Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the appointment of Renee Gordon, Director of the City of Alexandria’s Department of Emergency Communications, to serve on the Board of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority). Gordon will serve as one of 12 non-permanent members selected by the Department of Commerce. Three permanent seats are occupied by the Attorney...

University of the Basque Country broadens first responder app market and simplifies device certification process. Smartphones, mobile apps and strong network connections have become so ubiquitous that it’s easy to take for granted the technological progress that makes those features possible. While everyday users enjoy ample choices in the mobile app store and rarely question their broadband...

By Chief Richard Carrizzo, Fire Chief for the Southern Platte Fire Protection District (Missouri) and Vice Chair of the First Responder Network Authority Board First responders are at the core of our communities. Emergency medical officials treat those in pain. Firefighters carry victims to safety. Emergency managers marshal resources. 9-1-1 call takers field distress calls day and night. Law...

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month and pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society and are making an impact at the Department of Commerce and on behalf of all American communities. During this month, the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National...

By Stephen Benjamin, Chair of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) September marks the 21 st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. It is also National Preparedness Month , which raises awareness about the need to be ready for any and all emergencies. Both serve as poignant reminders that disasters and emergencies can happen at any time, without precedent, and that we must do our...

Flooding affects every region differently, but it poses a threat to every state, from coast to coast. Floods can occur due to high tides in coastal areas, heavy rain, overflowing rivers, or storm surge associated with hurricanes and tropical storms. Floods are dangerous and costly. In 2021, U.S. flood fatalities reached 145 and over the past 40 years, flooding has cost about $4 billion per year in...

Urban and rural network models could tell us how first responders get critical information Push-to-Talk (PTT) radios are first responders’ primary means of communication in an emergency. These two-way radios rely on Land Mobile Radio (LMR) networks to carry signals. PTT radios and LMR networks are reliable and secure, and fire, police, and other emergency response teams know these systems well...

Jeremy Zollo, Chief Market Engagement Officer, First Responder Network Authority Every hurricane season, first responders face great challenges as they protect their communities during these storms. The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) remains committed to ensuring responders have the tools they need to face these storms. From support offered by the FirstNet Authority to...

By U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo The Department of Commerce has one overarching goal: To improve America’s economic competitiveness so that our workers and our companies succeed in the global economy. And Women’s History Month is a great time to showcase the achievements of women scientists, entrepreneurs, inventors, educators, and many others who have contributed to that goal and...

By Lisa Casias, Deputy CEO , the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Working with strong female leaders has been a highlight of my career at the U.S. Department of Commerce . I’ve been enriched personally and professionally by the unique perspectives and experiences of these women. At the FirstNet Authority, we are privileged to be led by many women who bring ingenuity...