RESTON, Va., Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Montana is
moving to advance first responder communications. Today, Governor
Steve Bullock announced his decision
to accept the FirstNet and AT&T* plan to deliver a wireless
broadband network to the state's public safety community. This will
make Montana the 12th
state or territory to "opt-in" to FirstNet and bring advanced
technologies that will help first responders save lives and protect
communities.
"This partnership will allow us to provide our first responders
increased capabilities to communicate effectively with the public
as quickly as possible," said Governor Bullock. "As wildfires
across the state impact our communities and our hometowns, it's
critical that we support the efforts of the men and women
protecting Montana with all
resources available."
AT&T, in a public private partnership with FirstNet, will
build, operate and maintain a highly secure wireless broadband
communications network for Montana'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.
By opting in, Governor Bullock is making one of the most
economical and technologically advanced decisions for the state's
first responders and the residents they serve. The FirstNet network
will transform the way Montana's
fire, police, EMS and other public safety personnel communicate and
share information. Specifically, FirstNet and AT&T 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 the annual Evil Knievel Days celebration in Butte or the International Wildlife Film
Festival.
- Create an efficient communications experience for public safety
personnel in agencies and jurisdictions across the state during
natural disasters. This includes the 2012 wildfires that burned 1.1
million acres across the state, the Lodgepole Complex Fire and the
Liberty Fire near Arlee, which has tripled in size during the
past few days.
- Enhance network coverage across Montana's topographically diverse landscape,
benefitting first responders and residents throughout the state's
rural and tribal areas.
- Provide first responders with access to dedicated network
deployable assets for additional coverage and support when
needed.
- Drive infrastructure investments and create jobs across the
state.
- Usher in a new wave of innovation that first responders can
depend on. 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 9-1-1 networks and
Smart Cities' infrastructure.
FirstNet and AT&T designed Montana's network solution with direct input
from the state's public safety community. This was facilitated
through the Statewide Interoperability Governing Board, designated
through executive order by Governor Bullock. FirstNet has been
meeting with Montana's officials
and public safety personnel for several years to address their
unique communication needs. This includes:
- Expanding coverage in rural and tribal areas, where many
Montanans reside.
- Enabling state, local, tribal and federal agencies to
effectively communicate and coordinate along the border.
- Increasing capacity during emergencies and natural disasters
through the use of deployables.
"Governor Bullock's decision to join FirstNet demonstrates
Montana's strong commitment to
public safety," said FirstNet CEO Mike
Poth. "With this decision, Montana is putting 21st-century, lifesaving
tools in the hands of the state's first responders, bringing a
modern, broadband platform to public safety across the state –
including over rural, mountainous and remote locales. FirstNet
looks forward to continuing to work with Montana to equip the state's first responders
with this vital technology, which will help them in their mission
to save lives and keep Montana's
communities safe."
The decision enables FirstNet and AT&T to begin creating an
entirely new wireless ecosystem for public safety communications.
Montana's first responder
subscribers will have immediate access to quality of service and
priority to voice and data across the existing nationwide AT&T
LTE network.
Preemption for primary users over the AT&T LTE network is
expected by year-end. This means fire, police, EMS and other public
safety workers will have dedicated access to the network when and
where they need it – 24/7/365, like their mission.
"We're honored to bring FirstNet to Montana," said Chris Sambar, senior vice
president, AT&T – FirstNet. "This is a major step forward for
the state's public safety community. By opting in, Governor Bullock
is giving his first responders access to the innovative tools and
technologies they need to help keep themselves and those they
protect safer."
"FirstNet will give Montana's
first responders access to the critical communications capabilities
they need when seconds count and lives hang in the balance," said
Tara Thue, director, AT&T
Montana. "AT&T has invested nearly $150
million in our Montana
network infrastructure over the past 3 years. With Governor
Bullock's decision to opt-in to FirstNet, Montana will not only be able to expand and
enhance communications capabilities for first responders, but the
State will also be able to drive additional investment to deliver
reliable, high speed wireless connections in areas with little or
no connectivity today."
For more information on FirstNet, please visit
FirstNet.gov/mediakit and att.com/FirstResponderNews. For more
about the value FirstNet will bring to public safety, please visit
FirstNet.com.
About FirstNet
The First Responder Network Authority
(FirstNet) 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.
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© 2017 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved.
AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service
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**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 Q4 2016 + Q1 2017
across 121 markets.
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