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AT&T and FirstNet officials brief committee on coverage, deployables and recent investments in Michigan
Summary
AT&T representatives described recent network investments in Michigan, FirstNet coverage and deployable assets used during recent ice storms, and plans for satellite integration and open RAN modernization.
David Lewis, state president for AT&T Michigan, and Brent Schroeder, FirstNet territory manager for Michigan and Wisconsin, briefed the House Communications & Technology Committee on AT&T’s Michigan investments and FirstNet operations for public safety.
Lewis said AT&T invested nearly $2.4 billion in Michigan network infrastructure from 2020 to 2024 and described the company’s fiber and 5G buildout goals. He said AT&T has deployed fiber to more than 760,000 customer locations (described in testimony as "AT&T Fiber is now available to more than 760,000 customer locations in more than a 15 communities") and stated the company aims to reach more than 50 million locations nationwide with fiber by 2029.
FirstNet overview and emergency response
Schroeder described FirstNet’s origin, operation and recent activity. He said Congress acted in 2012 to set aside band 14 spectrum for public safety and that AT&T was awarded a 25‑year contract to build and maintain FirstNet in 2017. He told the committee that, as of April 2025, FirstNet supports more than 7 million connections and more than 30,000 agencies nationally, and AT&T has added roughly 2.99 million square miles of coverage area and 240 additional sites in Michigan since 2017 (including 23 state‑selected rural expansion sites).
Schroeder described deployable assets and the network’s role during recent northern Michigan ice storms: two deployable assets were already housed in Michigan, additional assets were brought in from neighboring states, about 300 generators were staged and deployed, and AT&T personnel worked in state emergency operations centers and local emergency operations centers during the multi‑day event.
Technology and future plans
Schroeder said FirstNet deployed nationwide S1U encryption across the entire network and is building a standalone 5G core targeted for early 2026. He also said AT&T plans to integrate AST Mobile satellite direct‑to‑handset capability on FirstNet beginning in late 2025 and to pursue an open RAN modernization at sites in Michigan with a national target completion of 2027.
Quotes and committee response
Schroeder said, "FirstNet is the only nationwide network that has encryption along the entire route." Chair Green thanked the presenters and encouraged committee members to learn more about FirstNet as a resource for first responders; the committee had no questions following the presentations.
Ending
Lewis and Schroeder offered to take follow‑up questions from members and provided contact information for staff follow up.
