Advances in Disaster Communications: Broadband Systems for First Responders

First responders depend upon reliable communications to function effectively. During the past eight decades, their communications needs have expanded from simple two-way voice radios to highly integrated voice and data transmissions that allow not only command messages to be transmitted, but also data and images to be shared. These days, the need for data at the site of a disaster requires responders to be able to access broadband networks that are connected to the internet. Simultaneously, the communications of the general public have evolved from the utilization of individual landlines to the ubiquitous smart phones of today. The broadband communications needs of first responders and the general public utilize the same broadband networks. Hence, when a disaster occurs, these broadband networks become overloaded and communications and access become unreliable. To rectify this problem for first responders, a dedicated First Responder Network, FirstNet, has been created as a public-private partnership that will allow priority access for first responders at a disaster scene. In this article, I begin by outlining the evolution of communications technology that led to the development of FirstNet. I then describe the political process that supported the establishment of FirstNet, the implementation of this public-private partnership, and the awarding of the FirstNet contract to a consortium led by AT&T. I highlight complementary technologies to those used in FirstNet and illustrate how they may be used in concert with FirstNet’s LTE network to further extend communications opportunities for first responders. I conclude with a discussion of some possible enhancements to the LTE technology chosen by FirstNet to further expand its capabilities and usefulness.