The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and AT&T Sept. 19 delivered updated information to the state plan portals of the 53 states and territories where they delivered the original state plan information. State official notifications are expected "in the near future" and will begin the 90-day deadline for a governor's opt-in or opt-out decision.

Texas — one of the largest states in the country and home to an early builder network — and Idaho opted in to the respective plans from the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and AT&T to deliver a wireless broadband networks to their state's public-safety communities.

Gov. Larry Hogan announced Maryland will opt in to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and accept FirstNet AT&T’s public-safety Long Term Evolution (LTE) state plan.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) board of directors approved a fiscal year (FY) 2018 budget of $73.5 million, a 13 percent decrease from its FY 2017 budget of $84.6 million. The resolution passed at the FirstNet board’s Sept. 14 meeting.

The FCC released an order establishing its procedures for evaluating opt-out state plans to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) through a two-prong process for interoperability. The order is specific to the second interoperability prong.

Bosch Communications Systems (BCS) in Lincoln, Nebraska, received a notice of unlicensed operation from the FCC.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson offered potential insights into ways that AT&T might harden the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) to withstand disasters such as Hurricane Irma.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) rejected a request for records from an attorney who specializes in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, saying the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act exempts FirstNet from FOIA requirements.

The Vermont Office of Purchasing & Contracting, on behalf of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), is soliciting proposals for an alternative solution to the nationwide offering of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). Proposals are sought from qualified firms to build, operate and maintain a statewide radio access network (RAN) to connect to and be fully interoperable with the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN).

Chris Sambar, AT&T senior vice president, apologized for comments he made “that may have been misleading” regarding a definition of public safety grade for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) nationwide public-safety broadband network.