A new agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce calls for AT&T to invest $1 billion in upgrades for FirstNet, the emergency network subsidized by the federal government in partnership with AT&T. The deal also includes AT&T reducing by $1 billion what it charges the federal government to maintain and operate FirstNet.
The department's statement credits President Donald Trump’s push to reduce federal spending and review existing contracts as setting the stage for the agreement. FirstNet, used by more than 30,000 public safety agencies, has a 10-year reauthorization request before the U.S. Congress.
FirstNet launched in 2012, driven in large part by emergency communication “gaps” identified after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
AT&T entered in a public-private partnership with FirstNet in 2017.
Neither FirstNet nor AT&T provided immediate comment about this new announcement.
Upgrading emergency communications stands as a main driver of growth for the broader industry of government technology — and FirstNet promises to have a relatively high profile during the upcoming World Cup as officials rely on the network to help secure the global soccer tournament.
“Nearly a decade ago, when public safety and Congress asked for a partner to build the dedicated communications platform that first responders require, we were the only nationwide carrier willing to raise our hand and commit to a 25-year contract to build it,” Wes Anderson, president of public sector, AT&T, said in a statement. The “announcement illustrates once again, as with prior modifications, our continued commitment to invest in public safety communications.”
