March 30 (UPI) — First responders soon will be working with a broadband safety network, more than a decade after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
AT&T and the First Responder Network Authority are partnering on the first wireless network dedicated to police, firefghters and emergency medical services, the Commerce Department announced Thursday.
“Today is a landmark day for public safety across the nation,” said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “FirstNet is a critical infrastructure project that will give our first responders the communications tools they need to keep America safe and secure.”
FirstNet addresses a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission: “the construction of a nationwide, interoperable broadband network.”
The wireless network will cover all 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, including rural communities and tribal lands.
FirstNet will spend $6.5 billion in the public-private partnership over the next five years, providing 20 MHz of telecommunications spectrum. AT&T will spend about $40 billion to build, deploy, operate and maintain the network.
“It’s a sign of the ability of public-private partnership to drive innovation,” said White House press secretary Sean Spicer.
The project is expected to create 10,000 jobs.