AT&T was awarded a contract, valued around $92 million, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to provide FirstNet mobility services and capabilities. This five-year agreement, designed to expand the FBI’s FirstNet usage with new resources to assist daily and emergency operations, is the most substantial FirstNet agreement by any public safety agency or law enforcement.
The FBI made the switch to AT&T from its current provider, Verizon, after years of working with the carrier. This shift comes as AT&T continues to take a more prominent role in public safety communications, deploying the dedicated FirstNet communications platform for public safety personnel and first responders, in public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority).
This new contract will enable the FBI to utilize FirstNet to communicate nationwide via FirstNet Ready™ devices like phones, modems, and more. Under this new agreement, 56 local field offices throughout key markets in the U.S. and approximately 380 resident agencies found in smaller locations will use FirstNet. Department of Justice (DoJ) agencies will also be able to use FirstNet, including:
Antitrust Division
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys
Justice Management Division
U.S. Attorneys
U.S. Marshals Service
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)