02/01/2018

New Technologies Expand Capabilities to Better Serve Noblesville

The City of Noblesville has become the first in Indiana to subscribe its public safety departments to FirstNet – a new lifesaving communications platform. With this move, all of the city’s police, fire and EMS personnel have access to advanced technologies that will help them keep themselves and those they serve in Noblesville safer.

“We are proud to be the anchor tenant in Indiana and one of the first cities nationwide for this cutting-edge public safety communications platform,” said Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear. “We want to lead in technology and public safety, and this move allows us to do both and provide better service to our first responders, residents and guests in times of need.”

FirstNet is the country’s first and only nationwide public safety communications platform dedicated to first responders. Built by AT&T, in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, it will give communications capabilities a major boost, providing a reliable, “always on” connection.

“By becoming the first community in Indiana to officially sign on to FirstNet, the City of Noblesville has shown tremendous leadership in public safety,” said AT&T Indiana President Bill Soards. “This move to the FirstNet platform gives Noblesville the advanced tools they need to make their communications simpler, faster, more collaborative and more secure.”

By subscribing to FirstNet, Noblesville’s public safety departments stay connected to critical information, and FirstNet helps ensure its personnel can easily and quickly communicate with one another. The communications platform provides Noblesville with another tool to be prepared no matter the everyday situation or event our public safety may face.

“Communication networks become congested in disasters, emergencies or even large city events or concerts at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center. With FirstNet, first responders and other public safety personnel will access one highly secure, nationwide, interoperable communications platform that will support voice, data, text and video communications,” Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt said.

Noblesville’s decision to join FirstNet was based on the following three benefits/critical factors:

• Groundbreaking Access – FirstNet is the only platform that gives first responders priority and preemption. This means Noblesville’s public safety employees will never have to compete for a connection on a congested network. Instead, the city’s communications are prioritized, helping our employees stay connected to the information they need, so we can keep ourselves and those we serve safe and secure.
• Robust Technology – FirstNet enables Noblesville’s first responders to use data in new ways, and it gives us the flexibility to choose the right data plans for the right job, including unlimited, pooled and machine-to-machine options.
• System Reliability – AT&T will build FirstNet to the high standards required by the First Responder Network Authority. In addition, AT&T has a fleet of deployables to provide coverage support as needed.

“The amount of connectivity and its reliability is absolutely mission critical. Our communication needs extend beyond phones to connecting our computers to our dispatch center, our EKG Monitors to the hospital and many other devices that have a direct impact on firefighter and citizen safety and healthcare outcomes. These must remain connected, especially during major events which is historically when cellular systems have been overloaded,” Noblesville Fire Chief Greg Wyant said.

When a major event occurs, it’s important to share data with other responders. As more agencies join FirstNet – across the State of Indiana and across the nation - it will drive a greater level of interoperability for public safety. This will help Noblesville communicate with ease across agencies, jurisdictions and even state lines.

“Emergencies can truly happen anywhere, so first responders everywhere deserve access to reliable communications capabilities that help them keep themselves and those they protect safer,” said Indiana Integrated Public Safety Commission Executive Director David Vice.  “All of us in Indiana are grateful that Gov. Eric Holcomb decided to opt in to FirstNet back in October, and we’re proud to join Noblesville today as the city blazes a trail for other communities to follow.”

“FirstNet is the exclusive communications platform built with AT&T for public safety, inspired by public safety – there is no substitution for this network that they fought for,” said First Responder Network Authority CEO Mike Poth. “We look forward to supporting the Noblesville public safety community’s use of FirstNet, making sure it delivers what they need, when they need it.”

To learn more about FirstNet, contact Angie Helminiak, AT&T – FirstNet for Indiana, at (317) 294.0363 or [email protected].