was brought to the fore after the World Trade Center attack in 2001 and the federal government has been working on it since then. The legislation that created it was 11 years later. Five years after that, they announced that AT&T would be building it. AT&T hasn’t said when it will actually go into operation (or how much it will cost).
The Dark Side of FirstNet
FirstNet has not been without detractors. Last year, Rivada Mercury, a competitor of AT&T launched a protest of the selection procedure claiming they were unfairly excluded from the final stage of the selection process.
Wasteful and Unnecessary?
Journalist Steven Brill, in an article in The Atlantic, called “The $47 Billion Network That’s Already Obsolete” referred to FirstNet as “The most wasteful post 9/11 initiative,” due to the fact that most of the problems brought to the surface as a result of 9/11 have since been solved by other, less expensive solutions than the solutions provided by FirstNet.
Homeland Security “Not Familiar” With FirstNet
In his article, Brill pointed out that Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security under Obama from 2013 to 2017 - the period that FirstNet was being rolled out, was asked about the program and responded that he was “not familiar with what they’re supposed to be doing.” Wait a minute, the Secretary of Homeland Security is not familiar with the $6.5 billion federal project that is supposed to protect Americans in the event of another major terrorist attack?
10 Ways FirstNet Will Help
The government has come up with 10 ways FirstNet will help public security, save lives and secure communities.
- Improving Communications Through an Interoperable Network
- First Responders across the nation now have more than 10,000 separate incompatible networks. A goal of FirstNet is to get them working together.
- Connecting Responders in Rural America
- Rural areas are one of FirstNet’s top priorities.
- FirstNet plans to address the problems in multiple ways.
- Enhancing Situational Awareness in Emergencies
- The FirstNet network can carry video, images, location, and other data to bring awareness and collaboration in the field.
- Giving Public Safety True Priority
- FirstNet is dedicated to first responders.
- During an emergency, communication needs to be uninterrupted.
- Offering Vital Capacity for Planned Events and Large Crowds
- Non-emergency situations and events can be coordinated with FirstNet, providing bandwidth and resources to respond to any situation.
- Delivering Actionable Data Via Innovative Apps and Devices
- Devices and apps designed to enhance public safety will be developed by FirstNet.
- Providing Reliability and Security When Disaster Strikes
- Before, during and after an emergency the reliable communications system provided by FirstNet will be there to assist rescue crews.
- Ensuring Coordinated Response to Man-Made Disasters
- The faster a coordinated response can be mounted to a disaster, the better.
- Driving Innovation in Life Saving, Public Safety, and Communications Technology
- The massive scale of FirstNet will maximize expenditures and hopefully save money.
- The Network First Responders Need to Keep Our Communities Safe
- FirstNet was developed “for public safety, by public safety.” That is its number one priority.
- By Wayne Porter