Public Safety First, a FirstNet Authority Podcast

Apr 15 2024 95
Public Safety First, a FirstNet Authority Podcast artwork

The “Public Safety First” podcast gives first responders and other public safety professionals a front-row seat and invites them to join the discussion about FirstNet, America’s first nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. Hosted by Dave Buchanan, Director of the First Responder Network Authority’s Advocacy Team, the podcast features first responders, industry leaders, experts in the field, and others in the public safety technology ecosystem.

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Episode 75: Voices From The Field National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2024

Apr 15 2024 9 mins  
Emergency telecommunicators are the critical link between first responders and the larger community. They are the voice of calm on someone’s worst day. In honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, Maui County Emergency Services Dispatch Coordinator Davlynn Racadio reflects on her 36-year career as a dispatcher and celebrates the exceptional work telecommunicators do

Episode 74: Push - To - Talk Brings Simplicity, Interoperability To Texas Sheriff’s Office

Mar 19 2024 20 mins  
The Kleberg County Sheriff’s Office in Texas is revolutionizing their approach to law enforcement communication with broadband technology designed to enhance real-time connectivity and response. Sheriff Richard Kirkpatrick shares his department's journey from traditional radio systems to the advanced functionalities of FirstNet's Push-to-Talk feature, which now bolsters communica

Episode 73: Lost in the Mountains of Michigan: FirstNet's essential role in search and rescue

Aug 07 2023 12 mins  
When an eight-year-old boy went missing in Michigan's sprawling Porcupine Mountains, an extensive search and rescue operation was initiated. Darian Reed, President of Superior Search and Rescue, discovered that broadband and data service support from FirstNet was pivotal in successfully and safely recovering the child.

Episode 72: University Of Virginia Enhances Patient Care With FirstNet

Jul 26 2023 14 mins  
The University of Virginia (UVA) Health system uses nearly 4,000 mobile devices, powered by FirstNet, to enhance care for patients. The leader of UVA Health’s Mobile Device Technologies program, Anthony Thompson, discusses the impact of FirstNet in healthcare and how it’s supporting telemedicine capabilities, translation services, and rural healthcare.

Episode 71: Emergency Planning for Natural Disasters: Redefining Readiness in Macon-Bibb, Georgia

Jul 11 2023 16 mins  
Macon Bibb County, Georgia is redefining they way it prepares for disasters and major events each day. Spencer Hawkins, Emergency Management Director for the Macon-Bibb County government discusses the county’s plans for facing all types of issues including hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and other major weather events. The Emergency Management team also works tirelessly to ensur

Episode 70: Fighting wildfires in Southern Texas with FirstNet

May 08 2023 9 mins  
When a rural fire in Brooks County, Texas engulfed 6,500 acres of land, the Falfurrias Fire Department faced significant communication and coordination challenges due to the remote location of the fire. FirstNet provided a solution to this problem with the deployment of a SatCOLT, a vehicle with its own cell site non-reliant on commercial power supplies, that provided crucial conne

Episode 69: FirstNet goes to school: Keeping Maryland students safe with public safety broadband

Mar 20 2023 15 mins  
In Charles County, Maryland, the school district has adopted FirstNet’s secure and dependable network to ensure communication during emergency and day-to-day situations. The school district has also integrated the use of drones into their school security plans, enhancing situational awareness for responders so they can more efficiently respond to emergencies.

Episode 68: Getting ahead of the game: Pre-planning for Super Bowl LVII

Mar 14 2023 22 mins  
The Super Bowl — America’s largest sporting event — requires significant pre-planning to ensure the safety of players, staff, and spectators. Coordinating public safety communications for Super Bowl LVII involved more than a dozen different cities and jurisdictions and posed unique challenges, including overlap with another major sporting event the same week. Through the Firs

Episode 67: Connecting the Community: Bringing Broadband to Rural Pennsylvania

Jan 16 2023 14 mins  
Broadband infrastructure remains limited in rural communities, making it difficult for local public safety to stay connected and respond quickly to emergencies. In Shade Gap, Pennsylvania, this has meant dropped 9-1-1 calls and significant communications challenges for the mountainous area. With the launch of a new FirstNet cell site in Shade Gap, local first responders now have ac

Episode 66: Oxford Police leverages compact rapid deployable to boost emergency comms in Alabama

Nov 07 2022 13 mins  
The Oxford Police Department is the first public safety agency in Alabama to obtain a FirstNet compact rapid deployable, a miniature cell tower that generates cellular and wi-fi coverage quickly, efficiently, and wherever it’s needed. This advanced technology acts as a solution for challenges that first responders face when trying to stay connected during emergencies, in more rur