FirstNet Program is a key component of ASDHS Interim Tsunami Plan

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Part of the local Homeland Security Department’s (ASDHS) Interim Tsunami Plan centers on communication through the FirstNet Program, which is the “primary method of communication, to all first and secondary responders,” according to a summary copy of the Plan presented to senators during a Senate Public Safety/Homeland Security Committee hearing yesterday.

First responders are identified in the Plan as police, first bureau, emergency medical services (EMS), ASDHS, American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority and LBJ Medical Center.

Secondary responders are the American Samoa Power Authority, Marine and Wildlife Resources, Public Works, Port Administration and the Office of Samoan Affairs.

During the Senate hearing, which was called to discuss the issues that surfaced during the Mar. 4th tsunami warning, Homeland Security director Samana Semo Ve’ave’a spoke of the methods used by ASDHS to get the message out due to a disaster.

He said the new equipment method now being used through the FirstNet is a cellular phone, which needs to be an iPhone, that goes directly to first responders, and addresses the issue of people — including senators —  unable to get on a phone line to reach others during times of disaster such as the Mar. 4th tsunami warning.

He explained that if the person is a first responder, who participates via enrollment, those individuals get access to the FirstNet service, without interruption to their phone system.

He said if senators want to get the FirstNet service, to communicate with ASDHS or anyone within the circle of first responders, a list of names will need to be submitted to his office, which then sends it to ASTCA, which in turn, provides it to AT&T for the connection.

“You have to have an iPhone and the participant needs approval” of ASDHS, said Samana. (Samoa News will report in future editions on the rest of the Senate committee hearing.)

The First Responder Network Authority (or FirstNet), which is an independent authority within the US Department of Commerce, announced in a January 2018 news release that then Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga announced ASG had accepted the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and AT&T plans to deliver a wireless broadband network to the territory's public safety community.

FirstNet will bring advanced tools that will help American Samoa's first responders save lives and protect communities, the news release said.

"In weighing this important decision to join FirstNet or deploy our own system, our team came to the conclusion that opting-in to FirstNet was the better solution for American Samoa and our first responders,” Lolo said at the time. (See Samoa News edition Jan. 10, 2018 edition for details.)

FirstNet, was authorized by the US Congress in 2012 and its mission was to develop, build and operate the nationwide, broadband network that equips first responders to save lives and protect US communities. (more on www.firstnet.gov).

On Monday this week, Samana wrote to cabinet members soliciting “your executive engagement and immediate support” to ASDHS and ASTCA to enroll cabinet members, deputy directors and mission critical personnel in the FirstNet program.

He explained that this program, allows prioritization of telecommunication capabilities — voice and data — in the event of a natural or man-made disaster without subject to normal communications traffic through service provides in American Samoa.

Additionally the program, is a resource available to the community of first-responders to communicate in real time with line agencies and allow leaders to manage operations during times of emergencies.

“The expansion of FirstNet Program to our network of strategic partners will be facilitated following the enrollment of the Cabinet and agencies responsible for Disaster Management,” said Samana, whose memo was in accordance with a directive from the governor.

He implored every cabinet member to coordinate with the Emergency Operations Center to ensure all prerequisites for enrollment are met before ASTCA proceeds with service registration and activation with AT&T.