First responders across Oneida County are benefiting from an expansion of the FirstNet AT&T network that provides dedicated mobile broadband for public-safety agencies and organizations.

As part of the expansion project, AT&T installed new purpose-built cell sites in Rome and near Hinckley Reservoir on the Herkimer County border. The new sites provide always-on priority and preemption across voice and data for public safety.

AT&T also added a number of new cell sites across Oneida County to enhance mobile broadband coverage to give both residents and first responders faster, more reliable wireless service. The new sites serve Griffiss Business & Technology Park and Griffiss International Airport, Utica University, St. Luke’s Hospital, the Utica Business Park, Notre Dame Junior and Senior High School, the Oneida County office building, downtown Utica, East Utica, and North Utica.

“The FirstNet network has made Oneida County a safer place,” Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. said in a statement. “Our partnership with AT&T has provided our first responders with fast and reliable communication that makes all the difference in serving the public and saving lives. We are also thankful for the immense investment they have made to improve the county’s mobile coverage and to bridge the digital divide for our residents.”

The City of Rome, along with the Rome police, fire, and public works departments, have all adopted FirstNet for all communications.

Rome Mayor Jacqueline M. Izzo noted the service has greatly enhanced public-safety operations in the city. “With always-on priority, preemption, and dedicated coverage, our first responders have access to a better, faster communications network that is essential in a time of crisis,” she said. “AT&T’s push-to-talk service has become a vital part of our operations, especially when our first responders may be outside of traditional cell coverage areas or public safety radio tower signals have a difficult time transmitting a signal.” This is especially important in areas where concrete block buildings may block signal transmissions, she added.

FirstNet uses Band 14 spectrum which is set aside by the federal government for FirstNet use. The First Responder Network Authority, an independent agency within the federal government, formed following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Radios used by police, fire, and other first responders did not easily operate across different agencies, according to FirstNet Authority, and both land and mobile phone lines were overwhelmed by the high volume of calls. The Band 14 spectrum that FirstNet uses can be locked out in emergencies, meaning only public safety organizations can access it. Launched in 2018, FirstNet is built through a private-public partnership between FirstNet and AT&T.

“FirstNet is a dedicated broadband platform for public safety, by public safety,” FirstNet Authority Acting CEO Lisa Casias said. “We worked hand-in-hand with public safety throughout New York to understand their needs for the network. This new infrastructure is a prime example of how that input and feedback are becoming a reality. We look forward to continue supporting Rome and Oneida County first responders’ use of FirstNet to help them save lives and protect our communities.”

The always-on and preemption services protect first responders from network congestion by giving them a dedicated network. The service also provides public-safety-centric applications, additional network assets deployable during remote situations, planned events, or urgent crises as well as access to public safety health and wellness tools and resources. 

 Since 2020, AT&T has built and launched more than 15 new cell sites in Oneida County, and more than five of those are purpose-built sites. These infrastructure improvements boost overall coverage for AT&T customers in the area, not just those on FirstNet.