FirstNet, AT&T Release State Plans to U.S. Governors

June 19, 2017

June 20, 2017 —

FirstNet and AT&T provided the states and territories yesterday with individual State Plans, according to a statement released by FirstNet, which include information that will help the governors decide whether their individual state will opt in to the AT&T-designed FirstNet network. If they opt out, the states can use a different vendor and design their own network that is interoperable with FirstNet.

Delivery of the State Plans comes three months ahead of schedule, according to the agency. The network will modernize public safety communications and provide first responders with technologies to help them save lives and protect communities.

The State Plans were released via an online portal. States and territories can spend up to 45 days to review the plans. The states and territories will also have the opportunity to exchange feedback with FirstNet before an official 90-day clock starts for each state or territory governor to make an “opt-in/opt-out” decision on its State Plan.

A governor’s decision to opt-in will open the door for FirstNet and AT&T to immediately begin delivering services to that state or territory’s public safety community. It’s a decision that will also drive infrastructure investments and job creation.

If the governors opt in, FirstNet and AT&T will:

Transfer the financial, operational and technical risks of building, maintaining and upgrading the FirstNet network in the state or territory to AT&T for the next 25 years.
Launch key network features like quality of service and priority access to voice and data across the existing nationwide AT&T LTE network.
Provide preemption over the AT&T LTE network – expected by year-end. This means fire, police and EMS will have dedicated access to the network when they need it.
Deliver feature-rich services at competitive rates for first responders.