RESTON, Va., Dec. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Missouri is advancing communications
capabilities for first responders. Today, Governor Eric Greitens announced his decision to accept
the FirstNet and AT&T* plan to deliver a wireless
broadband network to the state's public safety community. FirstNet
will bring advanced technologies that will help Missouri's first responders save lives and
protect communities.
"Governor Greitens' decision to opt-in to FirstNet is the right
choice for our state and for our first responders. We are pleased
to work with AT&T and FirstNet to ensure that the public safety
community gets to use and benefit from the latest technological
innovations," said Missouri
Director of Public Safety Charles "Drew" Juden III.
AT&T, in a public-private partnership with FirstNet, will
build, operate and maintain a highly secure wireless broadband
communications network for Missouri's public safety community at no cost
to the state. The FirstNet network will drive innovation and create
an entire system of modernized devices, apps and tools for first
responders.
Following an in-depth evaluation of the proposed AT&T and
FirstNet plan, as well as proposals by other potential vendors,
Missouri selected the FirstNet and
AT&T public-private partnership, bringing public safety the
overall best value solution with the least risk.
FirstNet will transform the way Missouri's fire, police, EMS and other public
safety personnel communicate and share information. Specifically,
it will:
- Connect first responder subscribers to the critical information
they need in a highly secure manner when handling day-to-day
operations, responding to emergencies and supporting large events
like the Missouri State Fair, which draws daily crowds close to
30,000.
- Create an efficient communications experience for public safety
personnel in agencies and jurisdictions across the state during
natural disasters and severe weather events like the floods that
caused 24 Missouri counties to be
declared natural disaster areas.
- Enhance network coverage across Missouri's diverse landscape, benefitting
first responders and residents throughout the state's rural and
tribal areas.
- Drive infrastructure investments and create jobs across the
state.
- Usher in a new wave of dependable innovations for first
responders. This will create an ever-evolving set of life-saving
tools for public safety, including public safety apps, specialized
devices and Internet of Things technologies. It also carries the
potential for future integration with NextGen 911 networks and
Smart Cities' infrastructure.
FirstNet and AT&T designed Missouri's network solution with direct input
from the state's public safety community. FirstNet has been meeting
with Missouri's officials and
public safety personnel for several years to address their unique
communication needs. These include expanding coverage beyond what
is currently available, particularly in rural areas and along
jurisdictional borders, as well as making dedicated network assets
available that could be deployed as needed to support public
safety's needs.
"Governor Greitens' decision demonstrates his strong commitment
to public safety throughout the Show-Me State," said FirstNet CEO
Mike Poth. "We look forward to
delivering the interoperable, high speed network that will help
first responders share information and communicate seamlessly when
saving lives and protecting communities across Missouri."
The decision enables FirstNet and AT&T to begin creating an
entirely new wireless ecosystem for public safety communications.
Missouri's first responder
subscribers will have immediate access to quality of service and
priority to voice and data across the existing nationwide AT&T
LTE network.
Preemption for primary users over the AT&T LTE network is
expected by year-end. This means fire, police, EMS and other public
safety workers will have dedicated access to the network when and
where they need it – 24/7/365, like their mission.
"The dedication of Governor Greitens and his staff to first
responders was readily apparent in their opt-in considerations, as
well as in their decision. It's a pleasure to work with an
administration whose commitment to public safety is so closely
aligned with our own," said John
Sondag, president of AT&T Missouri. "AT&T is honored
to bring this dedicated, interoperable public safety broadband
network to Missouri, and connect
its public safety community to advanced tools that will help save
and preserve lives."
For more information on FirstNet, please go to
FirstNet.gov/mediakit and att.com/FirstResponderNews. For more
about the value FirstNet will bring to public safety, please go to
FirstNet.com.
About FirstNet
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) is an independent
authority within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Chartered in
2012, its mission is to ensure the building, deployment, and
operation of the nationwide, broadband network that equips first
responders to save lives and protect U.S. communities. Learn more
at FirstNet.gov/mediakit and follow FirstNet (@FirstNetGov) on
Facebook and Twitter for updates.
*About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with
leading entertainment, business, mobile and high speed internet
services. We offer the nation's best data network** and the best
global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider. 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. Nearly 3.5 million companies,
from small to large businesses around the globe, turn to AT&T
for our highly secure smart solutions.
AT&T products and services are provided or offered by
subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T
brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about
AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com.
Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att
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© 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.
**Claim based on the Nielsen Certified Data Network Score. Score
includes data reported by wireless consumers in the Nielsen Mobile
Insights survey, network measurements from Nielsen Mobile
Performance and Nielsen Drive Test Benchmarks for Q1 + Q2 2017
across 121 markets.
SOURCE AT&T Inc.