FirstNet participates at Consumer Electronics Show 2019

Representatives of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) spoke at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and CES Government 2019 in Los Vegas about technology innovations related to first responders.

FirstNet members took part in panel discussions or were keynote speakers on ensuring resilient communications networks; emergency preparedness; smart cities, public safety & disaster preparedness/recovery; shaping safer cities in the future with smart technology; and mobile devices, apps, and building community resiliency with FirstNet technology.

“Across the country – in every state, county, city, or township – emergency managers, police, fire, EMS and dispatchers work tirelessly to help ensure that families and businesses can get back to life and prosperity as quickly as possible after disaster strikes,” Edward Parkinson, Acting FirstNet Authority CEO, said. “They will tell you, as they have told us, the ability to communicate with each other and the public is at the heart of enabling community resiliency.”

Parkinson was the keynote speaker for the discussion on mobile apps.

Parkinson urged technology innovators and government officials to create technologies that keep communities safe and help them recover quickly after disasters.

The U.S. market for enhanced emergency communication with access to mobile data is $600 billion, and global spending for officer wearables will reach $158 billion by 2022, Parkinson said.