FirstNet Authority directs AT&T to bolster wireless coverage for public-safety subscribers by deploying new cell sites, satellite D2D and indoor gear
By Donny Jackson, Editor, Urgent Communications
FirstNet contractor AT&T has been directed to deploy more than 135 new cell sites across the US that are designed to enhance wireless coverage in rural locations to public-subscribers to the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN), according to an announcement from the FirstNet Authority.
Installing these proposed new cell sites represent the latest phase of previously announced buildout plans in 2024 and in 2022 to expand the FirstNet coverage footprint provided by AT&T, which was named as the nationwide FirstNet contractor under a 25-year agreement with the FirstNet Authority that was announced in March 2017. The FirstNet Authority has awarded the task order for the work, and the organization is expected to establish timelines for the deployments soon, according to a FirstNet Authority spokesperson.
Assistant secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and the administrator of NTIA—the federal-government agency that houses the FirstNet Authority— Arielle Roth said the locations of the new cell sites were influenced by feedback from first-responder organizations.
“The Trump administration is working to improve FirstNet to ensure it meets its obligations, delivers measurable results, and truly serves public safety—and that starts with listening to the needs of first responders,” Roth said in a prepared statement. “Today’s announcement underscores FirstNet’s responsibility to deliver nationwide coverage and ensure first responders have the tools they need to save lives.”
Acting chair of the FirstNet Authority Board, Sheriff Michael Adkinson echoed this sentiment.
“Expanding coverage is public safety’s top priority for FirstNet,” Adkinson said in a prepared statement. “With these investments, we are acting on public safety’s input by expanding the network to reach high-priority areas that are essential to emergency response.”
In addition to the new terrestrial cell sites, the announced coverage enhancement includes funding for satellite-direct-to-device services that promise to deliver FirstNet connectivity to public-safety subscribers in almost all outdoor locations. This complements an initiative that has resulted in more than 14,000 small cells bolstering FirstNet coverage inside public-safety facilities at no cost to the agency.
FirstNet Authority CEO and Executive Director Michael Cannon stressed the importance of leveraging these different technological approaches in delivering comprehensive wireless connectivity when and where public safety needs it.
“Public safety has told us where more coverage would make the biggest difference for their network,” Cannon said in a prepared statement. “We’re turning that feedback into action with new cell sites, satellite capabilities, and stronger indoor coverage on FirstNet. This reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering coverage and capacity where first responders need it most.”
AT&T completed the initial five-year nationwide buildout of the NPSBN on the 20 MHz of 700 MHz frequencies—now known as Band 14—licensed to the FirstNet Authority on time in 2023, resulting the carrier giant receiving $6.5 billion in federal-government proceeds generated from FCC auctions of spectrum. The FirstNet Authority currently does not receive any direct financial support from the federal government.
Under the terms of the 25-year contract, the FirstNet Authority’s current lone source of revenue comes from money paid by AT&T for the right to provide commercial services on the 700 MHz Band 14 spectrum—when the airwaves are not used by public safety. AT&T is obligated to make a total of $18 billion in these payments during the length of the 25-year agreement. Of this $18 billion, less than $3 billion is expected to pay for FirstNet Authority operations, and the rest of money must be reinvested into the NPSBN.
President of AT&T’s FirstNet unit, Scott Agnew said the recent coverage-enhancement announcement exemplifies how the contractual arrangement is designed to benefit public-safety users of FirstNet.
“Our public-private partnership with the FirstNet Authority ensures we are innovating with and for first responders as we continue to build out America’s public-safety network,” Agnew said in a prepared statement provided to IWCE’s Urgent Communications.
“Public safety deserves the best connectivity experience, whenever and wherever they are. From growing the terrestrial network to delivering public safety-grade satellite connectivity to furthering in-building coverage, we are creating a multi-layered network that is tailored to their needs.
In October, AT&T reported that the FirstNet NPSBN provides more than 7.8 million connections to 30,600 public-safety agencies.
