The Tech to Protect challenge from the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) is giving startups and entrepreneurs the opportunity to solve critical technology problems facing emergency responders.

With increasing pressure on governments and authorities to respond faster, more effectively and with real-time insights into emergencies, disasters and crises, there’s never been a more urgent need for a step change in public-safety communications. Bringing new connectivity, capacity and capability, mobile broadband holds the key.

The FCC’s report and order permitting unlicensed operations on 1,200 megahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band was published in the Federal Register May 26, setting July 27 as the effective date for the new rules.

Hytera announced it is focused on push-to-talk (PTT) over cellular (PoC) radio market research and development and is committed to driving the industry toward improved technologies, higher quality products and enhanced professionalism.

Aviat Networks announced a public-safety communications project with the Virginia State Police. As a new customer, Virginia State Police will use Aviat's microwave hardware, software and services to upgrade its mission-critical network, enhancing communications for law enforcement and 20 other agencies across the commonwealth of Virginia.

Hytera America and Hytera America (West) are seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing ongoing lawsuits brought by Motorola Solutions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, the company said that it plans to use the Chapter 11 restructuring process to address the issues caused by those two events.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Christopher Krebs sent a letter to the nation’s governors encouraging them to provide necessary access and resources to the communications workers helping to keep Americans connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is requesting information from the public about the broad use of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services, as well as the cybersecurity risk management approaches used to protect them.

SAFECOM released a 2020 strategic plan that outlines 38 priorities that the public-safety communications support organization plans to accomplish this year. The priorities fall under seven committees and task forces that address issues from governance to technology policy to the Project 25 (P25) Compliance Assessment Program (CAP).

Motorola Solutions and Hytera Communications proposed a briefing schedule for Motorola’s theft of trade secrets lawsuit against Hytera that would push the post-trial effort to August.