The Small Cell Forum (SCF) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) announced a far-reaching alliance to address two of the most important growth areas in connectivity – smart communities and smart buildings.

Other than a few sites that flooded because of unprecedented water levels, the Harris County, Texas, LMR and Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks withstood Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath, which included more than 50 inches of rain, county officials said.

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.

Comtech Telecommunications developed a real-time location, web-based portal for simultaneously tracking multiple search-and-rescue aircraft for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), a volunteer organization of citizen airmen and an auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF).

xG Technology’s Vislink business entered into an agreement with Panasonic System Solutions Europe to collaborate on projects to bring Vislink's video communications technology to the rail industry.

AT&T completed two Long Term Evolution (LTE)-M pilots in Mexico in the third quarter of 2017. The company is deploying LTE-M technology across its network in Mexico.

Huawei announced there are now more than 100 eLTE alliance members and the company launched new solutions for public safety and power industries.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded funding to five research and development (R&D) projects that will enhance the secure use of mobile applications for the federal government.

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.