FirstNet, a wireless communication network for first responders, recently announced its expansion across Pennsylvania.
In Huntingdon County, a new site will provide coverage around Broad Top City and along SR-913 and Broad Street; a new site in Lycoming County in Barbours will service Route 87 throughout the area, and a new site in Forksville in Sullivan County will enhance coverage along East Bear Mountain Road and Route 154 and surrounding areas.
“Pennsylvania’s first responders deserve reliable coverage across the state to help them effectively and efficiently address incidents. And with FirstNet, that’s exactly what they’re getting,” David Kerr, AT&T Pennsylvania president, said. “We couldn’t be more pleased to support the public safety mission and bring the state’s first responders – and residents – greater access to the connectivity they need. Working with public safety, we’ve made FirstNet nimble, adaptable, and ready to scale for even the most severe situations as we’re seeing currently with COVID-19.”
FirstNet is a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority and AT&T.
The new sites use Band 14, the spectrum the government reserved for FirstNet. The sites also use AT&T’s commercial spectrum.
Gov. Tom Wolf opted into FirstNet in November 2017.
AT&T announced a purpose-built site in Clinton County in December 2019.