11/08/16
Emergency Responders Test FirstNet
Fire officials and emergency responders in Ohio had the opportunity to experience the future of broadband and emergency communications in critical, large-scale situations. FirstNet constructed a dedicated LTE broadband network for an event occurring around Dayton, Ohio. The dedicated network was for exclusive use by fire, law enforcement, EMS, and public safety personnel.
11/02/16
FirstNet Delays Award Announcement
FirstNet CEO Mike Poth announced the organization would not be naming the contract awardee for the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network by the original targeted date of November 1, 2016.
10/27/16
FCC Using Form 477 Data to Close the Mobile Broadband Gap in Rural America
Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced improved analysis of coverage data that will help the FCC realize its ambitious goal of universal broadband and advanced mobile coverage across the United States.
10/26/16
Wearable Tech for First Responders
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate supports research and development of wearable technology for first responders through its EMERGE program. This collaborative effort includes DHS partnering with emergency responders to identify capabilities and innovative companies to fulfill those needs.
10/05/16
FirstNet’s Plan to Maximize Value for Public Safety
FirstNet is moving closer to deploying a dedicated, nationwide LTE radio communications network for public safety. This modern, interoperable structure will allow agencies across the U.S. to use new technologies with increased capacity on a single network.
09/28/16
Rural Broadband Connects Cutting-Edge Observatory
On the edge of the Utah-Nevada border, off Route 50—known as “The Loneliest Road in America”—is Baker, Nevada, with a population of 84 and no significant cities in a 50- to 60-mile radius. This far-flung seclusion gives Baker the darkest skies in America, making it the perfect location for the Great Basin Observatory (GBO), a newly constructed astronomy research and outreach center in the Great Basin National Park.
09/22/16
Whitepaper: How FirstNet Can Better Prepare the U.S. for Crisis Response
A white paper released this week by Mutualink details how FirstNet will assist in preparing the U.S. for future crisis situations. The paper, titled Lessons Learned from Global Attacks: How FirstNet Can Better Prepare the U.S. for Crisis Response, uses research from large-scale crisis events around the world to determine patterns. These patterns revealed recurring problems hindering first responders and include communication breakdowns among responding agencies, overcrowded cellular networks, and a lack of real-time information sharing at the scene.
09/22/16
Census Shows Home Broadband Adoption Improving in the U.S., Despite Persistent Gaps
The United States Census Bureau recently released data from its 2015 American Community Survey (ACS) showing that home Internet access and broadband adoption are climbing in the United States, albeit slowly. Overall, the ACS data shows that 77% of Americans have some sort of broadband service at home. That includes 6% of Americans who subscribe only to mobile service at home.
09/14/16
Public Safety Communications in the Post 9/11 Era
The First Responder Network Authority, known as FirstNet, has released a video series of first responders sharing their visions for the future of public safety communications. The nationwide public safety communication network that FirstNet is working to deploy was prompted by the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2011. The 9/11 Commission recommended a dedicated first responder network to aid efficiency and timeliness during tragic events.
Events // Broadband Provider Workshops
Wednesday, October 05, 2016
Broadband providers in Nevada are invited to attend one of two workshops being hosted by the Governor’s Office of Science and Technology and Connect Nevada. The workshops are being held October 3 in Reno and October 5 in Las Vegas to discuss upcoming recommendations submitted by the Nevada Broadband Task Force, as well as a new state matching grant administered by the Department of Education for $1.8 million for E-rate (application procedures and leveraging E-rate), and additional long haul mapping initiatives to support education.
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