New Hampshire Public Safety Agencies Make the Case for Improved Broadband

FirstNet Is Expanding Its Coverage

The FirstNet Authority works with public safety to identify potential areas for network coverage. This includes conducting a series of coverage enhancement workshops across the country to share this information and collect additional feedback, ensuring public safety’s input is reflected in future coverage build-outs. 

These collaborative sessions are designed to facilitate discussions among public safety agencies, the FirstNet Authority and AT&T about where network coverage improvements are most needed and why. Public safety leaders can use the workshops as a chance to help the FirstNet Authority identify high-priority areas, which are then factored into investment decisions. 

For example, FirstNet recently announced 1,000 new cell sites nationwide. 

“We have worked closely with first responders to ensure the network delivers reliable, resilient coverage wherever their mission takes them," FirstNet Authority Executive Director and CEO Joe Wassel said in an AT&T press release.

The goal of the coverage enhancement workshops is to maximize the benefit of investment dollars and ensure that coverage is enhanced and improved in the most critical areas. 

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Building Out Coverage in New Hampshire: A Use Case

New Hampshire recently became the first state to host one of these coverage enhancement workshops. Participants identified areas in the state that need coverage improvements.

John Stevens, the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s statewide interoperability coordinator and the FirstNet state point of contact, helped coordinate the workshop with the FirstNet Authority. “FirstNet has been extremely important to New Hampshire, and we recognized that right from the very beginning,” Stevens says.

Stevens is responsible for coordinating a variety of activities critical to statewide public safety communications, including interoperability, broadband planning and the deployment of FirstNet. The state’s ongoing success with FirstNet encouraged him to host the inaugural Coverage Enhancement Workshop, ensuring that New Hampshire’s public safety needs continue to be addressed as FirstNet evolves. 

“We live in a mountainous, rural state,” Stevens says. “We have communications challenges, both on the LMR side and the LTE side. Creating this partnership with the FirstNet Authority and providing our first responders with the ability to better communicate, that has always been our goal.”

Benefits of FirstNet’s Coverage Enhancement Workshops

During an after-action meeting, Stevens highlighted the key benefits of co-hosting a Coverage Enhancement Workshop with the FirstNet Authority:

1. Learn From Other Public Safety Agencies

The workshop brought leaders together from across the state to discuss coverage needs and operational requirements. 

It was attended by the New Hampshire Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee, which consists of about 40 representatives from police; fire; EMS; emergency management; the New Hampshire National Guard; and other state, county and local agencies. The SIEC provided comprehensive input on interdisciplinary coverage needs and communications challenges across New Hampshire jurisdictions. 

“Any time we can meet with a significant number of the state’s public safety agencies in one room, we always walk away knowing more,” Stevens says. “We talk about how we can do things more efficiently, what is working, what is not working. The time is truly invaluable.” 

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2. Make Your Case for Where and Why Your State Needs Improved Broadband Coverage

Attendees highlighted a range of priorities, from addressing dead spots in urban areas to enhancing coverage along New Hampshire’s northern border with Canada. This region, though sparsely populated, is vital for recreation purposes and for national security, making reliable communication essential. The mountainous geography has also contributed to communication challenges, both with land mobile radio and LTE systems.

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3. Converse Directly With AT&T and the FirstNet Authority About Your State’s Unique Needs

These ongoing workshops strengthen relationships between public safety agencies and the FirstNet Authority, fostering a shared commitment to advancing communications.  

“Having that opportunity to work in cooperation with FirstNet, AT&T and the state of New Hampshire has really been a benefit for all of our first responders,” Stevens says. “I think there's a great opportunity to move the needle forward as far as better communication throughout the state.”

4. Explore FirstNet Solutions That Improve Coverage Immediately

The workshop gave state leaders the opportunity to speak with public safety about their priorities for advancing communications in the state. One of the top priorities identified was improving rural coverage as soon as possible, for the safety of first responders and the public.

Immediately following the workshop, the New Hampshire Department of Safety connected with the FirstNet Authority’s network contractor, AT&T, to explore ways the state can tap into existing FirstNet solutions to improve connectivity immediately.

In less than 60 days following the workshop, AT&T launched a pilot program with the New Hampshire State Police to test FirstNet’s mini Compact Rapid Deployables (miniCRDs) and High-Power User Equipment free of charge. This state-of-the-art technology is extending network coverage along the northern border of the state, a rural area that has historically lacked coverage.

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Since the start of the pilot, the New Hampshire State Police have seen a noticeable improvement in their ability to communicate via LTE over longer distances. The solutions have also provided redundant coverage for the agency’s responders.

“As a former New Hampshire State Police troop commander, my greatest fear was sending troopers into an area where I knew they could not communicate,” Stevens says. “The HPUE testing is very promising in terms of reducing dead spots and increasing troopers’ ability to stay connected when they are operating in remote areas. And the miniCRD provides us with the ability to set up communications very quickly in locations where we can’t reach a tower.”

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How to Enhance FirstNEt Coverage Within Your State

The FirstNet Authority remains dedicated to enhancing the FirstNet network for public safety nationwide. Coverage Enhancement Workshops are conducted by senior public safety advisers and can be hosted in person or virtually. In addition to New Hampshire, the FirstNet Authority has held these workshops in Washington, Nebraska, Minnesota, Tennessee, South Dakota, Pennsylvania and Guam.

Agencies interested in scheduling a workshop are encouraged to contact their FirstNet Authority public safety adviser.