It’s been a decade since the city of Boston and surrounding communities were forever changed. We continue to mourn the loss of Lu Lingzi, Krystle Campbell, and Martin Richard, who died on April 15, 2013, at the scene of the Boston Marathon; care for those still reeling from the day’s emotional and physical scars; and honor the legacies of fallen MIT officer Sean Collier and Boston Police Sgt. Dennis Simmons, whose lives were claimed during a multi-day pursuit of the bombers. And this week, during National Public Works Week, the public safety community looks back on its response during this tragedy, for which we worked hand in hand with our nation's public works officials.

Ten years ago, communication challenges for public safety and public works officials stemmed from commercial cellular networks being rendered unusable due to the massive influx of calls and texts by the public. As Boston Police Commissioner at the time of the bombings, I can say this left leadership, incident command and those at the scene with limited visibility, hampering our coordination and management of the incident. While preexisting training and situational instinct kicked in, saving hundreds of lives, I knew we had to do better.

Thankfully, the government has made significant improvements to cybersecurity, border security and emergency response planning since 2013. Advancement in technologies, more comprehensive planning and increased public education and awareness have been supported by many public-private partnerships and innovative companies. And in Boston specifically, lessons learned from the bombing significantly strengthened how law enforcement, public works officials, the media and the community respond to grave incidents.

After transitioning to the private sector, I joined AT&T’s Board of Advisers and saw the company’s public-private partnership surrounding FirstNet bring to life the nation’s wireless communications network designed and built for our first responders — and used by public works to deploy resources and people, track work orders, and communicate with staff in the field. The result? The ability of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, firefighters, police officers and public works officials to communicate on-scene drastically improved. The development of FirstNet was conceived by Congress following 9/11 and came to fruition in 2012 when Congress created the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority). I worked with congressional leaders on this solution for decades, and I sincerely thank Congress for that vital legislation.

Six years later, in 2018, AT&T launched the dedicated FirstNet network core, a physically separate and highly secure infrastructure that’s essential to providing many of the vital functions and capabilities public safety and public works rely upon to support their mission-critical work. Today, first responders finally have access to reliable, dedicated connectivity when they need it most.  

At the recent 10-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, FirstNet was on-scene at the race, providing a Cell on Wheels (think portable cell tower) to increase the capacity for communications among first responders. A critical pillar for homeland security and emergency preparedness, it enabled the location identification of all medical personnel in the area, bolstered redundancy and resiliency for emergency communications, and helped establish a common operating picture.

Today, perhaps more than ever, external threats to first responders’ communications remain. By design, FirstNet provides first responders with critical preemption and multiple tiers of priority that can be assigned to specific users and for specific applications at the local level. Amidst network congestion, such as during a crisis, public safety’s Band 14 spectrum is automatically cleared and reserved for public safety on FirstNet to ensure emergency communications can take place. This encrypted, end-to-end communications network is vital for modern day preparedness and response.

As I testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee last month, federal, state and local law enforcement leaders must now evaluate the role that FirstNet can play in closing America’s remaining gaps in homeland security. To me, it’s clear that FirstNet should be fully leveraged for dedicated connectivity, as a common platform for public safety and public works communications. FirstNet, the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network established by the federal government, is a successful, bipartisan solution that’s enhancing safety and emergency readiness for the federal government, states, cities and towns across the United States, to which first responders dedicate their lives. In a world challenged by the proliferation of security threats, let’s double down on our nation’s emergency preparedness.

Establishing an integrated first-responder communications system is all about the details, not just the big picture overview and goals.

That reality became obvious as Michael Poth, CEO of The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), explained the agency's objectives to a Media Institute monthly luncheon in Washington on Feb 15.

Poth (pictured) cited "improved situational awareness" as a keystone of the FirstNet project, but also acknowledged that the near-term requirement is "getting technology to first responders using the technology that now exists."

"Our biggest concern is that it [the FirstNet system] gets built out and the technology gets into the hands of first responders," Poth said. His short presentation listed the value of a nationwide, uniform, interconnected service to assure that police, fire, emergency medical crews and military units are congruently aware of situations they are resolving. FirstNet is a nationwide public safety broadband network for local, state, regional, tribal, and federal first responders.

After describing the 25-year agreement that FirstNet contracted with AT&T last March, Poth issued what he called "an appeal to all" in the audience -- mostly media and telecom lawyers and lobbyists. He pointed out that there are more than 60,000 public service agencies in the U.S., with historically fragmented communications capabilities. Congress established FirstNet after the 9/11 attacks as an independent authority within the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

"We have to push our organizations to solve these problems" of interconnection, Poth said. He emphasized that AT&T has committed $40 billion over the next 25 years to manage and operate the network.

Poth also acknowledged the value of "integrating the core AT&T network with other facilities," such as public TV spectrum after a public television executive in the audience pointed out that public TV stations have committed 1 MHz to public safety service.

