FirstNet: Our Nation’s Public Safety Network
Brent Williams, Paramedic
Senior EMS Advisor
September 17, 2019
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The FirstNet Journey
2001
9/11 attacks
Radio communication
challenges affect first
responders
2004
9/11 Commission
• Recommends
national radio
spectrum for public
safety purposes
• Public safety unites
to advocate for
nationwide
broadband network
2012
The First Responder
Network Authority
Independent agency
to deploy Nationwide
Public Safety Broadband
Network
2016-17
Partnership and
State Plans
• Network RFP
released
• Award to AT&T
• Delivery of 56
state/territory plans
• 56 Governors Opt-In
decisions
2012-16
Outreach and
Consultation
• Governors identify
FirstNet single points
of contact
• Consultation in all 56
states/territories
• FirstNet works with
states to collect and
validate users and
coverage data
2018-beyond
Advancing the
FirstNet Experience
• Engage and
collaborate with public
safety and industry
• Develop and promote
Public Safety
Communications
roadmap
• Invest in the network
What is FirstNet?
Established in 2012 by Congressional Act
Federal Agency, Part of NTIA, U S Dept of Commerce
Mission: to establish, operate, and maintain an interoperable public
safety broadband network
Resources: $7 billion and 20 MHz of spectrum for an LTE network
9/9/2019 4
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An Innovative Public-Private Partnership
• Partner oversight
and support
• Public safety advocate
• Technical expertise
• Innovation strategy
and investment
• Nationwide core
• RAN build-out
• Adoption and customer
care (24x7x365)
• Security operations center
• Mission-critical services
• App and device
ecosystems
First Responder
Network Authority
AT&T
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QPP (aka “First Priority”)
• Quality of Service (QoS): Minimum/maximum service quality parameters
• Priority: Gives preferred access to network resources
• True Preemption: Terminates/relocates non-primary/commercial users so
high-priority users have access
Presentation title here—edit on Slide Master
Dedicated FirstNet Public Safety Core
• FirstNet Core available March 2018
o Check with an AT&T FirstNet specialist
for service availability dates in your area.
• Based on standardized Evolved Packet Core
(EPC) and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
• FirstNet Core to provide:
o Basic network services
o QoS, priority and preemption across
ALL AT&T LTE bands
o Enabled secure access to private/public
networks, PSEN/PSAP, enterprise and
cloud applications
o Enables RAN sharing between Band 14
and AT&T commercial bands (MOCN)
o Will support future services for Public
Safety (Mission Critical, LBS)
o Encryption from end-to-end
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State Plans and Governors’ Decisions
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50 states, 5 territories, District of Columbia
Focus in 2019
• Expanding FirstNet
• Driving innovation
• Public safety engagement
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Strategy: Aligning and Guiding Our Efforts for Public Safety
• Guides our actions now through 2022 so we’re aligned/able to meet
our mission for public safety
• Metrics-based so we can validate we’re meeting our goals
• Living document gives direction and structure, while encouraging
growth, change, and collaboration
MISSION
We are a catalyst for advancing the nationwide public safety broadband
network
VISION
Create a dedicated and differentiated broadband communications experience
that transforms public safety operations to save lives
STRATEGIC GOAL
Deploy, maintain, and operate a nationwide public safety broadband network
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Vision to Reality: A Catalyst for Public Safety Communications
VISION: Create a dedicated and differentiated broadband communications experience
that transforms public safety operations to save lives
PUBLIC SAFETY’S NEEDS ROADMAP INVESTMENT
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First Responder Network Authority Roadmap Overview
The Roadmap
expresses how the
FirstNet Authority
will work to
advance the
FirstNet network
over a multiyear
horizon.
Identifies the priorities that will guide investments and
other opportunities based on FirstNet Authority analysis
Provides a technology framework to understand all of
the components and capabilities of the FirstNet
Experience
Incorporates analysis of industry trends and drivers as
well as AT&T’s roadmap for the Network
Reflects public safety’s feedback and needs based on
a multitude of Roadmap engagements with the public
safety community
Presentation title here—edit on Slide Master
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First Responder Network Authority Roadmap Domains
Voice Communications
• Mission Critical Push-to-talk (MCPTT)
• PTT Interconnection
User Experience
• Priority Services
• Applications
• Devices
• Accessories
Situational Awareness
• Location Services
• Sensors
• Wearables
• Cameras/Video
Secure Information Exchange
• Data Access
• Data Sharing
Coverage & Capacity
• Macro Coverage
• Capacity
• In-building Solutions
• Temporary/On-Demand
Coverage
• Range Extension
• Device-to-Device
• Air-to-Ground
• Maritime Operations
• Availability/Reliability/
Resiliency/Hardening
• Mapping/Geographic Information
System (GIS)
• Data Analytics/Artificial Intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Identity, Credential and Access
Management (ICAM)/Single Sign-
On
• Hands Free Operations
• Augmented Virtual Reality
• Heads-Up Display
Core
• EPC
• IMS Core
• Services Platforms
• App Servers
• Service Enablers
Presentation title here—edit on Slide Master
Roadmap Content Release
Infographic FAQs FirstNet Authority Roadmap
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Available at FirstNet.gov/Roadmap
FirstNet and EMS
• Real Time two way video from patient/EMS Scene to a hospital/physician
• Transmission, in real time and continuously, all of the data provided by a typical “12-
lead monitor” (rhythm strip, vital signs, SPO2, CO2 levels, etc.)
