You may have noticed that quite a few new cell towers have
been erected over the past year throughout Iowa County. This is an explanation
of why that is happening.
A number of years ago the FCC started a project that would
involve the buildout of a nationwide Public Safety Broadband system. The
trigger for this project was the 9/11 terrorist attack and communications
issues experienced by First Responders that day and many days after.
AT&T was the only U.S. based provider that bid on the
project. AT&T was awarded the $6.5 billion contract to build the system in
March of 2017.
After all these years the buildout has started. The new
system known as “Firstnet” is a 1st Responder only wireless network paired up
with an AT&T commercial network. Most new Cell Towers erected in Iowa
County over the past year are associated with this system.
This post does not endorse AT&T or even Firstnet but is
meant to explain why so many towers have been constructed in the county.
The Firstnet system operates on a different radio frequency
set from other commercial systems. This of course requires the purchase of a
phone and/or other devices in order to access the network. The frequencies used
have a shorter transmit travel distance thus requiring more towers to get coverage.
The result of this new network is a wireless system that
always gives priority to First Responders and a new wireless competitor in the
area for general public users. Will it replace Land Mobile Radio (LMR)
technology in the future? Possibly, but for now it will be used as an
alternative method of communications used to augment LMR.
First Responders and Local Officials can find more
information on the Firstnet system at the web address below.
Keith Hurlbert, Director
Iowa County Emergency Management
