{"id":55175,"date":"2017-08-02T10:31:48","date_gmt":"2017-08-02T10:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=55175"},"modified":"2017-08-02T10:31:48","modified_gmt":"2017-08-02T10:31:48","slug":"usvi-becomes-first-territory-to-join-firstnet-network-mapp-approves-build-out-plan-to-transform-public-safety-communications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=55175","title":{"rendered":"USVI Becomes First Territory To Join FirstNet Network; Mapp Approves Build-Out Plan To Transform Public Safety Communications"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. THOMAS — Governor Kenneth Mapp announced on Tuesday his decision to accept the\u00a0FirstNet<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0AT&T<\/a>\u00a0plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the territory\u2019s public safety community helping first responders save lives and protect communities. This makes the U.S. Virgin Islands the first U.S. territory to \u201copt-in\u201d to the FirstNet network, according to Government House.<\/span><\/p>\n

The announcement comes mere days following a Consortium article on FirstNet<\/span><\/a>, after it was discussed during the Bureau of Information Technology budget hearing on Thursday. There, B.I.T. Director Angelo Riddick told lawmakers that he’d recommended to the governor that AT&T — which won the bid to build the network throughout the states and territories — should build the local FirstNet network. That way, federal funding of over $500,000 would become available.

\u00a0\u201cThe United States Virgin Islands participated in FirstNet consultation and outreach activities throughout the planning of the network and reviewed the details of the FirstNet State Plan,\u201d said the governor on Tuesday.\u00a0 \u201cI have determined that it is in the best interest of the United States Virgin Islands and the Country to participate in the FirstNet deployment of the National Public Safety Broadband Network.\u201d\u00a0

AT&T, in a public-private partnership with FirstNet, will build, operate and maintain a highly secure wireless broadband communications network for the Virgin Islands\u2019 public safety community at no cost to the territory for the next 25 years, according to Government House. The FirstNet network will drive innovation and create an entire system of modernized devices, apps and tools just for first responders.

The FirstNet network will transform the way the Virgin Islands\u2019 fire, police, EMS and other public safety personnel communicate and share information. Specifically, FirstNet and AT&T will:\u00a0
<\/span><\/p>\n