The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), a federation of public-safety communications organizations, has formed a separate not-for-profit foundation to potentially fund the federation’s work. The NPSTC Foundation was incorporated in December and has applied to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(3) organization that would be exempt from federal income tax.

SAFECOM released the “Fiscal Year 2020 SAFECOM Guidance on Emergency Communications Grants,” a document updated annually to provide current information on emergency communications policies, eligible costs, best practices, and technical standards for grant recipients. Grant applicants are encouraged to reference this document when developing emergency communications investments for federal funding.

A bid led by Dorset Council was awarded £4.335 million (US$5.6 million) to help understand how rural communities could benefit from next-generation mobile connectivity. Excelerate Technology is leading part of the consortium project that will deliver advancements in coastal connectivity, enabling first responders and supporting organizations’ access to digital communications applications.

The New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and its Judicial Information Division launched a statewide data project with Tyler Technologies to improve the criminal justice system and enhance public safety.

Feb. 17 was the effective date of Kari’s Law, which requires multiline telephone systems (MLTS) to directly route 9-1-1 calls, without the need to dial a prefix to reach an outside line.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Leader Rep. Greg Walden introduced legislation that repeals the mandate to auction the UHF T-band spectrum, clarifies acceptable 9-1-1 obligations and expenditures, and ensure 9-1-1 funds are not diverted for other purposes.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released fiscal year (FY) 2020 notices of funding opportunity for eight DHS preparedness grant programs totaling nearly $1.8 billion. The grant programs provide funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofit organizations and the private sector, to improve the nation’s readiness in preventing and mitigating terrorist attacks and major disasters.

Wireless carriers abandoned the National Emergency Address Database (NEAD), the platform designed to support wireless providers’ provision of dispatchable location information to 9-1-1 centers, according to a letter filed with the FCC Feb. 14.

Australia’s industry regulator for heavy vehicles is deploying a new mobile application from Motorola Solutions to increase safety, situational awareness and productivity for its workers.

The Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) published a report focusing on rural first responders and their unique needs and challenges.