By Scott Agnew
President, FirstNet Program at AT&T
The Palisades and Eaton wildfires are some of the most destructive fires in California’s history and more fires continue to burn across the West. And it is in the face of disaster that we come together as a community. I was awed by the first responders on the ground and the people who support their critical missions. It was truly inspiring to see the immense work underway to contain the wildfires, stabilize the area, begin debris removal and start the rebuild process.
Collaborative efforts and mutual aid
Dozens of agencies are working together, from local departments and federal teams to international first responders providing mutual aid. And as public safety’s partner, the FirstNet® team – in collaboration with local AT&T teams and AT&T Network Disaster Recovery – have been on the ground since day 1 to support this vital community, bringing reliable connectivity to the area:
- So far, public safety has made more than 20 requests for emergency support, and the FirstNet Response Operations Group™ (ROG) has deployable cell sites on the ground, such as Satellite Cell on Light Trucks (SatCOLTs), dedicated solely for first responder communications.
- The team has also tapped into deployable assets from the AT&T fleet, such as AT&T Super Cell on Wheels (COWs), which provide 10x the capacity of a normal antenna. These assets are supporting public safety’s beachfront incident command posts.
- Agency-owned mobile FirstNet® cell sites continue to be a true game changer for emergency response. CalFire has deployed their own FirstNet Compact Rapid Deployables (CRDs) in the Los Angeles area to provide added, reliable coverage on-the-go. These assets can be set up in minutes by just one person, giving first responders greater command and control of their own network.
- FirstNet Emergency Response Kits, which equip agencies with a cache of 20+ FirstNet Ready® devices in a protective case to simultaneously recharge and immediately disperse, have been invaluable to mutual-aid first responders on the front lines.
- In addition, FirstNet continues to provide first responders with always-on 5G priority and preemption across the L.A. area. The macro network is reliably connecting first responders at a major incident command post in the heart of Pasadena.
Nationwide commitment to public safety
The dedication exemplified by the public safety community in Southern California is also seen across our nation. And as public safety’s network, FirstNet, Built with AT&T has a commitment like no other – serving all 50 states, 5 territories and D.C. with unprecedented accountability to the federal government. While our teams have been on the ground in Southern California, we’ve also had assets deployed for public safety during the Presidential Inauguration and in the northernmost reaches of Alaska due to undersea fiber cuts. We go where public safety goes, supporting their unique mission needs. Our partnership with public safety makes this possible – the work we can achieve together is greater than alone.
It is an honor to support the men and women who run toward danger to protect our families, friends and loved ones. The road to recovery will be long, and our work isn’t done. The FirstNet team will be by public safety’s side every step of the way, and we will continue to make advancements to support public safety’s mission needs – including exploring new form factors for deployable network assets, satellite connectivity solutions and investments in mission-critical services. Thank you for your service.