FirstNet Authority, University of Mississippi form partnership

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) signed a memorandum this week to collaborate on emergency medical care and response as well as mobile broadband for rural first responders.

“Emergencies can happen anywhere at any time – and in rural areas, communications is often a challenge,” U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said. “FirstNet is designed to help meet these challenges and modernize public safety communications. With this collaboration, the FirstNet Authority and the Mississippi Center for Emergency Services are coming together to drive innovation for first responders in Mississippi and nationwide to help them save lives and protect communities.”

The partners will share best practices, lessons learned and case studies related to public safety’s use of mobile broadband in rural areas with the goal of driving innovation.

The FirstNet Authority also will benefit from UMMC’s experience handling medical incidents in rural communities.

The partners will create demonstrations related to rural first responders’ use of broadband.

The partnership is the first step toward establishing the FirstNet Authority’s University Program that would pair the authority with universities with expertise in public safety communications. This would educate public safety employees on how best to use cutting-edge technologies and enhance the network.