Massachusetts and Wisconsin joined a handful of other states in announcing requests for alternative options to compare to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) state plans set to be released later this year.

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Robin C. Colwell will serve as chief counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on communications and technology beginning in July. She has served as FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly’s chief of staff and senior legal advisor since December 2014. Prior to that, Colwell was legislative counsel for Sen. Tim Scott and counsel at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s subcommittee on tourism, competitiveness and innovation.

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A next-generation TV standard and upgrades to Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) should provide consumers with better emergency information delivered in more formats, several industry experts said during a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology May 17.

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Following final approval from the U.K. government, Hytera Communications completed its acquisition of Sepura, and Sepura shares have been delisted from the London Stock Exchange.

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The FCC granted a waiver filed by the state of Michigan Department of Telecommunications Management and Budget to share use of the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS), its statewide 800 MHz radio network, with DTE Energy.

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The U.K. telecom regulator Ofcom released changes it is making to the way spectrum in the 410 – 450 MHz (UHF band 1) and 450 – 470 MHz (UHF band 2) is managed. The spectrum serves immediate communications for businesses, emergency services, and program making and special events.

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The FCC granted two additional years for substantial service showings for renewal of four geographic Automated Maritime Telecommunications System (AMTS) licenses held by Maritime Communications/Land Mobile (MCLM). The licenses have been tied up in legal proceedings since 2011.

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Norsat International announced a new offer from Hytera Communications to acquire the company for cash consideration of US$11.25 per share, to increase both the Norsat and Hytera termination fees from US$2 million to US$2.5 million, respectively, and the removal of the condition that permitted Hytera to not close the transaction in the event that greater than 20 percent of Norsat shareholders exercised their dissent rights.

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The FCC is seeking comment on an application and waiver request filed by the Washington County (Oregon) Consolidated Communications Agency, seeking to modify its private land mobile radio license call sign WQES436 by adding six new 800 MHz channels to its base station located on Gales Peak in Washington County.

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Teltronic, part of Sepura Group, was awarded a contract for a first-responder TETRA network for the Mexican state of Mexico through a major local system integrator.

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