For many years, the public-safety community struggled with the many land mobile radio systems being spread out over various portions of the radio spectrum, which resulted in the inability for neighboring agencies to communicate directly with each other when needed. This lack of interoperability led the public-safety community to call for a single, nationwide, public-safety broadband network that would provide full interoperability. This network became a reality in 2012 when Congress passed and the then-President signed a bill to establish this new network and provide some basic funding to start the project.

FirstNet is now operational across the United States, with public safety agencies embracing its high-speed mobile broadband data capabilities to improve emergency response and drive operational efficiencies. Arising from the ashes and anguish of 9/11, FirstNet enables life-saving situational awareness by boosting communications functionality used by emergency responders.