Like many in public safety, I’ve been watching with great interest as manufacturers develop new and improved devices intended for use on public-safety networks that expand on previous versions’ functionality, survivability and overall suitability. Device features such as improved ruggedness, user-replaceable batteries and positive-locking accessory side connectors are major improvements as device manufacturers zero in on products that will work in the public-safety world.

The Kiowa (Oklahoma) Police Department deployed a mobile platform for data collection, digital evidence management and workflow from SceneDoc. Kiowa was the first agency in Oklahoma to invest in the platform, which leverages smartphones to securely issue citations.

Aviat Networks announced a new $4.5 million project with a large county government in Nevada to support countywide first responder communications. Police, fire and emergency services throughout the county will have increased capacity and reliability for their critical voice and data communications.

Nokia and Smart City Capital launched a joint program to help Canadian cities fund and reduce the risks associated with smart city initiatives. With available project funding from Smart City Capital exceeding C$2 billion (US$1.6 billion), the program complements the Smart Cities Challenge program launched by Infrastructure Canada earlier this year.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) Association (FNA) announced three new initiatives to boost membership.

Software developed by APD Communications is the first to be officially certified to support the U.K. Emergency Services Network (ESN). The Network Approval Testing Service (NATS) accredited APD’s Cortex, a company statement said.

Sublette County, Wyoming, selected Harris to transition its conventional analog communications system to a new Project 25 (P25) Phase 2 digital network that provides increased reliability, coverage, interoperability and functionality.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced a five-year cooperative research and development (R&D) agreement with the University of Colorado Boulder to develop a wireless test bed. NTIA’s Boulder-based Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) will work with the university to install spectrum-monitoring sensors throughout the CU Boulder campus, with data to be available to both parties for spectrum management research.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released its 2018 Mobile Security Research and Development (R&D) Program Guide that introduces the technology projects, goals and objectives and their alignment with DHS and federal mobile security strategies and priorities.

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) Apex program released a handbook aimed at ensuring the varied on-body technologies used by first responders interoperate.

Catalyst Communications Technologies announced that all Honolulu Police radio voice communications were routed over the Catalyst system during the recent earthquake and subsequent aftermath. The  Honolulu  police and fire departments operate a M/A-COM EDACS 800 MHz radio