​Wireless broadband provides high-speed data communications in a mobile environment. Because of public safety’s unique mission, public safety responders require wireless broadband services and devices with prioritized access and the highest levels of reliability, coverage, and security.

About our program

Public Safety communications are changing. First responders and other emergency personnel are becoming more reliant on data to protect life and property. In the past ten years alone, public safety has seen a proliferation of wireless broadband adoption and a tremendous increase in software, devices, and information available to make their operations more effective and efficient. 

The Wireless Broadband Program aims to leverage these existing and future capabilities to benefit emergency communications and guide statewide initiatives to make public safety data communication ubiquitous, efficient, and interoperable. Our goal is to enable emergency response personnel to access the right information at the right time and wherever it is needed.   

Broadband networks

Broadband service provider selection happens at the agency and individual levels.  Each entity has a unique set of needs and different priorities for each.  Cost, coverage, capacity, devices, reliability, and customer service are among the primary attributes to consider when selecting a provider. 

At the same time, the commercial broadband provider landscape is changing dramatically as carriers aggressively build out future capabilities and grow their coverage across the state.  FirstNet began providing unique capabilities tailored to the public safety community in 2016, and other carriers have since announced specialized offerings. This heightened interest in public safety business is good for our stakeholder community. Because of the federal investment in FirstNet, we recommend that stakeholders consider FirstNet offerings; however, we are carrier agnostic and encourage individuals and agencies to do independent due diligence to make the right decisions for themselves.