NEWCOM to Support State of Maine EMS Connectivity Project

In the Fall of 2023, the State of Maine EMS received grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Bureau of Highway Safety to begin the Maine EMS Connectivity Project. The installation for this project was granted to NEWCOM, a statewide contractor that holds a Master Service Agreement with the State of Maine.

NEWCOM’s contract with the State of Maine allows tech variations of each ambulance based on what is needed to reach the desired level of connectivity. In alignment with the National Roadway Safety Strategy adopted by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maine EMS was granted the funds to support this project to create safer people, roads, vehicles, and speeds and improve post-crash care.

This project seeks to connect all licensed EMS vehicles in the State of Maine to high-speed Internet using a rugged vehicle router with Wi-Fi, high-gain, roof-mounted antenna, and FirstNet Service by AT&T. This capability will also support the ability for ambulances to broadcast a Wi-Fi signal in and around the ambulance, including in homes (depending on distance and construction materials), that will facilitate greater access to online medical control, telemedicine, and the Internet.

NEWCOM’s process involves an installation plan that includes hardware design, installation, programming, in-vehicle en-route notification triggers, detailed vehicles, and an agency to commission each ambulance. T

To date, NEWCOM has installed 111 vehicles for 26 agencies for the State of Maine EMS Connectivity Project with a total of 550 EMS vehicles across 309 agencies. The project timeline is to be completed by June 30, 2024.