FirstNet May Include Drones, Board Meeting Told

Vice Chair Jeff Johnson said FirstNet needs to closely monitor state efforts to limit commercial use of drones. Public safety use should be exempt, even if AT&T, which won the government contract to help with the network, operates the drones on behalf of FirstNet, he said at a board meeting of the authority Wednesday. “Now, we’re going to get flying repeaters.” Drones, cells on wings, can be deployed much more quickly than traditional cells on wheels, President TJ Kennedy said. “We’re going to see massive evolution over the next couple of years.” AT&T’s FirstNet deployables will be available by the end of September, Kennedy said.