Poth also offered an overview -- but no details -- about the equipment that will be used by local first responders, saying merely that the scale of the project will encourage hardware suppliers to enter the market. He cited collaboration with 24 other countries that are also expanding their emergency service networks, thus adding to the global opportunities for hardware suppliers.

Poth cited the value of an integrated First Response system for situations such as the recent California wildfires, where firefighters from dozens of distant jurisdictions converged at the fire sites, but brought their own non-compatible equipment. He said that a top FirstNet objective -- as part of the AT&T agreement -- is to assure that such problems are eliminated. He did not offer a timetable.

In December, AT&T announced that all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have opted into FirstNet. In exchange for managing the project, AT&T will get 20 MHz of wireless spectrum plus $6.5 billion to build the initial network. Poth explained that AT&T will be able to use the spectrum at times when it is not needed for emergency communications. AT&T has said it expects its invest up to $40 billion in the network during the coming 25 years.

Iowa has become the fifth state to agree to be part of the AT&T/FirstNet national plan for an interoperable emergency first responder network.

The other four are Virginia, which was first, and Wyoming, Arkansas and Kentucky.

States are also allowed to come up with their own plans, but they must dovetail with the AT&T/FirstNet state plans.

"Iowa is a longtime leader in public safety communications technology, from using public school Wi-Fi to connect emergency personnel on school grounds to today's decision to become part of the FirstNet network," said FirstNet president TJ Kennedy in a statement. "With Governor Reynolds’ decision, Iowa is putting cutting-edge, lifesaving technology in public safety's hands. FirstNet looks forward to continuing to work with Iowa to build the network and equip the state's first responders with the technology they need to save lives and keep Iowa's communities safe."

It was only about six weeks ago that the Department of Commerce (FirstNet is an independent authority within Commerce) announced AT&T had been awarded the multi-billion-dollar, 25-year contract to build and maintain FirstNet, the interoperable first responder public safety network proposed by the 911 Commission well over a decade ago following communication failures during the attack's tragic aftermath.

The network was funded through FCC's AWS-3 spectrum auction (FirstNet is the interoperable first responder public safety network proposed by the 911 Commission well over a decade ago following first responder communication failures during the attack's tragic aftermath.

States can submit alternative plans for deploying emergency communications, but they must be interoperable with the FirstNet national plan.

WASHINGTON — Last week's rollback of the FCC's privacy rules spurred legislative action in the Minnesota State Senate, while in the U.S. Senate, the Intelligence Committee launched hearings on Russia's interference with the 2016 presidential election. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department tapped AT&T to build and maintain the nation's first-responder network. Following are highlights from last week in D.C.

Minnesota Adopts Own Privacy Rules
The Minnesota State Senate had its own exclamation point for Congress’s move to roll back broadband privacy rules. In light of Congress’s approval of the Congressional Review Act, and the president’s expected signoff, the state Senate voted to adopt its own version of the regulations, according to the Twin Cities Pioneer Press.

Republicans had argued that state privacy laws would remain in effect even after the Federal Communications Commission’s rules were scrapped. Minnesota’s Senate took that cue and added its own.

An amendment to an economic development bill passed the Minnesota Senate with the help of one Republican vote. A similar amendment was added to the House bill, which must now be reconciled with the Senate bill.

The Minnesota amendment would prevent any ISP with a franchise agreement in the state from collecting personal information from customers “without express written approval from the customer” or from denying service if that approval was not given.

Those were two key elements of the FCC regulations that were rolled back. (Pictured: The Minnesota State Capitol)

9/11 Overhaul
More than 15 years after 9/11, the Commerce Department last week announced that AT&T had been awarded the 25-year, $46.5 billion contract to build out and maintain FirstNet, the interoperable broadband first responder network. AT&T will invest $40 billion, and in exchange will get access to the network during nonemergencies.

The network is being built using 20 MHz of spectrum set aside from the FCC’s 700-MHz auction and the government’s $6.5 billion contribution to the cause came from the FCC’s AWS-3 wireless spectrum auction.

Smaller and rural broadband providers were looking to get in on some of that action. “NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association and its members, network operators in rural areas of the country with substantial assets and infrastructure, are eager to partner with AT&T to leverage this infrastructure and to promote success in the quest to build, operate and maintain a ubiquitous public safety network throughout the country,” said association CEO Shirley Bloomfield after the announcement. Read more here.

Fake News, for Real
Broadband was much on the minds of the Senate Intelligence Committee as it launched a series of hearings on Russia’s efforts to interfere with the 2016 presidential election. That included both cybersecurity issues and the proliferation of fake news that has been amplified by mainstream, and nonmainstream, media chasing the latest story.

Committee ranking member Mark Warner (D-Va.) cited the media “echo” chamber as partly to blame.

“The Russians employed thousands of Internet trolls and botnets to push out disinformation and fake news at high volume, focusing this material onto your Twitter and Facebook feeds and flooding our social media with misinformation,” Warner said. “[T]his fake news and disinformation was then hyped by the American media echo chamber and our own social media networks to reach — and potentially influence — millions of Americans.” Read more here.

