AT&T to offer wireless services to FEMA

How well the Federal Emergency Management Agency responds to disasters may depend partially on AT&T Inc.’s wireless network.
FEMA has struck a deal with AT&T Inc. that could net the wireless provider up to $50 million to deliver wireless voice and data communications to thousands of federal workers with laptop cards and various handsets, including BlackBerry 8820.
The wireless provider announced today that AT&T Government Solutions will serve as the primary wireless provider to FEMA. The federal agency has awarded three one-year contacts to AT&T for the service. The contracts have four one-year options.
FEMA is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security and coordinates the federal government’s role in disasters preparedness, response and recovery. Along with voice and data communications, FEMA also plans to use the wireless provider’s network to operate an assortment of e-mail by equipping its workforce with mobile handsets, smartphones and wireless laptop cards.
Government solutions SVP Don Herring said in a statement that a secure wireless communication infrastructure is critical for first responders.
“With the proven reliability, bandwidth and speed of our network, AT&T Government Solutions can help FEMA employees access the information they need for real-time decision making in the field while ensuring they can collect, access and transmit this information in a secure environment at all times, regardless of location,” Herring said.
Along with LaptopConnect wireless cards, the wireless provider will also offer FEMA workers BlackBerry 8820 smartphones and 3G LG CU405 handsets that have push-to-talk capability.
The company’s wireless cards and the BlackBerry handsets will also access the wireless provider’s Wi-Fi network, the nation’s largest with 17,000 hotspots. The BlackBerry handset operates on the carrier’s EDGE network, which is available in more than 13,000 cities and provides coverage along 40,000 miles of major highways.
FEMA employs more than 2,600 full-time workers and also has nearly 4,000 standby assistance employees available for disasters. AT&T has similar contracts in place with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Transportation Security Administration.