The FCC will consider a notice of proposed rulemaking that would seek comment and propose changes to the priority access license rules in the 3.5 GHz band at its Oct. 24 meeting.

Midlothian, Texas, joined the Fort Worth Regional Radio System (FWRRS), allowing the town’s first responders to use the network’s first response communications, video surveillance, EMS traffic signaling and data communications capabilities.

In a public notice, the FCC announced that state First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) opt-out election notifications for 52 states and territories are due Dec. 28.

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) playing key roles in supporting response and recovery efforts across Florida following Hurricane Irma.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton announced the state will participate in the FirstNet and AT&T plan to deliver a wireless broadband network to the state’s public-safety community.

Australia’s Orion Network will expand its network with the rollout of Motorola Solutions Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Tier 3 technology nationwide to meet growing customer demand for radio voice and data services.

Mantaro Networks and Beeper Communications Israel received funding from the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation, to support development of unmanned search and rescue systems (USRS.) Project USRS was awarded $900,000 in funding during 18 months.

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) delivered official notice of state plans to governors. Governors will have 90 days — until Dec. 28 — to decide whether to opt in or out of the FirstNet/AT&T plan for deploying the nationwide public-safety broadband network.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for a second round of State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP) grants — SLIGP 2.0. This round of funding will allow state and territorial governments to continue planning efforts to support the deployment of the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN). NTIA will make up to $43.4 million available under SLIGP 2.0, subject to the availability of funding.

The states of Washington and Oregon will jointly issue a request for proposals (RFP) to operate a high-speed, wireless broadband data network dedicated to public safety. The network will not replace existing public-safety radio networks but will be another tool to ensure that first responders can communicate in times of disasters that tend to overwhelm existing networks.