KINGWOOD, W.Va. -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller says first responders in West Virginia and across the country will now be able to communicate better than ever.

In a speech at the National Guard's Camp Dawson training facility in Kingwood, Rockefeller said Monday that a new, interoperable wireless broadband network will let them communicate in real time -- for the first time ever.

He says terror attacks, mine explosions and other disasters have shown the need for better communication systems. Rockefeller pushed for the dedicated broadband bill for years, and it was signed into law in February.

He spoke to officials attending the 6th Annual Statewide Interoperable Radio Conference.

While there, Rockefeller also met privately with a small group of cadets at the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy and delivered a speech at a lunch gathering.