The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) is an independent organization within the US Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Signed into law in 2012, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act created FirstNet. The law gives FirstNet the mission to build, operate and maintain the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. FirstNet will provide a single interoperable platform for emergency and daily public safety communications.

The FirstNet network will improve citizen and responder safety and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency response through cutting edge broadband communications. FirstNet's goal is to provide public safety‐grade reliability and nationwide coverage so all public safety personnel can count on the network when they are on the job. Public safety personnel using the FirstNet network will be able to share applications, access databases, and provide better informed responses to incidents through integrated communications. FirstNet is also aiming to provide coverage solutions that let public safety "take the network along" to the destination in certain geographies.

The FirstNet network will provide mission‐critical, high‐speed data services to supplement the voice capabilities of today's Land Mobile Radio (LMR) networks. Initially, the FirstNet network will be used for sending data, video, images and text. The FirstNet network will also carry location information and eventually support streaming video. FirstNet plans to offer cellular voice communications such as Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) or other alternatives.

The potential public safety user community in New Hampshire and nationwide is vast and diverse, including:

• Law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, E911
• State, county, regional and tribal government agencies
• Coast Guard, National Guard and FEMA
• Hospitals, LifeFlight, ambulatory contracted services
• Red Cross, and Salvation Army