New York State will soon be a part of a national broadband network made specifically with public safety in mind.

The FirstNet First Responder Network is a nationwide, high-speed wireless broadband network created for use by first responders and public safety personnel. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that the state will join the network that was created through a public-private partnership between AT&T and the federal government.

According to the Governor’s Office, the network will allow fire, police, emergency medical services and other public safety services to communicate and share information by connecting first responders to important information even during large events. It will also create an efficient means of communication for personnel across the state during natural disasters and emergencies and enhancing network coverage across New York.

“During emergencies and disasters, every second counts and ensuring our first responders have the tools they need during a crisis is vital to the safety and security of all New Yorkers,” Cuomo said. “The entire state, from the Great Lakes to the most remote areas of the Adirondacks to New York City, must have seamless communication for our public safety community so that they can get more information quickly, make better informed decisions and save lives.”

The idea for the network spawned from a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission.

The final plan states that AT&T will build, operate and maintain the highly secure wireless broadband communications network at no cost to the state.

According to FirstNet.gov, the network will give public safety officials a “fast lane” for secure communication, and will also create devices and apps for first responders.

The network will provide a variety of services for first responders, such as applications that will allow first responders to share videos, text messages, photos and other information during an incident in almost real-time.

It will also help provide advanced capabilities such as camera-equipped connected drones and robots; improved location services; and wearable technology that could relay a patient’s biometric data.

“It’s huge,” Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace said of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that New York State will join FirstNet.

The announcement is “great news” for the county, said Gerace, who serves on the State Inter-operable Emergency Communications Board, which recommended the state join the network. Gerace said he was glad to see the governor took the recommendation.

“There were a lot of steps to make this happen,” he said. “Each state had the opportunity to opt into the network or build their own networks. We’re very please (the governor) did so.”

Gerace said he can’t yet give a date when the network will be complete in Chautauqua County. While the county just updated its two-way radio, he said this system is a different system.

“This is data communications,” Gerace said. “This is a big part of what we do. When we are dispatching, we are dispatching electronically as well as verbally.”

The network is separate from public broadband systems, which will allow the system to prioritize the public safety data being transmitted.

“It will give us a lot of capability,” Gerace said.

For more information about FirstNet, visit FirstNet.gov.