1 / 2

First responders, representatives of AT&T FirstNet and others gather at Tibble Fork Reservoir to commemorate the expansion of a cellular service network in American Fork Canyon on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023.

Courtesy FirstNet

2 / 2

Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith, right, and U.S. Rep. John Curtis shake hands during the commemoration of a new cellular service network being expanded in American Fork Canyon. The event was held on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at Tibble Fork Reservoir.

Courtesy FirstNet

❮ ❯

Connection to American Fork Canyon for emergency calls and AT&T users has been expanded and was commemorated last Friday with a roundtable discussion at Tibble Fork Reservoir.

The commemoration was not a public event and was attended by around 15 people. Those participating in the discussion spoke of the equipment that was set up in the canyon, the significance of having service in a high-traffic area and the importance that those in the canyon have the ability to call for medical services if needed.

The first section of the network was finished in September 2021 and provided coverage from the mouth of the canyon up to Tibble Fork Reservoir. This new section extended the network to Silver Lake Flats. While AT&T providers will have cellular service in the canyon, users of any service provider will be able to call 911.

Speaking about the importance of connection for first responders in the canyon was U.S. Rep. John Curtis; Wally Perschon, principle FirstNet solutions consultant with AT&T; Barry McLerran, constitution liaison for U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney; and others representing varying organizations such as the Utah Department of Public Safety, FirstNet Authority, AT&T, the Lone Peak Fire Department and other first responders.

“Great to be with FirstNet and first responders yesterday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new communications tower in American Fork Canyon. Utah’s emergency services now have enhanced coverage, ensuring safety for visitors and residents,” Curtis tweeted after the event.

Spencer Cannon, spokesperson for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, said, “There’s a number of benefits to it. I think the primary benefit is the ability to get emergency services whether it’s fire or search and rescue or medical en route a lot sooner than we have been able to otherwise in the past.”

Perschon explained to the Daily Herald that after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, AT&T entered into a 25-year public/private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority, also called the FirstNet Authority, to provide network and widespread coverage for first responders to respond quickly in emergency situations.

According to the AT&T website, “The FirstNet network is providing first responders with truly dedicated coverage and capacity when they need it, unique benefits like always-on priority and preemption, and high-quality Band 14 spectrum. These advanced capabilities help fire, EMS, law enforcement save lives and protect their communities.”

FirstNet covers 99% of the U.S. population but AT&T is expanding the coverage to be higher quality and to reach rural areas such as American Fork Canyon where emergency responders cannot communicate and respond quickly.

According to Cannon, the canyon has 2 million to 3 million visitors a year, and first responders are often busy in the area. He explained the importance of having a network in the canyon is shortening the time between an accident and when first responders can arrive on scene. Before the network was installed, he said, if an accident occurred, someone would have to drive down the canyon until they reached service, which could take more than 30 minutes. By the time first responders were called and arrived on scene, it could have been over an hour.

While having service in the canyon does not guarantee that someone will be saved in a tragic accident, Cannon said the chances are higher.

Perschon, who previously worked in search and rescue, explained what is called the golden hour: “If you can get medical services to a person that’s in need of medical service within an hour, then it just increases their chances of survival.”

Added Cannon, “It’s been a real benefit having the phone service there, and I think it’s well justified. The only thing that I think is still a work in progress is getting other service providers to get on board so that their customer base can also have access to those things for convenience sake.”

He explained another safety-related issue this internet extension helps to solve is providing access to the internet on officers’ computers. This means law enforcement can receive updates on active cases or responses to an incident while they are in the canyon.

Newsletter