AT&T, Inc., today unveiled a brand logo for the network it is building for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). The logo includes three horizontal lines and says “FIRSTNET” and “Built with AT&T.”

“We’ll begin rolling out this new brand today. Whenever first responders see it, they can be confident that they are getting something just for them,” Chris Sambar, AT&T’s senior vice president-FirstNet, said in a blog posting. The logo will be used to market the FirstNet network, services, devices, and other products, AT&T said.

“Having a specialized brand and logo will help public safety identify the FirstNet solution and lifesaving technologies the network offers first responders across our nation,” FirstNet Chief Executive Officer Mike Poth said in a separate blog posting. “We will continue to use our [current FirstNet] logo to represent the organization – our mission, our people, and our programs.”

Meanwhile, a Verizon Communications, Inc., spokesman said today that the carrier activated public safety preemption for a subscriber on New Year’s Day in California. “We enabled preemption for LA County Fire for the Rose Parade,” spokesman Kevin King told TR Daily. “They did not need to use it because our network easily handled all traffic before, during and after the Parade.”

He added that “preemption is available and we will work with customers to enable it at their request. There is no additional charge for customers.”

Verizon, like AT&T, also offers priority access as it works to compete with AT&T and the FirstNet system. The carriers also plan to deploy public safety cores by March. —Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily