The First Responder Network Authority launched new initiatives to partner with the public and industry in planning public safety investments and creating a new roadmap to enhance the FirstNet network.
The FirstNet Authority Board announced the plans at a meeting on Wednesday in Jackson, Miss. The event focused on how the public can help improve critical communications and safety.
“This is the only nationwide broadband network that public safety has a voice in,†said FirstNet Board Chair Edward Horowitz. “From the earliest consultation days through the launch of the network, public safety has been and will continue to be at the center of everything we do.â€
The FirstNet roadmap will use information from the private sector, academia and industry association to follow trends in the tech market.
“We will continue to engage with public safety to learn and understand their needs and collaborate with them so they can maximize the benefits of FirstNet for their life-saving mission,†said FirstNet Authority Acting CEO Ed Parkinson.
The FirstNet Authority is currently developing a new experience program that would help first responders leverage existing and future technologies through hands-on educational experiences. It also completed an agreement with the University of Mississippi Medical Center to promote innovation in emergency medical care and response in rural areas.
