Audio PSCR: Craig Connelly highlights Tech to Protect Challenge with $2.2 million prize purse 24th September 2019 Craig Connelly, the Prize Competition and Challenge Specialist at the Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) division of NIST, highlights features of the Tech to Protect Challenge, which will let participants compete for a piece of $2.2 million in prize money by developing public-safety-specific solutions in 10 key focus areas. Tech to Protect will begin […]
News Utah Communications Authority inks $51 million deal with L3Harris Technologies for statewide P25 system 24th September 2019 L3Harris Technologies yesterday announced that it has signed a $51 million contract with the Utah Communications Authority (UCA) to build a statewide P25 Phase 2 radio system that is expected to be used by multiple first-responder agencies when deployment is completed in 2024. “It’s a hugely important win for L3Harris Technologies,” Ryan Carson, senior director […]
News AT&T CEO highlights benefits of FirstNet, potential 5G use cases for critical infrastructure, enterprises 20th September 2019 Winning the bid to build the nationwide FirstNet system on 700 MHz Band 14 spectrum has been very beneficial to AT&T overall strategy, allowing the carrier to grow its wireless business, improve network quality and lay the foundation for the transition to 5G, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said this week. “FirstNet has gone off the […]
News FirstNet Authority board approves plans to enhance FirstNet core for 5G, expand deployable coverage capabilities 19th September 2019 FirstNet Authority board members yesterday voted unanimously to have the organization’s staff begin procurement processes to reinvest funding into making the FirstNet LTE core ready for 5G services and to expand the FirstNet deployable-network program. Both area identified for reinvestment were expected. FirstNet Authority Chairman Ed Horowitz previously identified deployable enhancements and preparing to make […]
News Newscan: In the fight against Washington wildfires, drones are now as vital as chainsaws 13th September 2019 Web Roundup Items from other news organizations In the fight against Washington wildfires, drones are now as vital as chainsaws Texas prepares public-safety unmanned emergency response standard Ramsomware demanded $5.3 million from Massachusetts city in July attack Lyft adds 911 button more than a year after Uber app Five use cases for IoT in public […]
News FirstNet users will have access to 5G, but Band 14 will remain on 4G LTE for years, AT&T’s FirstNet lead says 11th September 2019 FirstNet users will have access to AT&T’s 5G services that are set to be available nationwide by the middle of next year, but the 700 MHz Band 14 spectrum will continue to leverage 4G LTE for years to protect public-safety device investments and key functionality, according to the leader of AT&T’s FirstNet team. Chris Sambar, […]
News Chicago Police Department trials Samsung DeX in-vehicle solution leveraging Galaxy smartphones 9th September 2019 Chicago police personnel in one district of the city are participating in a pilot program with the Samsung DeX in-vehicle platform, which uses the compute power of a docked Samsung Galaxy smartphone to create a “desktop experience” within the vehicle that is designed to increase officer efficiency at significantly less cost than a traditional laptop […]
Audio Dick Mirgon talks about NG911 funding legislation, new website focused on Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) 6th September 2019 Dick Mirgon, a public-safety-communications consultant and former APCO president, talks about the need for public-safety unity to transform next-generation 911 (NG911) legislation into a law with billions of dollars in capital funding to upgrade 911 centers–or Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs)–nationwide. Mirgon also discusses his “All Things ECC” website that launched last month.
News APCO officials stress need for NG911 interoperability 4th September 2019 Next-generation 911 (NG911) systems should let 911 centers handle all forms of multimedia—voice, text, data, photos and video—and interoperate with other NG911 systems, but public-safety jurisdictions have to specify these characteristics in their procurements or risk facing disappointment and extra costs, according to APCO officials. Jeff Cohen, APCO’s chief counsel and director of government relations, […]
News FirstNet making an impact early in three communities, speakers say 28th August 2019 Public-safety users have been able to subscribe to FirstNet for only two years, but the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) is making a significant impact on the operations of several first-responder agencies, providing cost-effective data and deployable support immediately and a mission-critical voice option in the future. John Cueto, police chief for the Town of […]
Latest 3GPP standards-development work includes new classes of HPUE, progress on mission-critical services 1 22nd April 2024
Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority? 3 24th March 2024
Video Check out key takeaways from Disaster Management Symposium webinars, register to view archives Video: Opening of the Expo Hall on day three of IWCE 2023 Lynk CEO Charles Miller: The sky’s the limit
