Texas to Transform
Communications for Public Safety;
Governor Abbott
Approves Buildout Plan for First Responder Network
One-of-a-Kind
Solution Will Enhance Emergency Response, Create Jobs,
Modernize Public Safety Communications across Texas
Texas is making another major
move to strengthen public safety and enhance emergency
preparedness across the state. Today, Governor Greg Abbott
announced his decision to partner with FirstNet and AT&T to deliver a wireless broadband
network to the state’s public safety community. The FirstNet
network will provide Texas with modernized devices, apps and
tools for first responders to boost their communication
abilities on the job, helping them save lives and protect
communities.
"The
safety and security of Texas communities is my number one
priority, and I want to provide our first responders with
the best technology possible," said Governor Abbott. "As we
saw in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, our first
responders are often the last and only hope for safety in
rapidly-changing and life-threatening situations, but this
partnership with FirstNet and AT&T, allows Texas’s fire,
police, EMS and other public safety personnel to be better
equipped when responding in these emergencies."
AT&T, in a
public-private partnership with FirstNet, will build,
operate and maintain a highly secure, resilient wireless
broadband communications network for Texas’s public safety
community at no cost to the state. This plan will help
improve public safety and enhance emergency preparedness
across the state by providing first responders with cutting
edge communication technologies.
“Hurricane Harvey
is still fresh on our minds as the area continues to
recover. The support we received from AT&T and FirstNet
during our response was incredible, and with this
partnership, it will only get better,” said Bexar County
Sheriff Javier Salazar. “Whether responding to storms like
Harvey or wildfires in West Texas, our state’s first
responders go above and beyond the call of duty every day to
help Texans and save lives. The innovative FirstNet system
will provide them a network worthy of their service — that
will help protect their safety while giving them the tools
and technologies they need to stay connected and to help
communities and citizens across Texas."
The FirstNet
network will transform the way Texas’s fire, police, EMS and
other public safety personnel communicate and share
information before, during and after emergencies and natural
disasters, by:
-
Connecting 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 Houston Livestock Show
& Rodeo, which hosts over 2 million visitors each year.
-
Strengthening emergency response communications for public
safety personnel in agencies and jurisdictions across the
state to support the preparation and response to natural
disasters, such as the recent and ongoing response to
Hurricane Harvey.
-
Enhancing network coverage across Texas’s diverse landscape,
benefitting first responders and residents throughout the
state’s rural and tribal areas.
-
Driving infrastructure investments and creating jobs across
the state.
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Ushering 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.
“With Governor
Abbott's decision to join FirstNet, Texas continues to lead
the way on public safety by taking emergency response and
innovation to the next level,” said FirstNet CEO Mike Poth.
“We are honored to serve the state’s first responders and
will continue to collaborate with them to ensure the Network
delivers what they need, both now and in the future.”
FirstNet has met
with Texas public safety officials including the Texas
Interoperable Communications Coalition and the Texas
Department of Public Safety to address specific safety needs
across the state. This includes:
-
Expanded coverage and coordination with deployable solutions
and additional investments beyond what is currently
available from commercial carriers with a focus on
underserved public schools, hospitals, public safety
answering points, the Texas-Mexico border, tribal areas and
hurricane evacuation routes.
-
Using the investment,
innovation, best practices and lessons learned from the
Texas Early Builder Program in Harris County to inform how
the network can support response and recovery activities
during disasters and large events while also informing the
development of intuitive service solutions that will meet
the expectations of the public safety community.
The opt-in
decision enables FirstNet and AT&T to begin creating an
entirely new wireless ecosystem for public safety
communications. Texas’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.
“When Harvey hit, first responders were the first in to help rescue and support those in need,” said Chris Sambar, senior vice president, AT&T – FirstNet. “No matter the emergency – big or small – we can count on public safety to be there when we need them most. We’re honored to continue our close collaboration with Texas and its public safety community to give these everyday heroes the game-changing tools and technologies they need to carry out their life-saving mission.”
Source: AT&T media announcement