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FirstNet lands Texas, Idaho, Maryland

Texas is the largest state to join AT&T's build-out for the First Responders Network Authority public safety LTE network FirstNet has landed its most populous state to date, with Texas announcing that it has opted in to the build-out of the public safety LTE network...

Why States Should Issue a FirstNet RFP

This is a critical time to ensure state public safety needs are met by FirstNet’s plans for the nationwide public safety broadband Network (NPSBN).  Wireless 20/20 has published a new white paper designed to help state officials and governors evaluate the available information, and...

Zello app helped connect rescuers during hurricane

Zello walkie-talkie app provided connection for Hurricane Harvey volunteer rescue efforts For the civilian volunteers who braved the flood waters of Hurricane Harvey, the walkie-talkie application Zello provided a lifeline and a means to organize their impromptu efforts. Zello -- the name of both the...

Telecom Tweets of the Week: Waterlogged by Harvey

It was a rough week for southeast Texas, as Hurricane Harvey slammed into the coast and dropped an unprecedented amount of water -- more than 50 inches, in some places. The pictures and video posted to social media by residents and journalists attempted to...

Hawaii is 15th state to sign up for FirstNet

As AT&T readies to begin deployment of a nationwide LTE network dedicated to public safety officials, the public-private FirstNet plans continues to see traction at the state level. This week Hawaii opted into FirstNet bringing the total to 15 states and one territory. In addition...

Carriers waive customer fees, deal with flooding from Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey leads to massive flooding, power outages; carriers offer free service in impacted areas As Houston continues to be deluged with rain, the four national wireless carriers are waiving customer fees for voice, data and/or text in the most heavily impacted areas, as they...

Analyst Angle: APCO 2017 conference takeaways

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International has wrapped up its annual conference and exhibition that tackled issues facing agencies fielding the nation's 9-1-1 communications operations. Held in Denver, Colorado, the event brings together 9-1-1 public safety answering point (PSAP) telecommunicators, supporting government...

Verizon to build its own public safety core network

As state's continue to opt in to the $46 billion plan for AT&T and governmental partners to build a nationwide LTE network dedicated to public safety communications, Verizon has moved from signaling its continued dedication to public safety to articulating its intention to build...

Verizon looks to be ‘very competitive’ with AT&T’s FirstNet plans

Verizon execs talk public safety market at APCO With its win of the $7 billion FirstNet contract, AT&T was been dominating public safety communications news and mind share as states continue to opt in to the carrier's plan, which developed in partnership with the First...

FirstNet update: Michigan, New Mexico, U.S. Virgin Islands latest to opt-in

At this point, there are nine states and one territory that have signed-off on FirstNet plans States continue to opt-in into the national public safety LTE network that will be built by AT&T. Virginia was the first state to join the plan, followed by Arkansas, Wyoming...

What you need to know about RF noise

In mid-2016, the Federal Communications Commission’s Technical Advisory Committee asked for public comment on whether it should study “changes to the spectrum noise floor over the past 20 years.” The number and type of devices which produce radio frequency energy has radically changed in...

Up in the air: Verizon, drones and the public safety market

The small, gray aircraft with bright orange under-wings looked like a large model plane, but the civilian drone carried an unusual passenger: electronic equipment that turned the unmanned aerial vehicle into a flying cell site. As the drone flew on a predetermined path with a...

Three more states jump on the FirstNet bandwagon

Arkansas, Wyoming and Kentucky join Virginia as the first states to opt in to FirstNet network The First Responders Network Authority is gaining momentum as states begin to declare their official decisions to opt in to the national public safety LTE network build: Virginia kicked...

FirstNet lands its first opt-in state

Virginia's governor declares intent to opt-in to the national build by AT&T Less than a month after state plans were released, the first state has decided to opt in to the national public safety LTE network that will be built by AT&T: Virginia's governor has...

ETSI mission-critical PTT interoperability testing achieves 85% success

First ETSI mission-critical push-to-talk plugfest draws 19 vendors In its first plugfest focused on interoperable, mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) capabilities for first responders, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute reported that more than 1,000 tests resulted in an 85% success rate. ETSI said that the testing sessions were...

FirstNet, AT&T release state plans

States can now review their FirstNet state plans The First Responders Network Authority continues to pick up speed for the deployment of its nationwide public safety LTE network to be built by AT&T, releasing proposed network plans to U.S. states and territories through its online...

NIST awards $38.5 million for public safety communications projects

NIST's PSCR funds 33 public safety communications research projects Augmented reality helmets. Resilient fog computing. Mission-critical push-to-talk with direct device-to-device communication. Real-time video analytics. Precise and pervasive location-based services. These are just a few of the 33 projects that were awarded $38.5 million in funding...

FirstNet, AT&T to allow early opt-in

AT&T will deliver state plans later this month The First Responders Network Authority and AT&T, the contractor for FirstNet's national network, expect to deliver individual state plans for public safety coverage this month. The targeted date for the plans is June 19, and all of...

What does a public safety user interface of the future need?

PSCR roadmap looks at technical capabilities, gaps and R&D opportunities As work begins on the contract for a new, nationwide LTE network for public safety that was recently awarded to AT&T, the Public Safety Communications Research Division continues its effort to lay out the current and future needs of...

Parallel Wireless enables public safety to instantly ‘Bring Your Own Coverage’

Bring Your Own Coverage (BYOC) from Parallel Wireless creates instant easy to deploy coverage in areas where it is non-existent (tunnels, parking garage, etc.) or compromised With FirstNet and ESN initiatives, many countries are looking into rolling out a nationwide public safety broadband network. In order...

#TBT: That ‘net’ thing could be huge for cell phones; FCC wants input on public safety spectrum … 21 years ago this week

"The internet is the killer app" for wireless data; FCC asks for input on public safety spectrum needs ... 21 years ago this week Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from...

Public safety LTE Q&A: SNS Research

As AT&T kicks off work with the First Responders Network Authority to build a nationwide public safety LTE network for first responders, there are substantial challenges and opportunities ahead. RCR Wireless News reached out to James Bennett, director at SNS Research and author of a recent...

AT&T wins FirstNet network contract

AT&T has officially been selected as the commercial partner that will build and maintain a nationwide public safety LTE network for the First Responders Network Authority. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson joined federal officials as the news was announced Thursday morning and told the crowd that starting this...

FirstNet board moves contract forward

The board of the First Responders Network Authority on Tuesday moved a step closer to awarding its contract for a new, nationwide LTE network for public safety. The FirstNet board voted unanimously to give the organization's CEO the power to move forward and complete...