The FCC released a report and order that establishes the standards and procedures it will use to review state alternative plans for states that want to opt out of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and build their own radio access network (RAN). The rules give states that opt out of the FirstNet state plan an extra 60 days to complete a request for proposals (RFP) process, providing for 240 days total.

Redline Communications partnered with Future Technologies Ventures to offer Future Technologies' military customers Redline's mobile Long Term Evolution (LTE) product line for tactical rapid deployment purposes. Future Technologies also positioned Redline's LTE product across its private network customer base of vertical markets including rail, first responders, military, utility, maritime, and oil and gas.

EchoStar Mobile and Thales are collaborating to jointly develop advanced mobile satellite voice and data services to meet the needs of security forces and first responders dealing with emergency situations in France and throughout Europe.

With FirstNet releasing most of the state plans this week, state officials should take advantage of the full time allowed to review their plans in order to help make the most informed and best decision for their states.

Motorola Solutions and partner mm-lab equipped Bosch’s automotive proving ground in Boxberg, Germany, with the mm-lab Proving Ground Management System (PGMS) and Motorola’s LEX L10 mission-critical Long Term Evolution (LTE) handheld devices.

Rhode Island joined a handful of other states in releasing a request for proposal (RFP) for a radio access network (RAN) alternative plan to compare to its First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) state plan, released June 19.

AT&T and First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) officials detailed aspects of the priority and pre-emption capabilities for the nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPSBN) during a panel at the 2017 Public Safety Broadband Stakeholder Meeting.

The fifth First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) in-person state single point of contact (SPOC) meeting — the first since FirstNet announced its industry partner AT&T at the end of March — wrapped up this week with FirstNet officials saying states can opt in as soon as they receive their first state plan and reassuring states that they will address state portal terms of use concerns.

The U.K. Emergency Services Network (ESN) staff continues to conduct tests and functional trials with commercial partners and has received final responses to a device procurement. The U.K. Home Office, which oversees the ESN, is working toward its pending transition from the narrowband TETRA Airwave network to EE’s Long Term Evolution (LTE) system.

Several state officials are concerned about the legal terms of use document the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) has requested they sign before they can access the draft state plans later this month. Washington state sent a letter to FirstNet outlining its concerns, including the short timeframe for review of the terms of use and requests in the document that conflict with state laws.