Winnebago County is connecting its Sheriff’s Office and all county departments to FirstNet, Built with AT&T – the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America’s first responders and public safety. PC: Fox 11 Online
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Winnebago County is now connected to a nationwide network designed to give first responders reliable connectivity in times of emergencies.
All Winnebago County departments, including the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, adopted AT&T’s FirstNet for its communications to provide better services and public safety.
FirstNet is the the only wireless network with Band 14, a spectrum set aside by the federal government, specifically for public safety.
“In less than a week, more than half a million visitors will come to Winnebago County to enjoy AirVenture 2023. Radio platforms, cell towers and other forms of communication will be overcome and in order to maintain the safety of all visitors, citizens and first responders, we must have priority communication,” said Winnebago County Sheriff, John Matz.
FirstNet was created after 9/11.
“We realized when millions of New Yorkers got on their cell phones all at the same time, first responders couldn’t get out, so they developed a system and a network to actually carve out bandwidth for those first responders to make sure they can get through,” said Winnebago County executive, Jon Doemel.
As part of the FirstNet network, Winnebago County now has access to a deployable network asset they can call upon for additional connectivity at no extra charge during planned events, urgent crises, or operations in remote situations.
Officials say one will be parked at EAA AirVenture this year.
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