Motorola Solutions acquired Futurecom Systems, a provider of radio coverage extension solutions for public-safety agencies, based in Ontario, Canada. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The new judge in the ongoing theft of trade secrets lawsuit between Hytera Communications and Motorola Solutions proposed a schedule for dealing with two outstanding motions in the trial.

The latest set of Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Plenary electronic meetings (e-meetings) concluded on September 19. The meetings focused on Release 18 (R18) which is currently in progress. R18 will become the inaugural release for 5G Advanced that includes new innovations toward the 5G vision. The plenary e-meetings made solid progress on the study items and work items that form the basis to advance the agreed upon R18 features. The following reports discuss the current status of R18 work.

A Verizon official detailed the carrier’s efforts to support first responder following Hurricane Ian.

First and foremost, we understand that the 4.9 GHz was, is now and will remain primarily a band allocated for use by public-safety entities. That fact is not in dispute by the industry trade associations that represent private wireless interests, for sure public-safety advocacy groups, and those institutions whose members also serve the public welfare but fall short of the mission critical description.

Florida Power and Light (FPL) encouraged the FCC to allow critical infrastructure entities to operate in the 4.9 GHz band on a secondary basis.

Multiple industry organizations submitted filings supporting the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet Authority) application for renewal of its license for the 700 MHz Band 14 spectrum. The National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) also filed comments expressing some concerns about the FirstNet Authority and industry partner AT&T.

The FCC provided an update on the support it is providing to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona struck the area with strong rains that caused massive damage.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity grant program specifically for state, local and territorial (SLT) governments across the country.

No time for back tracking. No time for second guessing. An Alzheimer’s patient had wandered off from a local residence into a densely forested area of surrounding Boone, North Carolina. The terrain was hilly, radio coverage was sparse, and temperatures were dropping. The patient was elderly and wasn’t dressed for the weather; that’s about all Fire Chief Jimmy Isaacs knew about him. The other thing the chief knew was that if the patient wasn’t found in a matter of hours, the weather could prove deadly.