Chicomm Blog

FirstNet was created in the aftermath of 9/11 to be a force-multiplier for first responders – to give public safety 21st century communication tools to help save lives, solve crimes and keep our communities and emergency responders safe.

FirstNet is a nationwide wireless broadband network for first responders deployed through a public-private partnership between the federal government and AT&T.

FirstNet offers public safety a communications network built to their operational and technical needs — a new Band Class 14 network designed to be reliable, functional, safe and secure, and provide optimal levels of operational capability at all times. In other words, a dedicated ‘fast lane’ for public safety communications. 

First responders across the country – police, fire, EMS – are benefiting from the technological advances of FirstNet, and here’s a closer look at the benefits and possibilities.

Between supply chain delays, labor shortages, and adapting to a more virtual-based work environment, 2022 was a challenging year for businesses and organizations, ranging from manufacturing to healthcare to hospitality. With all that going, you may well have missed a few Chicago Communications blogs, including reader favorites looking at video surveillance, commercial radio systems, avoiding battery issues, and tips for pairing your two-way radio with a Bluetooth headset.

The case for investing in a mobile command center (MCC) for police departments and other public safety agencies is strong – they’re easily customizable, can be as high-tech as you need them to be, and they’re appropriate for a wide variety of use cases. 

With the proper mobile command center, police officers and first responders have the ability to host all of their necessary functions in a single area, all while being able to move throughout their community as needed.

As public safety technology and 911 Communications continue to evolve, the benefits for investing in a mobile command center are as compelling as ever.

Are there areas in your buildings that are dead zones for communication?

Do you have multiple buildings or campuses to communicate between?

Do your old radios or phone system give out on you just when you need them the most?

Healthcare facilities are busy, complicated environments. One of the biggest challenges is knowing who’s entering and exiting. Clinics and hospitals have many points of entry, like delivery areas, emergency, and possible places for maintenance and staff to leave the building. With all this activity, how do healthcare facilities monitor who’s coming and going in order to keep patients and staff safe?

To fully appreciate how far two-way radio communication has come, it's fascinating to take a look at where it started. From the initial discovery of “wireless waves” in 1886 to today’s technology that can turn any mobile device or computer into a radio, it’s been a long, winding, and increasingly sophisticated road.

And it all starts with German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, who didn’t think his wireless discovery would go anywhere.

Here's a brief history lesson into the evolution of two-way radios.

Understandably, much of the focus on school safety involves what happens to students when they’re on campus, but what about school bus safety? Among the tools for keeping millions of students, coaches, teachers, and drivers safe on buses every day, two-way radios are at the top of the list.

For a variety of reasons, two-way radios are an ideal communications solution for school safety in general, and transportation in particular.

Let’s look at ways to enhance school bus safety with two-way radios.

Slow or spotty WiFi can affect your business’s operations, safety, and appeal. Dreaded “dead zones” of weakened connectivity or holes in your coverage area can make it difficult to communicate, get work done, and bring people together.

Fortunately, a WiFi extender or repeater can be easily installed to eliminate these dead zones and improve connectivity.

As more districts are discovering every day, two-way radios in K-12 schools are the centerpiece of any effective safety plan.

Radios outpace cell phones in terms of reliability, durability, and functionality, and there are tailored radio solutions available regardless of the communications challenges schools and districts face.

This safety guide with case studies provides a comprehensive overview of two-way radios in K-12 schools and the options available for overcoming infrastructure, geographic and logistical issues.