• Supporting all of the communication needs of new Community Paramedicine
programs.
• Far better “Situational Awareness” including all public safety assets at a scene.
• Medical Imaging to aid in evaluation and diagnosis. Essentially creating a “Smart
Ambulance” that can gather diagnostic data for transmission to a higher level of care
for reading and evaluation. This can include ultrasound for trauma patients; Even
something that requires huge amounts of data to be transmitted…such as CT Scans….
9/9/2019
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Happening today!
9/9/2019
This slide does not constitute an endorsement by FirstNet Authority of any product or service, organization or company.
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POCUS
• Point-of-care ultrasonography, or POCUS, has evolved over the last 20 years to
become a mainstay of emergency department diagnosis and treatment.
Whether assessing obstetric patients, visualizing abdominal bleeding, or
guiding invasive procedures, the practice of emergency medicine continues to
find new, innovative applications for this technology.
• A more recent development, however, is the migration of POCUS from the
emergency department into the prehospital setting. While as of 2014 North
American EMS agencies had an ultrasound adoption rate of only 4%,
2
there
are indications that many progressive EMS agencies are rapidly coming to use
POCUS as part of their standard practice. This change has been so rapid that
just this year, the nation’s first university-level POCUS course designed
specifically for prehospital providers debuted at the Virginia Commonwealth
University School of Medicine.
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• EMS World Magazine Aug 1, 2018, “Differentiating Shock”
Ultrasound in the field
9/9/2019
App and devices
available now,
that allow for
capture and
transmission of
live, moving
ultrasound
images, and
two way voice
communication.
This slide does not constitute an endorsement by FirstNet Authority of any product or service, organization or company
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“Blue Tooth Breath Sounds”
9/9/2019
New “Electronic” Stethoscopes allow
for BlueTooth transmission of sounds
via FirstNet connectivity for expert evaluation
This slide does not constitute an endorsement by FirstNet Authority of any product or service, organization or company.
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Virtual Medication Cross Check
•Cross checking of medications prior to
administration is becoming the norm.
•Rather than seek out an in-person crew member to
verify the medication, Use a video link to perform
that function remotely.
9/9/2019
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EMS reimbursement changes
•Announced Feb 14, 2019 by DHHS “Innovation Center”
•New payment model called ET-3
•A model program, that will solicit agreements with up
to 40 entities in each of three rounds
•Applications to be sought in Fall 2019
•Start date planned for Jan 2020
New CMS (Medicare) payment model
Under the ET3 model, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) will pay
participating ambulance suppliers and
providers to:
• 1) transport an individual to a hospital emergency department (ED) or
other destination covered under the regulations
• 2) transport to an alternative destination (such as a primary care doctor’s
office or an urgent care clinic)
• 3) provide treatment in place with a qualified health care practitioner,
either on the scene or connected
using telehealth.
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Advancing the FirstNet Experience
Engage public safety
entities and associations,
PSAC, industry, and
government to understand
their trends, drivers, and
priorities
Develop and promote
public safety broadband
communications roadmaps
that reflect the voice of
public safety
Collaborate with public
safety to realize the
operational benefit of the
FirstNet Experience
Invest in the network
to further a
differentiated FirstNet
Experience
Presentation title here—edit on Slide Master
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Onboarding Process
Enterprise/Agency Paid
Agency POC works with designated
AT&T FirstNet marketing/sales
representative to establish and
manage account
Subscriber Paid
Individual works with designated AT&T FirstNet
sales representative/retail store to establish and
manage account
Public Safety
Agency/Organization
Agency Pre-Validation
Agency establishes itself with AT&T
FirstNet and authorizes users via a
Foundation Account Number to do
subscriber paid
User Credentials
Individual presents credentials and proof
of eligible agency; AT&T 3
rd
party
verification provider vets users
Agency Validated
SheerID works with user’s agency who
assumes responsibility for auditing
eligible users long-term
Non-Agency Validated
User’s agency not interested in
managing users; SheerID
assumes responsibility for auditing
eligible users long-term
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FirstNet by the Numbers
