[Scan-DC] Maryland Touts 1 Year of FirstNet Use, Band 14 Buildout in State

[Alan Henney]

https://www.rrmediagroup.com/News/NewsDetails/newsID/17516

Maryland Touts 1 Year of FirstNet Use, Band 14 Buildout in State

Monday, October 22, 2018

One year after Gov. Larry Hogan approved the buildout of the First
Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) in Maryland by AT&T, first
responders in Maryland are benefitting from enhanced emergency
communications, a statement said.

Denis Dunn, president, AT&T in Maryland, said the wireless spectrum
allocated to public safety for the operation of the FirstNet network
platform — 700 MHz band 14 — has already been deployed to existing and new
sites across the state, and it will continue to be rapidly deployed to
additional sites. In addition to supporting first responders, these and
other network upgrades will provide mobile broadband coverage and capacity
to many underserved areas of the state, creating more access to mobile
broadband for more Marylanders.

Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford led a forum on the positive impacts
FirstNet has had on public-safety communications in the state in the year
since Maryland joined the nationwide public safety communications platform.

"During times of crisis, communications is key,” said Rutherford. “Our
administration is committed to working with our first responders at all
levels — local, state and federal — to ensure we are able to stay
connected. We appreciate the opportunity to participate in this
public-private partnership to innovate our public-safety operations and
keep our communities safe. The success FirstNet has seen in its first year
is a shining example of what can be accomplished when we work together.”

Last spring, parts of Washington County experienced extreme flooding. The
emergency responses required quick and efficient coordination among first
responders. FirstNet was central to the effort, according to Washington
County Sheriff Doug Mullendore, whose agency was one of the first in the
nation and in Maryland to subscribe to FirstNet services, a statement said.

"When disaster hit, we relied on FirstNet to keep us connected,” Mullendore
said. “We even called in a satellite cell on light truck (SatCOLT),
boosting our ability to communicate and coordinate our emergency response
beyond the low bandwidth Wi-Fi some of our personnel were using. We are
pleased that Gov. Hogan approved the FirstNet state plan, opening the door
for us to take advantage of this dedicated network platform to better serve
Washington County, especially when our community needed it most.”

Would you like to comment on this story? Find our comments system below.