Iowa joins enhanced emergency network

DES MOINES - Law enforcement, fire and first-response agencies soon will have access to an enhanced communications network that would give them priority during emergencies under a commitment signed Tuesday by Gov. Kim Reynolds making Iowa the fifth state to join the system.

By agreeing to 'opt in” to the FirstNet and AT&T plan, Iowa agencies can contract for advanced, high-speed cellular service that provides emergency officials with priority access via existing mobile radios, smartphones or other devices to communicate with one another in real time during crises.

'The FirstNet network will not only strengthen and modernize public safety communications in our state, but also bring much needed investment to our communications infrastructure,” Reynolds said at her weekly news conference, where she signed the commitment. Local governments will decide whether they want to opt into the network, she said.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner said FirstNet has the potential to be a valuable tool for law enforcement and first responders, particularly at times of major emergencies or disasters. He mentioned scenarios such as the aftermath of a tornado when a large number of people could be using their cellphones to communicate.

'When there's a large- scale emergency, one of the first things to go down is your cellphone towers because they get overburdened,” Gardner said.

With FirstNet, first responders won't lose the ability to communicate with outside agencies or others who might not be on the radio network. 'We'll have a secure network just for us,” he said.

Building on AT&T's Iowa footprint that was enhanced with nearly $150 million in recent investments, FirstNet will be able to expand coverage for first responders, which also will help expand coverage for rural Iowans, Reynolds added, 'providing access to a reliable, high-speed wireless connection in areas with little or no connectivity today.”

Until now, the governor said, first responders have used more than 10,000 networks to communicate, which has created issues during emergencies. First responders also have had to compete with consumers trying to access the same cellular network. 

With FirstNet, Iowa's first responders will have special SIM cards for their smartphones, putting them first on the network to connect and stay connected.

The system also will provide interoperability, allowing first responders from different agencies, jurisdictions or even over state lines to talk to one another, Reynold said.

FirstNet will help bring broadband 4G LTE to both citizens and public safety users in rural areas, helping erase the 'digital divide” between the technologies available to urban versus rural areas, officials noted.

Iowa incurs no risk, responsibility or cost for the FirstNet network and makes no commitment with this opt-in. FirstNet and AT&T will deploy, operate, maintain and improve the FirstNet network in Iowa and assume all responsibility for capital expenditures, operating costs and other costs, such as staffing, training, integration, environmental compliance and program management for the next 25 years, according to a news release.

FirstNet officials said full network deployment will take place over the next five years, but Iowa agencies will be able to access to prioritized network with pre-emption capabilities by the end of the year.

Lee Hermiston of The Gazette contributed to this report.

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