New York FirstNet Meeting Highlights Needs for Transition

New York's geographic diversity -- from dense urban areas in the east and south, to suburbs moving west, to rural conditions in central and upstate -- represents a full range of coverage needs and conditions that should be considered when building out the nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN), said Dave Buchanan, FirstNet director-state consultation in a blog about the organization's initial consultation meeting in New York. Among the discussions at the meeting was how interoperable communications and data sharing can benefit first responders in the early moments of an incident, he said. It also featured a number of briefings about the importance of having access to voice, video and data services during emergencies and about incidents from a variety of jurisdictions, Buchanan said. The meeting gave FirstNet additional information on what New York considers its top priorities as the group moves to implement the NPSBN, he said.