The First Responder Network Authority recently released an annual report to Congress for 2021, titled “A Decade of Accomplishments,” revealing the rapid adoption by first responders of its namesake dedicated public safety network.

In fiscal year 2021, the FirstNet Authority reports, FirstNet adoption had spread to 18,500 public safety agencies, up from 2,500 in fiscal year 2018, its first year of widespread availability. Network adoption now spans all 50 states, five territories and the District of Columbia.

FirstNet, built by federal contractor AT&T, is a national high-speed wireless broadband network solely for use by first responders, including law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and others. Thanks to FirstNet’s rapid expansion in the past year, the public is now beginning to see specific local use cases of the network and its benefits to the public safety community.