RESTON, Va., Dec. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Wisconsin is moving to advance first responder
communications. Today, Governor Scott
Walker announced his decision to accept the First
Responder Network Authority* and AT&T** plan to
deliver a wireless broadband network to the state's public safety
community. FirstNet will bring advanced technologies that will help
first responders save lives and protect communities.
"Clear and reliable communication is essential for first
responders to do their jobs effectively," said Governor Walker.
"This new partnership provides crucial, secure, and robust
broadband access to our first responders and public safety
personnel to help them save lives when every second counts. I look
forward to FirstNet and AT&T implementing their plan and its
widespread positive effect in protecting Wisconsin's communities."
AT&T, in a public-private partnership with the First
Responder Network Authority, will build, operate and maintain a
highly secure wireless broadband communications network for
Wisconsin's public safety
community at no cost to the state for the next 25 years. The
FirstNet network will drive innovation and create an entire system
of modernized devices, apps and tools for first responders.
"This is a great day for first responders across Wisconsin and the residents they serve," said
Kewaunee County Sheriff
Matt Joski. "By joining the FirstNet
network, the Governor has opened the door to enhanced technology
that will improve emergency services and response times. From
Pleasant Prairie to Cassville and Kewaunee to Webster, this service will help public safety
better serve our citizens."
FirstNet will transform the way Wisconsin's fire, police, EMS and other public
safety personnel communicate and share information. Specifically,
it will:
- Connect first responder subscribers to the critical information
they need in a highly secure manner when handling day-to-day
operations, responding to emergencies and supporting large events
like college and professional sporting games.
- Create an efficient communications experience for public safety
personnel in agencies and jurisdictions across the state during
natural disasters and severe weather, including tornadoes,
snowstorms, blizzards and flooding.
- Enhance and expand network coverage along Wisconsin's lakes and waterways to cover areas
underserved today, benefitting first responders and residents
throughout the state's rural communities.
- Provide first responders with access to dedicated network
assets that can be deployed for additional coverage and support
when needed.
- Usher in a new wave of dependable innovations for first
responders. This will create an ever-evolving set of life-saving
tools for public safety, including public safety apps, specialized
devices and Internet of Things technologies. It also carries the
potential for future integration with NextGen 911 networks and
Smart Cities' infrastructure.
The First Responder Network Authority and AT&T designed
Wisconsin's network solution with
direct input from the state's public safety community. The
Authority has been meeting with Wisconsin's officials and public safety
personnel for several years to address their unique communication
needs. These include:
- Expanding wireless coverage in rural, tribal and underserved
areas.
- Enabling state, local and federal agencies to effectively
communicate and coordinate along Wisconsin's borders.
- Increasing capacity during emergencies and natural disasters
through the use of deployable network assets.
- Using existing state infrastructure where necessary and
appropriate.
"By joining the FirstNet network, Governor Walker has made
public safety a priority, choosing the best network communications
solution for the state," says FirstNet CEO Mike Poth. "FirstNet brings new technologies to
emergency first responders in Wisconsin over the most modernized and
advanced broadband network available today. We look forward to our
continued partnership with the Badger State."
The decision enables the First Responder Network Authority and
AT&T to begin creating an entirely new wireless ecosystem for
public safety communications. Wisconsin's first responder subscribers will
have immediate access to quality of service, priority and
preemption to voice and data across the FirstNet network.
By opting in to FirstNet, fire, police, EMS and other public
safety workers subscribing to the service will have dedicated
access to the information they need, when and where they need it –
24/7/365, like their mission.
"We applaud Governor Walker for opting in to FirstNet and giving
Wisconsin's public safety
community the cutting-edge technologies they need to help protect
and save lives," said Scott T.
VanderSanden, president of AT&T Wisconsin. "AT&T is
honored to work with the state to bring FirstNet to Wisconsin, and to give our first responders
the innovative communication tools they deserve."
For more information on FirstNet, please go to
FirstNet.gov/mediakit and att.com/FirstResponderNews. For more
about the value FirstNet will bring to public safety, please go to
FirstNet.com.
*About The First Responder Network Authority
The First Responder Network Authority is an independent authority
within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Chartered in 2012, its
mission is to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of the
nationwide, broadband network that equips first responders to save
lives and protect U.S. communities. Learn more at
FirstNet.gov/mediakit and follow FirstNet (@FirstNetGov) on
Facebook and Twitter for updates.
**About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with
leading entertainment, business, mobile and high speed internet
services. We offer the nation's best data network*** and the best
global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider. We're one of the
world's largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in the
U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. Nearly 3.5 million companies,
from small to large businesses around the globe, turn to AT&T
for our highly secure smart solutions.
AT&T products and services are provided or offered by
subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T
brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about
AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com.
Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att
and on YouTube at youtube.com/att.
© 2017 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service
marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated
companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of
their respective owners.
***Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score.
Score includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen
Mobile Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile
Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q2 + Q3 2017
across 121 markets.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.