North Carolina chooses to join nationwide first responder network

North Carolina chooses to participate in FirstNet, a nationwide network for first responders that is being built by AT&T.

“We must do all we can to make sure North Carolina is ready to respond to emergencies and keep the public safe,” Governor Cooper said in the announcement on Wednesday. “Communication is key in times of crisis and this technology can help strengthen public safety by keeping our first responders connected.”

FirstNet is an independent government authority based in Virginia that was established in 2012 by Congress. According to its website, the mission is to build and deploy the first-ever nationwide broadband network dedicated to first responders.

AT&T won the contract to build the first responder network earlier this year. Verizon countered in August, saying it would build a rival network.

“First responders deserve a state of the art communications system, and we believe this is the first step toward building that system,” said Eric Boyette, Secretary of the Department of Information Technology and State Chief Information Officer, in the announcement. “DIT has worked with public safety and IT professionals since 2014 to make sure that the people of North Carolina get the service they deserve. Ultimately, we will all be safer once this network is in place.”

North Carolina reviewed network options from other providers, according to the announcement. There is no cost to the state.

“Gov. Cooper and his staff have been extremely thorough and thoughtful in evaluating North Carolina’s participation in this nationwide public safety broadband network,” said Venessa Harrison, president of AT&T North Carolina. “We appreciate and understand their diligence, for it matches our commitment to delivering this first-of-its-kind communications solution. We are honored to bring the FirstNet network to North Carolina and connect its public safety community to the life-saving technologies they, and our residents, deserve.”

Through its contract with FirstNet, AT&T gained access to FirstNet’s 20 MHz of 700 MHz low-band spectrum and has the right to sell excess capacity on the system.

AT&T has said it will invest $40 billion to build the network.

The telecommunications giant will receive some $6.5 billion in federal funding.

North Carolina thus becomes the 30th state along with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to opt in to FirstNet.

According to the FirstNet website, signing on earlier were: