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Last updated on Monday, April 3, 2017
(UNDATED) - AT&T* has been selected by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to build and manage the first broadband network dedicated to America’s police, firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS). The FirstNet network will cover all 50 states, 5 U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, including rural communities and tribal lands in those states and territories.
This is a much needed investment in America's communications infrastructure to support millions of first responders and public safety personnel nationwide who protect and serve more than 320 million people across the U.S. This significant public-private infrastructure investment is expected to create 10,000 U.S. jobs over the next two years from AT&T's work for FirstNet. The network buildout will begin later this year.
Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and CEO, said, "We are honored to work with FirstNet to build a network for America's police, firefighters and EMS that is second to none. This is an unprecedented public-private investment in infrastructure that makes America a leader and public safety a national priority."
"Today is a landmark day for public safety across the Nation and shows the incredible progress we can make through public-private partnerships," said U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. "FirstNet is a critical infrastructure project that will give our first responders the communications tools they need to keep America safe and secure. This public-private partnership will also spur innovation and create over ten thousand new jobs in this cutting-edge sector."
Today, first responders use commercial networks - the same ones used by consumers and businesses - for mobile data and applications. That can be an issue when a significant public safety crisis happens and commercial networks quickly become congested. It makes it difficult for first responders to communicate, coordinate and do their jobs.
Plus, first responders use more than 10,000 networks for voice communications. These networks often do not interoperate, which severely limits their ability to communicate with each other when responding to a situation.
FirstNet's mission is to fix this. Through this new public-private partnership with FirstNet, AT&T will deliver a dedicated, interoperable network and ecosystem that will give first responders the technology they need to better communicate and collaborate across agencies and jurisdictions - local, state and national.
"There's no connection more important than one that can save a life," said Kay Kapoor, president, AT&T Global Public Sector. "FirstNet is unprecedented in its vision, scope and importance to our nation and the future of public safety communications. We're honored to be selected for this historic and critical initiative."
"This partnership brings together FirstNet as the voice of public safety and a global technology team with a proven track record and commitment to public safety," said FirstNet CEO Mike Poth. "Together, FirstNet and AT&T will move with precision and urgency to deliver this much-needed infrastructure to those who need it the most: the first responders we rely on in disasters and emergencies."
In addition to creating a nationwide seamless, IP-based, high-speed mobile communications network that will give first responders priority access, the network will help:
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high speed internet and voice services. 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. We offer the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider.* And we help businesses worldwide serve their customers better with our mobility and highly secure cloud solutions. Between 2012 and 2016, AT&T invested nearly $135 billion in our U.S. wireless and wired networks, including capital investment and acquisitions of wireless spectrum and operations. And during the same period, AT&T invested more in the United States than any other public company.
Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.
© 2017 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
*Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and data roaming; LTE roaming; and voice roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier. International service required. Coverage not available in all areas. Coverage may vary per country and be limited/restricted in some countries.
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