A reliable communication network has always been, and continues to be critical to the Public Safety Community in Kentucky, essential for prompt response to everyday emergencies within the Commonwealth. Today, access to one nationwide interoperable broadband network is vital for coordination of emergency response to terrorist attacks or natural disasters extending beyond local jurisdiction and state boundaries.
First Responders deserve the best broadband network, reliable and resilient to effectively perform their life saving mission. The network must be public safety grade, prioritized and hardened to assure reliability in times of severe weather, and natural or terrorist disaster. Sufficient capacity is important during emergencies, as well as for special events when wireless traffic is concentrated in specific areas. The FirstNet Authority cites the example of two weeks before the Kentucky Derby Kentucky, where half a million people occupy one square mile for “Thunder Over Louisville”. The network will require robust mobile capacity as well as enhanced coverage.
FirstNet’s guiding principle is to establish a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network dedicated for first responders. The objective of this integrated network is to improve communication during mutual aid calls and provide the latest communication technologies. The network will carry high-speed data, location information, images, and eventually streaming video, ensure interoperability among first responders, and take advantage of vendor competition and economies of scale to drive down costs to offer a dedicated public safety service at an attractive rate. FirstNet will create a single nationwide platform for public safety communications.