RESTON, Va., Jan. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- American Samoa is modernizing communications
technology for its first responders. Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga
accepted the First Responder Network
Authority* and AT&T** plan to deliver a wireless
broadband network to the territory's public safety community.
FirstNet will bring advanced tools that will help American Samoa's first responders save lives
and protect communities.
"In weighing this important decision to join FirstNet or deploy
our own system, our team came to the conclusion that opting-in to
FirstNet was the better solution for American Samoa and our first responders," said
Governor Moliga. "I wish to express my appreciation to the Director
of Homeland Security, Samana Veavea, and Commissioner of Public
Safety Le'i Sonny Thompson, and
their respective staffs, for their contributions to the making of
this well-informed decision. We look forward to working with
AT&T and the First Responder Network Authority to deploy this
network."
AT&T, in a public-private partnership with the First
Responder Network Authority, will provide a highly secure wireless
broadband communications network for American Samoa's public safety community at no
cost to the territory. The FirstNet network will drive innovation
and create an entire system of modernized devices, apps and tools
for first responders.
FirstNet will transform the way American Samoa'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 Flag Day festivities.
- Create an efficient communications experience for public safety
personnel in agencies and jurisdictions across the territory during
natural disasters, such as earthquakes and flooding.
- Enhance and expand network coverage across American Samoa's diverse landscape,
benefitting first responders and residents throughout the
territory's rural or remote areas.
- Provide first responders with access to dedicated network
assets that can be deployed for additional coverage and support
when needed.
- Drive infrastructure investments across the territory.
- 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.
The First Responder Network Authority and AT&T designed
American Samoa's network solution
with direct input from the territory and its public safety
community. This helped to address the territory's unique
communications needs, including:
- Extending coverage to the areas where island topology currently
creates gaps.
- Making deployable network assets available to the
territory.
- Leveraging existing infrastructure assets as appropriate.
- Offering feature-rich services at competitive prices.
"Governor Moliga's decision to join the First Responder Network
Authority will deliver innovative tools and state-of-the-art
technologies to the territory's fire, police and emergency medical
services," said First Responder Network Authority CEO Mike Poth. "With FirstNet, American Samoa's first responders will gain
access to a reliable and redundant connection over the first-ever
nationwide broadband network for public safety."
The decision enables the First Responder Network Authority and
AT&T to begin offering an entirely new wireless ecosystem for
public safety communications. American
Samoa's first responder subscribers will have access to
quality of service, priority and preemption to voice and data
across the FirstNet network.
"It's been a pleasure working with Governor Moliga to bring
FirstNet to American Samoa's first
responders," said Stephanie Tyler,
president, AT&T Pacific Northwest. "We're honored to serve
public safety here on the island and across the United States."
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 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 the Authority
(@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 have the nation's largest and most reliable 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
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AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service
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***Coverage not avail. everywhere. Based on overall coverage in
U.S. licensed/roaming areas. Reliability based on voice and data
performance from independent 3rd party data.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.