The National 911 Program released its 2021 “Advancing 911 Across the Nation” summary report.

During its August meeting, the FCC created new innovation zones in and nearby North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts to allow for advanced wireless communications and network innovation research.

The $1 trillion infrastructure improvement act currently being considered by Congress does not include funding for next-generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1). The act does provide funding and direction for other critical communications initiatives such as improved cybersecurity and broadband.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) selected two industry partners to move forward with the next test and evaluation phase of S&T’s Wildland Fire Sensor Research Program.

Wireless carriers and public-safety organizations weighed in on the FCC’s proposal for changing its rules governing notification of disruptions to 9-1-1 service to public-safety answering points (PSAPs).

Comtech Telecommunications received a statewide contract to provide next-generation 9-1-1 (NG 9-1-1) services for the state of Iowa. This multi-year contract includes contract extension options and is valued up to $48.5 million. Initial funding for the contract is $23 million.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) launched the 2021 Girl Scout Cyber Awareness Challenge, a new initiative to encourage girls across the country to learn about cybersecurity and increase related awareness within their own communities, particularly around the growing threat of ransomware.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) strategic plan.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program recently awarded funding to two companies to develop an in-building coverage analysis system (ICAS) that leverages existing first responder radio and smartphone technology to enhance accessibility to wireless service.

The Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum) approved a new project on passive and active spectrum sharing (PASS).