Boatwright: First responders can harness the power of lifesaving technologies

Marylanders across the state are motivated to make our communities as safe as possible. While crime mitigation strategies sometimes dominate the headlines, there are less obvious ways to improve public safety: modernize our network infrastructure to help foster safer communities and enable quicker response times for first responders. Mobile data usage is 100 times higher today than it was 10 years ago. There are more ways than ever for people to stay connected. From students relying on the internet at home for learning, to millions of people working remotely, to ride sharing, the need for reliable, consistent, high-speed internet is at an all-time high in rural, urban, and suburban communities alike. Among those who most need fast, reliable high-speed internet are first responders and public safety professionals who keep our communities safe and secure. The facts bear this out: 80% of 911 calls originate from smartphones.