New First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) customers were a driving force for AT&T’s financial growth during the first quarter, AT&T executives said during a pair of conferences June 16 – 17.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) board approved $218 million for two network upgrades: transitioning the FirstNet core to 5G technology and adding to FirstNet’s fleet of 72 deployables.

AT&T added of a new, purpose-built First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) cell site to benefit first responders in Monterey, Massachusetts. AT&T said its FirstNet network expansion taking place in Massachusetts is bringing increased coverage, capacity and capability to first responders across the state.

The Tech to Protect challenge from the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) is giving startups and entrepreneurs the opportunity to solve critical technology problems facing emergency responders.

With increasing pressure on governments and authorities to respond faster, more effectively and with real-time insights into emergencies, disasters and crises, there’s never been a more urgent need for a step change in public-safety communications. Bringing new connectivity, capacity and capability, mobile broadband holds the key.

AT&T, the contractor for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), deployed a new tower in Colorado. As a result of the state’s agreement with the FirstNet program, there is a commitment to deploy 33 new towers to enhance mobile coverage for first responders, a state broadband newsletter said.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) launched in the three Pacific territories — American Samoa, Guam and the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. FirstNet is adding three on-island portable cell sites, one per territory, to its FirstNet fleet of dedicated deployable network assets to support public-safety agencies in the territories in time for typhoon season.

CTIA officials discussed generally the most recent 9-1-1 Location Technologies Test Bed testing of 9-1-1 vertical (Z-axis) location technologies, Stage Za, in an FCC filing, but the full report is unavailable to the public.

AT&T and Cradlepoint expanded their relationship to make it easier for enterprise and public-safety customers to purchase end-to-end wireless WAN solutions. Under the new agreement, customers can now order Cradlepoint wireless edge solutions and have them fulfilled and billed directly from AT&T.

The world around us — both globally and locally — changed dramatically a few months ago when the COVID-19 pandemic began to hit country after country. Many things have changed, among them numerous cancellations and job losses, but one positive is the continuing innovation in the mission-critical communications industry