AT&T customers and FirstNet subscribers on America’s public safety network in Gilpin County just got a big boost in wireless connectivity.

Over the past year, the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) have collaborated with AT&T and FirstNet on a project to enhance the cell service communication capabilities in Gilpin County. Gilpin OEM approached this project through a grant from COVID funding. This public safety project helps support our Red Cross shelter, animal shelter, and emergency operations center, all centrally located around the Justice Center. “This is the first step to building a redundant communications network in Gilpin County” stated Emergency Manager, Nate Whittington.

AT&T added a Multi-Band Outdoor (MBO) (similar to a small-cell) at the Justice Center that provides localized outdoor service to enhance the area’s 4G LTE and 5G coverage. The addition of the MBO gives residents and first responders on FirstNet more reliable wireless service and the best possible experience over the AT&T network. It also provides responders on FirstNet preemption and priority in emergencies. These advanced capabilities help fire, EMS, and law enforcement save lives and protect communities.

This new small-cell site located at the Justice Center will provide service in areas that previously had limited service in the Gilpin County area, “We consistently work to provide better coverage for Colorado communities and our first responders, and we are glad to provide a solution like this as the high fire season begins and communications are critical, especially for first responders. We’re investing in our wireless network in Gilpin County and across the state to accomplish that,” said Roberta Robinette, President of AT&T Colorado.

Sheriff Armstrong stated, “Gilpin County has needed this kind of communication enhancement for a very long time and I’m very grateful to AT&T and FirstNet for their dedication to this project. The fact that our first responders have priority preemption for emergencies is paramount for a rural county like ours. This will help alleviate the inadequacies of communication services in our county, and the citizens and first responders of Gilpin County will benefit immensely from this new system.”

FirstNet®, built by AT&T, is the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community.

Go to https://westregion.att.com/ states/colorado/ to learn more about how AT&T is supporting Colorado. For more about the value FirstNet is bringing to public safety, check out FirstNet.com.