The budget also includes $82 million in reserve funding and $145 million in network reinvestment.

Three semifinalists will demonstrate their solutions in front of judges on Oct. 2 to determine who wins the $20,000 prize.

Expanding the network's "deployables fleet" and improving in-building coverage fall under six priorities outlined in FirstNet's latest planning document.

Funding authorized in 2012 is now being dispensed to 34 states and territories. But a full nationwide upgrade could require more than $12 billion.

The state is spending $3 million to outfit more than 500 districts with mobile public safety tech used in a growing number of schools around the country.

After years of false starts, Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state could now be getting the support it needs to deploy the next generation of 911 technologies.

Facial recognition is here to stay, but gaining the trust of those unfamiliar with the technology will be crucial for public safety agencies across the country.

The tool's creators are hopeful more detailed information on regional felony cases will inform smarter policy in the nation's second-largest county.

Commentary: Jordan Davis, a director at the Columbus Partnership, shares how the Ohio capital is making the most of its $570 million experiment.