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July 07, 2020 | Comments

As mandated by Congress, the FCC released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to auction the T-band 470 – 512 MHz spectrum. The notice outlines licensing and operating rules, along with a band plan and technical rules, although the NPRM seeks comments on many issues such as where T-band licensees might move and what to do about industrial/business (I/B) licensees also operating in the spectrum.

July 07, 2020 | Comments

To help agencies determine public-safety communications solutions that strike the balance between cost and value, federal groups released a guide that compiles recommendations, best practices and considerations for public-safety agencies to evaluate equipment cost effectiveness.

July 06, 2020 | Comments

The second phase of the pan-European public-safety broadband communications tender called Broadway Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) began 6 July. Astrid, the lead procurer of the BroadWay PCP, signed contracts with three successful consortia for the solution prototype phase.

July 02, 2020 | Comments

The FCC qualified 271 entities to participate in the 3.5 GHz auction of Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) priority access licenses (PALs). Seventy-seven applications did not qualify to participate in the auction, set to begin July 23.

July 02, 2020 | Comments

The U.S. House of Representatives voted this week to create a new $12 billion federal grant program to upgrade America’s 9-1-1 centers to next-generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1). The grant program was included in H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, a package of federal transportation and infrastructure bills, approved by the House on Wednesday.

July 01, 2020 | Comments

NextNav announced a partnership with Sonim Technologies to make NextNav’s Z-axis location technology available to first responders and 9-1-1 emergency services.

July 01, 2020 | Comments

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced final allocations of $385 million for seven fiscal year (FY) 2020 DHS competitive preparedness grant programs. These allocations, together with the more than $1.3 billion in noncompetitive grant funding announced by DHS in February and April, total nearly $1.8 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2020 granted to assist states, local areas, tribal and territorial governments, nonprofit agencies and the private sector with preparedness efforts.

June 30, 2020 | Comments

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and state officials announced a spate of coverage enhancements to the public-safety broadband network in the Northeast. Maryland, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Hampshire all made FirstNet coverage-related announcements this week.

Oil and Gas Firm Upgrades to DMR Tier 2

June 26, 2020 | Comments

To maintain production and worker safety, industries in hazardous environments depend on reliable, organizationwide communications. EP Petroecuador is the national oil and gas company of Ecuador, specializing in the refining, storage, transport and sale of petroleum derivatives, both domestically and internationally. The company’s operations are of critical importance to the country, as oil and gas form a significant piece of the Ecuadorian economy.