On April 22, 2026, NextNav’s Ed Mortimer joined Broadband Breakfast for a live discussion on “Indoor Location Gaps and FirstNet Reauthorization in Public Safety.”
Alongside Drew Clark (moderator), Brooks Shannon of Esri, and Chief Brian Nardelli of the Brockton Fire Department, the panel explored how policymakers, network operators, and public safety leaders are navigating the evolving role of mission-critical broadband.
The urgency is clear. Despite advances in thermal imaging and breathing equipment, the U.S. continues to lose approximately 500 firefighters each year in the line of duty. As Chief Nardelli shared, “I really believe when we lose firefighters in a building, that’s a major component of this, we’re unable to find them and see their locations.”
The conversation reinforced a critical shift: solving indoor location isn’t a technology challenge, it’s a coordination challenge across policy, infrastructure, and implementation.
Watch the full discussion: