by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

A nationwide network proposed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will soon be operational Downeast.  

Last week, Rising Tide Towers completed the construction of a Machias cell tower which will provide first responder communications coverage via FirstNet, a network proposed by the federal 9/11 Commission and endorsed by Congress in 2012.

FirstNet Principal Consultant Bruce Fitzgerald said the network is designed to give communications from first responders “priority and preemption.”