FirstNet-AT&T public safety broadband network reaches 20 state opt-ins

Since its rollout in early July, a total of 20 U.S. states and territories have decided to opt-in to the AT&T-First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) nationwide public safety broadband network.

The interoperable communications system allows emergency response personnel to securely and independently communicate with one another across AT&T’s existing long-term evolution (LTE) network.

“FirstNet will give public safety the nationwide, interoperable communications system that they’ve spent years advocating for,” FirstNet CEO Mike Poth said. “Every governor that opts in is helping to answer that call. After years fighting to achieve this mission, it’s exciting to say a third of states and territories have moved to deliver the future of public safety to their first responders.”

As part of the rollout, FirstNet and AT&T assume all financial responsibility for at least the next 25 years and will require no additional state or territorial resources to deploy or operate the network.

Virginia became the first state to officially opt-in to the network on July 10. Since that time, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming have followed suit.

“FirstNet is by public safety, for all of public safety,” Chris Sambar, senior vice president of AT&T-FirstNet, said. “We’re honored to see the strong response by states and territories. It brings us one step closer to getting first responders the tools they need to transform how they communicate and respond to emergencies.”