AT&T has been awarded the multi-billion-dollar, 25-year contract to build and maintain FirstNet, the interoperable first responder public safety network proposed by the 911 Commission well over a decade ago following first responder communication failures during the attack's tragic aftermath.

Commerce secretary Wilbur Ross made the announcement Thursday at a signing ceremony. The network is a $46.5 billion public/private partnership with Commerce. Ross said the network will create 10,000 jobs initially and thousands more down the line.

Essentially, FirstNet will have priority use of spectrum whenever it is needed for emergency communications. It was funded through the FCC's AWS-3 wireless spectrum auction. If the AWS-3 auction had not covered it, the money would have had to come out of the broadcast incentive auction.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said AT&T was honored to build the network for first responders that he said would be "second to none."

He said AT&T would spend $40 billion on the network beginning this fall, creating those 10,000 jobs over the next two years. "We're ready to get started," he said, and thanked Ross for the opportunity. At the contract signing, Stephenson turned to Ross and emphasized AT&T's $40 billion. Ross responded: "$46.5 billion." That $6.5 is the government's contribution via the spectrum auction proceeds.

AT&T also said in a statement on the contract that it will give first responders access to its existing network assets, which the company valued at more than $180 million.

In addition to Ross and Stephenson, among those on hand for the announcement were FCC chairman Ajit Pai and House Energy & Commerce Committee chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.). Walden was a prime mover behind the spectrum auction legislation of which FirstNet was an important part. Ross called him "the godfather" of the FirstNet project, along with Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), former chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Walden thanked staffers David Redl and Ray Baum for their work on the project, and gave shout outs to Communications Subcommittee Chair Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Democrats Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and former House E&C Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who was in the audience, for their work as well.

Walden commended the FirstNet board and execs. He pointed out that as a former small market radio owner, he knew the value of having instant communications. "This is a huge step forward," he said. He also thanked the FCC, particularly under the "able leadership" of Pai.

Blackburn thanked first responders. She said FirstNet would bring safety "to our communities and our streets." She said she was pleased AT&T would be part of the process of building out the network, and showing that government and the private sector can get together to solve problems. She said her subcommittee will be a part of the proces as well.

Pai said the first task of any nation is to keep its people safe, which is difficult in a digital age.

He said he was honored to congratulate FirstNet, calling the signing ceremony a capstone of years of work. He thanked all those in Congress who helped push FirstNet across the finish line. He said FCC was committed to the network, pointing out the FCC had freed up the 20 MHz of spectrum in the 700 M

The announcement followed the FirstNet board's unanimous authorization for FirstNet CEO Mike Poth—or someone he designated—to finalize awarding of the contract, a move that drew the praise of the Competitive Carriers Association, whose members are ready to team up with the winner to help reach the rural areas they serve.

In August, the board approved $6.5 billion in support of the contract—though the network could ultimately cost much more—and in December unveiled a plan for the first three months after the award is granted, which should be kicking in Thursday. 

FirstNet also earlier this month resolved a complaint about the contract-awarding process, paving the way for the award.

"FirstNet today took a major leap forward in delivering a dedicated national network that will give first responders the bandwidth, speed, security, and reliability they clearly need," said Telecommunications Industry Association senior VP Cinnamon Rogers. "We applaud FirstNet for its expeditious work to finalize this decision, and we believe AT&T understands the challenges of this project and has the experience and leadership needed to drive it forward. The two organizations will now begin the vital work of building a network that leads to more efficient public safety communications—and ultimately, saves lives."

WASHINGTON — New Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross plans to announce on Thursday (March 30) the network provider winner of a 25-year, multibillion-dollar contract to team up with the department in a public-private partnership to create the FirstNet interoperable public safety broadband network.

FirstNet is the network recommended by the 9/11 Commission after communications issues with first responders, and which was funded out of FCC spectrum auctions.

"With this innovative public private partnership, a large swath of spectrum will be prioritized and dedicated to first responder communications," the Commerce Department said in a statement about the announcement. "Plus, when there is surplus capacity on the FirstNet network, the network provider can use it for commercial purposes to deliver innovative broadband services and applications for all wireless users."

Essentially, FirstNet will have priority use of the spectrum whenever it is needed for emergency communications.

The news of the announcement follows the FirstNet board's unanimous authorization for FirstNet CEO Mike Poth or someone he designates to finalize awarding of the contract to build and maintain the network, which drew the praise of the Competitive Carriers Association, whose members are ready to team up with the winner to help reach the rural areas they serve.

In August, the board approved $6.5 billion in support of the contract and in December unveiled a plan for the first three months after the award is granted, which should be kicking in Thursday.

FirstNet also worked with the Justice Department to resolve a complaint about the contract-awarding process.

“Upon award, FirstNet will immediately start work on delivering this network to public safety and fulfilling our promise to them," Poth said this week.