|
The Law Enforcement Take: Fall 2022
|
|
The Law Enforcement Take with Harry Markley
Boosting FirstNet inside the station
|
|
|
The FirstNet Authority’s most recent investment brings better indoor FirstNet coverage to small and mid-sized sheriff and police headquarters. With this new program, agencies can install up to 50 devices across multiple locations—at no cost to the agency—to boost FirstNet inside the buildings where they work if there’s insufficient coverage.
Details of the in-building solution
The Cell Booster Pro is a device that acts as a miniature cell tower to improve the quality of your agency’s indoor FirstNet service. The strength and range of your FirstNet signal inside the station may be affected by the building structure, layout, or geography. If you have indoor FirstNet coverage that’s two bars or less, a Cell Booster Pro device can boost coverage up to five bars.
The device uses state-of-the-art small cell technology to provide Radio Access Network, or RAN, extension services. RAN is the network infrastructure commonly used to wirelessly connect devices to the network.
The Cell Booster Pro provides up to 15,000 square feet of coverage. A maximum of three devices can be deployed in a single location, so the solution can provide in-building coverage to a facility as large as 45,000 square feet.
The devices can also be moved and used in the field at staging locations, emergency operation centers, or anywhere with a broadband connection.
FirstNet versus Wi-Fi indoors
You may wonder why you need FirstNet if you have Wi-Fi coverage in your building. Using FirstNet indoors gives your law enforcement agency the same public safety-focused benefits of the network, whereas Wi-Fi does not.
FirstNet’s benefits include access to Band 14, the high-quality spectrum licensed to the FirstNet Authority for first responder communications. FirstNet provides security, priority and preemption, and mission-critical services designed for public safety operations.
Meeting law enforcement’s needs
The FirstNet Authority conducted robust engagement and market research with the public safety community―including in-depth sessions with law enforcement―on the need for this solution.
In-building coverage routinely tops the list of law enforcement’s desired improvements for FirstNet. Law enforcement told us that FirstNet worked well in the field, but when they returned to the station, they had challenges getting coverage in some instances.
The FirstNet Authority is focused on making sure FirstNet provides public safety with the connectivity needed for their mission. With this investment, we are enhancing indoor coverage, providing an additional layer of network resiliency, and giving public safety the ability to deploy coverage where and when it’s needed most.
The FirstNet Authority Board approved this investment in May, and by September, AT&T began rolling it out to eligible subscribing agencies.
How to leverage the in-building program
If the in-building program would be useful for your agency, here are some tips to prepare for the installation and resources to help after the installation.
Before installation:
- Confirm that your agency is a FirstNet subscriber and a primary user (law enforcement agencies are primary FirstNet users).
- Work with AT&T to identify where in-building coverage is needed and verify the location is where public-safety users typically reside during working hours.
- Work with AT&T to determine how many devices your agency needs—up to 50 may be provided at no cost. Additional devices can be purchased.
During and after installation:
- Be sure to select “FirstNet” to enable Band 14 when setting up the device.
- Once installed, manage devices and in-building coverage via the mobile app and web portal.
- Provide feedback to the FirstNet Authority about your experience with the in-building program to help us determine the future of the program.
- Direct questions about the device or coverage to your local FirstNet-AT&T account manager or learn more at www.FirstNet.com/CellBoosterPro.
Your experience
What is your experience with using FirstNet indoors at your station? Would this in-building solution help you? Email me to let me know. Or you can find me or my colleagues at one of these events:
|
|
|
Public safety’s network continues building momentum! FirstNet now has 4 million connections, 23,000+ public safety agencies served, 525+ FirstNet-ready devices, and more than 200 apps designed for first responders.
|
|
|
|
FirstNet connectivity is taking drones in public safety operations to new heights. These “eyes in the sky” can provide better situational awareness and go places where humans can’t, from missing person searches to HAZMAT situations.
|
|
|
|
At the Dover Motor Speedway, the Monster Mile is tough on drivers―and tough on communications during races and events like the Firefly Music Festival. FirstNet makes a difference, keeping more public safety agencies connected and communicating.
|
|
|
Tech, Innovations, and Hot Topics in Law Enforcement
Read what we’ve been hearing from public safety in the field about trends and drivers for law enforcement and emergency communications.*
Interpol, which facilitates worldwide police cooperation, is exploring how to police the emerging virtual reality world. To get ahead of cybercriminals who will exploit virtual worlds, Interpol has authored a report called “Policing in the metaverse: what law enforcement needs to know.”
|
|
|
The Green Bay Police Department is the main law enforcement agency for the Green Bay Packers football games. Even during big plays when network congestion is the highest, FirstNet gives them faster speeds, better data exchanges, and clearer calls. FirstNet has also made a difference for Green Bay police outside the stadium, like when they tracked a fleeing shooting suspect.
Watch the video |
|
Harry Markley is a Senior Public Safety Advisor and the First Responder Network Authority Law Enforcement Subject Matter Expert. Learn more about Harry or email him with your questions. |
|
|
|
*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.
|
|
|
|
|
