As the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the IAFC has voted to support the enhancement of communications for responders.
"...More than 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers died as a result of the attacks at the World Trade Center on 9/11. As the 15th anniversary approaches, the IAFC joins the families of these fallen public-safety officers in vowing that the sacrifices of 9/11 will not be in vain," officials said in a statement Thursday.
Further, they said they are continue to work work "closely with other public-safety agencies and organizations, including the International Association of the Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff’s Association and the National Association of State EMS Officials to help build the nationwide broadband network dedicated to the mission requirements of public safety..."
The IAFC noted in their statement that "the major nationwide LTE carriers have been unable or unwilling to provide fire-rescue services and other first responders with an ability to pre-empt civilian users to allow for unfettered network access for mission critical purposes. As a result, there is presently no interoperable mission critical communications network available for fire-rescue personnel to share data among their cohorts or other public safety first responders..."
"...The use of mission critical data in the field of emergency services is limited and nearly non-existent. A nation-wide interoperable data communications system is a vital component for an effective response to terrorist incidents, natural disasters and everyday response.
They lauded FirstNet officials for their hard work.
"...FirstNet has met every milestone to date, and we are encouraged by the continued urgency of FirstNet leadership to provide these much needed services to first responders and fire chiefs nationwide..."
