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The 9-1-1 Take: Winter 2019
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 The 9-1-1 Take by John Hunt
FirstNet supports 9-1-1 during the Big Game
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FirstNet is public safety’s fast lane when networks are congested during emergencies or crowded events like the Super Bowl. Read on to learn how FirstNet supports 9-1-1 and emergency communication centers at large events.
FirstNet supports 9-1-1 during the Super Bowl
When football’s biggest night came to Atlanta in 2019, the Fulton County Emergency Services’ E-911 Center had to be ready, and FirstNet was part of their plan. The E-911 Center—located only three blocks from the stadium—provides emergency radio dispatch services to 13 public safety agencies. Jim Millsap, technical division chief, knew they would need a backup location if an incident at the stadium required evacuation. So they built a fully functional remote center at the Fulton County Airport and added 30 FirstNet Ready™ devices as a safety net. Out of precaution, Fulton County ran its regular dispatch from the backup center during game day and two days before. Ten FirstNet Ready™ devices were given to command staff and 20 other devices were back up for the voice over IP system.
“We tested everything. It worked beautifully the week leading up to the Super Bowl and during the Super Bowl,” said Chief Millsap. “In the end, it was a very successful mission. Everything worked as we wanted it to, and we had the backup of the FirstNet phones if needed.”
After last year’s success, FirstNet continues to support the Big Game. The 2020 game is scheduled for February 2 in Miami, and Miami-Dade County Fire and Rescue Communications Chief Greg Rubin plans to rely on FirstNet.
“We are currently working with FirstNet and FirstNet AT&T for push-to-talk capabilities at the Super Bowl,” Chief Rubin said about his agency’s trust in the network for the Big Game. “Our experience in the past with FirstNet decides our standard every day. In addition to our LMR radio system, all of our teams will be carrying push-to-talk devices during the event.”
Roadmap and investments for FirstNet
By supporting events like the Super Bowl, the FirstNet Authority gains valuable feedback from public safety. Using this feedback, in 2019, we published the FirstNet Authority Roadmap, our guide to the future of FirstNet. The Roadmap focuses on six technology domains:
- FirstNet Core: The essential intelligence for the functioning of the network
- Coverage and capacity: FirstNet’s presence within a given geography
- Situational awareness: Real-time access, collection, and synthesis of data from multiple sources to give actionable insights to public safety
- Voice communications: The ability to verbally communicate across agencies, jurisdictions, and platforms
- Secure information exchange: Accessing, exchanging, and managing data securely and conveniently
- User experience: FirstNet network capabilities, features, devices, and applications tailored to the needs of public safety
These six domains help prioritize the FirstNet Authority’s programs, resources, investments, and partnership activities. For example, our Board approved an FY 2020 budget with $145 million for network investments and announced two areas of investment that align with our Roadmap domains:
- Expansion of the FirstNet fleet of deployables to enhance coverage and capacity during emergencies and events
- Initial generational upgrades to the FirstNet Core to enable 5G network capabilities
9-1-1 leader joins FirstNet Authority Board
Karima Holmes was recently named to the Board of the FirstNet Authority. Ms. Holmes serves as Director, Office of Unified Communications, Washington, D.C., and supervises all of the District’s emergency 9-1-1 and basic city service 3-1-1 call activities. She led efforts to prepare the District’s dispatch centers to accept Next-Generation 9-1-1. Ms. Holmes is the first Board member to be a sitting ECC director and brings a wealth of 9-1-1 experience and perspective to the FirstNet Authority.
Your experience
As always, I want to hear about your experience with FirstNet. Email me or find me at one of these events:
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 Hitting one million FirstNet connections for more than 10,000 public safety agencies was a major milestone for FirstNet in 2019. Stay tuned for the exciting progress planned for 2020!
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 With over 75% of the network built, FirstNet coverage and capacity continues to expand with new cell sites in Yamhill, OR, and Clinton, PA.
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 FirstNet gives public safety its own fast lane during network congestion at events like the NFL’s Super Bowl, college football’s Iron Bowl, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame events.
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 More than a broadband network, FirstNet is driving a new marketplace for public safety technology—with over 100 FirstNet Ready™ devices and 100 apps created for first responders.
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Tech, Innovations, and Hot Topics in 9-1-1
Read what we’ve been hearing from public safety in the field about trends and drivers for 9-1-1 and emergency communications.*
The 9-1-1 SAVES Act, which would reclassify 9-1-1 telecommunicators from administrative support to first responders, was passed by the House of Representatives. 9-1-1 professionals have long-called for this change to reflect their front line work serving as a lifeline for help during emergencies. The reclassification would provide 9-1-1 dispatch with access to counseling. The bill was co-sponsored by Representatives Norma Torres (CA), the only former 9-1-1 dispatcher serving in Congress, and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), a former FBI special agent.
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Historic Annapolis, Maryland, hosts nearly two million tourists annually, and public safety officials are responsible for protecting these visitors and local residents throughout the town and in the surrounding Chesapeake Bay. City leadership recognizes the necessity of reliable communications for these first responders and is rolling out FirstNet city-wide.
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John Hunt is a Senior Public Safety Advisor and the First Responder Network Authority 9-1-1 Subject Matter Expert. Learn more about John or email him with your questions. |
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Top photo: The new FirstNet cell site near Yamhill, Oregon.
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*FirstNet Authority may provide hyperlinks for third-party, non-governmental websites in order to offer additional context and added value for our users. FirstNet Authority does not endorse any product or service and is not responsible, nor can it guarantee the validity or timeliness of the content on hyperlinks outside of the federal government. In addition,users may wish to review privacy notices on non-government sites since their information collection practices may differ from ours.
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