NIST awards $38.5 million for multiple first responder communications projects

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an organization within the U.S. Department of Commerce, recently awarded $38.5 million for 33 different research and development projects that seek to advance broadband communication technologies for first responders.

The grants are aimed at modernizing public safety operations by supporting the migration of data, voice, and video communications from the current mobile radio platform to a nationwide public safety broadband network.

All funding stems from a 2015 NIST auction of advanced wireless service licenses, which netted approximately $300 million, and is allocated through the Public Safety Innovation Accelerator.

“Through programs like FirstNet, President Trump and this Administration are working hard to keep Americans safe,” Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said. “These grant awards will help fulfill our mission, ensuring that first responders have access to advanced tools that can save lives.”

Each of the selected projects span five key technology areas that address various public safety communications issues, including mission critical voice, location-based services, public safety analytics, research and prototyping platforms, and resilient systems.

Awardees of the grants include Carnegie Mellon University, New York University, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiments Station, the University California at Irvine, and the Western Fire Chiefs Association, Inc., among others.