MONTGOMERY, Ala., Oct. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alabama is
bringing modernized communications technology to first responders.
Today, Governor Kay Ivey announced
her decision to accept the FirstNet and AT&T*
plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the state's public
safety community. The FirstNet network will bring advanced tools to
help Alabama's first responders
save lives and protect communities.
"Keeping Alabama's residents, visitors and first responders safe
is of the highest concern," Governor Ivey said. "From
volunteer emergency responders in our rural communities to those on
the front lines in more populated areas, our public safety
community deserves access to the tools they need most. This
collaboration with FirstNet and AT&T will allow us to provide
our first responders increased capabilities to communicate as
effectively and efficiently as possible, while also ensuring that
our residents and businesses have the best possible services
provided to them in times of emergency."
AT&T, in a public-private partnership with FirstNet, will
build, operate and maintain a highly secure wireless broadband
communications network for Alabama's public safety community at no cost
to the state. The FirstNet network will drive innovation and create
an entire system of modernized devices, apps and tools for first
responders.
Following an in-depth evaluation of the proposed AT&T and
FirstNet plan, as well as proposals by other potential vendors,
Alabama selected the FirstNet and
AT&T public-private partnership, bringing public safety the
overall best value solution with the least risk.
"Reliable, effective communications systems and networks are
most important when lives are on the line," said Hal Taylor, Secretary of the Alabama Law
Enforcement Agency. "I am very pleased Alabama is opting in to be part of FirstNet.
This network, and the new tools it will provide, will help our
first responders do their jobs more safely and effectively, and it
will help save lives all across the state."
FirstNet will transform the way Alabama'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 Alabama and Auburn college football games, which attract
more than 100,000 fans to home games.
- Provide priority access to data communications for public
safety personnel in agencies and jurisdictions across the state
during natural disasters, such as the 2011 Super Outbreak that
produced a record number of tornadoes in the state.
- Enhance and expand network coverage
across Alabama's diverse landscape, benefitting first
responders and residents throughout the state's rural areas,
including mountainous and tribal lands.
- Provide first responders with access to dedicated network
assets that can be deployed for additional coverage and support
when needed.
- Drive infrastructure investments and create jobs across the
state.
- 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 9-1-1 networks and
Smart Cities' infrastructure.
FirstNet and AT&T designed Alabama's network solution with direct input
from the state and its public safety community, including the
Alabama First Responder Wireless Commission (AFRWC) who, on
Sept. 21, voted unanimously in a
special-called meeting to send an "opt-in" letter of recommendation
to Governor Ivey.
The AFRWC is comprised of multiple state, local, and tribal
public safety organizations and professional associations. The
Commission is chaired by Secretary Hal
Taylor of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. By working
closely with the AFRWC, FirstNet and AT&T crafted a plan to
meet Alabama's unique
communications needs, including:
- Expanding rural coverage beyond what is currently available
from commercial carriers.
- Offering affordable data services to public safety across the
state.
- Delivering a network for public safety with increased
geographical coverage, redundancy and resiliency.
"Governor Ivey's decision to join FirstNet comes after the state
considered a number of options to bring public safety the best
communications solution," says FirstNet CEO Mike Poth. "FirstNet and AT&T are
extremely pleased to have delivered the network plan that best
meets Alabama's unique
needs. We look forward to connecting first responders across
the state's diverse landscape, providing them access to the only
network purpose-built for public safety's life-saving mission."
The decision enables FirstNet and AT&T to begin creating an
entirely new wireless ecosystem for public safety communications.
Alabama's first responder
subscribers will have immediate access to quality of service and
priority access 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 first responder subscribers,
including fire and rescue services, law enforcement, emergency
medical services, emergency management and 9-1-1 personnel, will
have dedicated access to the network when and where they need it –
24/7/365, like their mission.
"We appreciate the seriousness and diligence Governor Ivey and
her team brought to the discussion of Alabama's participation in this nationwide
public safety broadband network. It matches our own commitment to
delivering this first-of-its-kind communications solution,"
said Wayne Hutchens, AT&T Alabama assistant vice president
of Legislative and External Affairs. "AT&T is honored to bring
the FirstNet network to Alabama
and connect its public safety community to the life-saving
technologies they, and our citizens, deserve."
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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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 Q1 + Q2 2017
across 121 markets.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.