FirstNet

Full Title

The FirstNet mission is to deploy, operate, maintain, and improve the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety.

Context

• A reliable, highly secure, interoperable, and innovative public safety communications platform will bring pre-emptive LTE (wireless 4G) service to public safety agencies and first responders, allowing them to get more information quickly and helping them to make faster and better decisions.
• There are two distinct parts to FirstNet:

1. FirstNet.gov which is an official website of the United States government.
2. FirstNet.com which is run by AT&T. WARNING. the site does not support HTTPS and so is insecure.

Problems

First responder networks have been delivered to public service agencies for years with promises of good service in emergencies, but have failed to deliver when the emergencies happened. Dave Mulholland — Administrator for the Arlington Co. (VA) Emergency Communications Center — discusses the evolution of emergency communications in the National Capital Region and shares his experiences on past problems in this podcast.

Solutions

• This effort was lead by the public service agencies petitioning the US congress to find a solution after the 9-11 fiasco.
• The solution required preemption of the cellular network for emergency traffic. At first only AT&T offered preemption service as FirstNet and signed up all 50 states.
• Now (2019-06-01) Verizon offers preemption for emergency traffic as well.
• Accountability for performance of the network under the stress of an emergency was accepted by the FirstNet design center in Boulder.
• Conduct Risk Assessment is required of any organization that wants to maintain the public trust in their performance.
• The FirstNet providers are trying to engage the trauma process in the hospital as well.

  In these seconds, a hospital's emergency response plan is activated, and priority communication is key to life-saving trauma care. While the ER focuses on triage, administrators oversee care coordination between the ER, OR, radiology and various specialty departments because all hands are on deck. FirstNet is the right technology for the job.

References

• The AT&T built network which as been adopted by all 50 states.
• The First Responder Network Authority, a part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the US Department of Commerce.
• The Kantara Identity Incubator supports development of solutions including the Mobile Authentication for First Responders
• Yibco contribution to NCCoE single sign on for FirstNet
• First Net Lab Location just a few miles away from NIST lab. Both are part of Dept of Commerce.