Each fall for the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to visit several rural communities to highlight the investments we’re making to give our first responders and the communities they serve the wireless coverage they need – especially when seconds count.   

I’ve visited Mansfield in Tioga County; Hooversville in Somerset County; Shade Gap in Huntingdon County; Drums in Luzerne County, and Hyndman in Bedford County to name a few.

My most recent visit was to the Lock Haven area in Clinton County to announce a new purpose-built, 5G cell site. We built this site as a direct result of public safety feedback, boosting wireless connectivity for first responders on FirstNet®, America’s public safety network. The site was built as part of AT&T and the federal government’s ongoing work to expand the FirstNet network where first responders need it most.

We assembled at the Dunnstown Volunteer Fire Department to announce the site that is near Nittany Road about a mile and a half from the fire station. It was great to see many local, state and federal officials who joined us for the announcement and spent time learning more about FirstNet.

Through our partnership with the FirstNet Authority, we’re expanding connectivity where first responders need it most and helping deliver the reliable communications they depend on every day. It’s another example of how FirstNet continues to grow alongside the community it was built to serve.

Created by the U.S. Congress after 9/11 and built with AT&T in public-private partnership with the federal government, FirstNet is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for public safety.

Allen Proithis, a FirstNet Authority Board member, joined us for the event and told us:

“FirstNet was designed to meet the needs of all first responders, including those in rural communities like Lock Haven. This new FirstNet site strengthens coverage and gives first responders the connectivity they need to coordinate during emergencies and serve residents when it matters most.”

This new cell site is one of over 350 new sites to be deployed across every state as part of a series of strategic investments. The FirstNet Authority, in collaboration with AT&T, is identifying locations for these sites using data modeling and feedback gathered directly from public safety through local coverage enhancement workshops and other engagements, including events like the one in Lock Haven.

As public safety’s partner, AT&T has already grown FirstNet to cover more first responders than any network nationwide.

FirstNet provides unique benefits to first responders like always-on priority and preemption across all AT&T commercial spectrum bands, as well as public safety’s Band 14 – which is like a VIP lane for first responders.

Overseen by the federal government, FirstNet is designed to meet public safety’s needs and continually evolves based on their feedback. Unlike commercial networks, FirstNet is built from the ground up with and for public safety to deliver purpose-built solutions when every moment counts.

In addition to supporting the area’s first responders, this new cell site will also enhance the network experience for AT&T wireless customers in the area, which is part of the Pennsylvania Wilds. 

Go here to learn more about how AT&T is supporting Pennsylvania. For more about the value FirstNet is bringing to public safety, check out FirstNet.com.

It was another great fall day in Pennsylvania. And our entire team at AT&T will continue to do our part to build where public safety needs us most.