Out of the Ashes, A Public Safety Transformation

Sept. 11 has cemented its place in American culture as a day of remembrance and gratitude. We reflect on loss and what it means to respond to adversity with resilience. We look at how far we’ve come as a nation in the last 20 years, and while we can never get back the lives lost that day, we can strive to continue to improve our nation in their honor.

This year, things are feeling different. In the surreal recognition that it has been two decades since that dark day, and in the seemingly unrelenting chaos of COVID-19, there remains hope for brighter days ahead. There’s gratitude as many of us have been reunited after long periods of separation. But there’s also a heaviness that comes with this heartbreaking anniversary and the enduring uncertainty of the pandemic.

FirstNet’s genesis was in the government’s response to Sept. 11—specifically, it was the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission. To prevent the communications challenges first responders grappled with in New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania on that dark day, the Commission recommended a nationwide, high-speed, dedicated communications network specifically for public safety and emergency response. After the 9/11 Commission Report’s release in 2004, the first responder community lobbied Congress for legislation mandating and funding the network.

And like we usually see when Americans come together as a force for greater good, it worked. Congress created the First Responder Network Authority in 2012, and after extensive work and collaboration, FirstNet? launched in 2018. Of course, it’s a work in progress—we’re still building it out, adding more capability and advancing what’s possible in public safety communications.

From a mission perspective, FirstNet is achieving the goal of serving first responders. Every new connection provides a conduit for tremendous and impactful improvements in public safety communities across the country, fulfilling the original intent of the 9/11 Commission.

We still have big goals to realize and big expectations to meet. Make no mistake, I’m beyond proud of what we have achieved, but I also know there’s still plenty of work to do to give our first responders the high-speed network they need and deserve.

The 9/11 Commission asked for a public safety broadband network, and we remain focused on helping to modernize public safety. We’re more than a rate plan and more than a voice network— we are unlocking transformative tools for public safety. We’re getting there with launches under way such as: Our high-powered user equipment solution, MegaRange, which is a phenomenal example, offering connectivity as far as 28 miles from the tower. Z-Axis is a perfect example of what we’re doing for first responders, delivering indoor spatial awareness and more information at their fingertips than ever before.

Complacency is not a luxury we have; collaboratively transforming public safety capabilities is an ongoing endeavor in which we are steadfast. For every responder signaling a shortfall, there are tools to identify and get into their hands. For every unsolved problem our nation’s first responders tell us they’re facing, there’s a solution we are helping to find and implement. We’re committed to listening and responding with capabilities under their guidance.

In this moment of our history—as we must reconcile our past hardships with our hopeful, promising future—it’s important to pause in the present moment. As we emerge from the pandemic’s long shadow and as we grieve our losses, we must also see that healing is just ahead. In recognizing the ties that bind us, we can connect, both to each other and to a collective forward trajectory.

Note: FirstNet, First Responder Network Authority and FirstNet logo are registered trademarks and service marks of FirstNet, an independent authority within the U.S. Department of Commerce.