The FirstNet Subscriber Paid Service program enhances first responders’ ability to respond to a crisis on or off duty by providing FirstNet network access on personal devices. On an evening webinar in late June, the FirstNet Authority highlighted the benefits and the details of the FirstNet Subscriber Paid Program for responders who may be interested.
FirstNet Authority Board Member Paul Patrick said, “As the network evolves, allowing first responders to access their personal devices is critical. The FirstNet Authority is always looking for new ways to connect first responders – especially after the pandemic, extending FirstNet benefits is proving to be more critical than ever.”
FirstNet Subscriber Paid benefits New Mexico paramedic
In his role as a paramedic for Bernalillo County Fire Department and an emergency manager for Torrance County, Lieutenant Matt Propp quickly understood the benefit of using FirstNet to protect the residents of New Mexico. Shortly after joining Bernalillo County, his department battled two major forest fires using FirstNet to communicate. Compared to other commercial services, Propp noticed an immediate difference operating over the network. With FirstNet, calls connected immediately, and text messages were sent without delay. “When I found out my personal phone was eligible for FirstNet, I went to an AT&T rep the next day and made the switch,” recalled Propp. “My wife who is a trauma nurse in Albuquerque is on FirstNet too.”
Guam responders take advantage of the FirstNet Subscriber Paid Program
Since the Guam Fire Department first subscribed to FirstNet in March 2020, Emergency Medical Dispatch Supervisor Paul Rolinsky has noticed that more of his public safety colleagues subscribe to the network. Along with local law enforcement, Guam’s federal partners such as the US Airforce and the US Navy use FirstNet to extend coverage across the island. Rolinsky believes that one of the best advantages of the subscriber paid program is not paying roaming charges when his team travels to the U.S. using their own local phones. “I’m a big fan,” said Rolinsky. “I push it out to all the agencies here to get them on the FirstNet service.”
Eligibility for the FirstNet Subscriber Paid Program
The subscriber paid program lets all eligible first responders access FirstNet service on their agency-provided devices as well as on their personal devices. This means that users can access the same critical FirstNet capabilities, including 24/7/365 priority and preemption service for voice, data, and text through both types of service – agency paid and subscriber paid.
Thank you to our guest speakers for sharing their experience. To learn more about the FirstNet Subscriber Paid Service Program, contact FirstNet Customer Care’s dedicated subscriber paid point of contact. To learn how to organize an engagement in your state, contact your local FirstNet Authority Public Safety Advisor.