WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday's magnitude 5.9 earthquake in northern Virginia once again underscored the critical need for allocating the D Block spectrum and funding to public safety to build a nationwide interoperable broadband network, announced the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International. This moderate earthquake, which was felt from North Carolina to Toronto and beyond, demonstrates why first responders need a nationwide interoperable network. A more severe earthquake could have resulted in devastating loss of life and property in the heart of our Nation’s Capital.
What was immediately apparent to the hundreds of thousands of people who flooded the streets after the quake was that their cell phones and wireless data networks did not work because of severe congestion. Commercial wireless networks quickly became overloaded and people were not able to call, text or email their friends and family.
While there was no reports of outages or congestion on public safety radio systems, there was an impact on first responders and emergency personnel who relied on their commercial cell phones and data cards to communicate with their colleagues and families. Clearly, public safety cannot rely on commercial networks during critical incidents and major events, as they cannot gain access to roam onto or gain the level of priority access necessary to be effective in such incidents. Last years filing by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) listed more than a dozen occasions since 9/11 where commercial networks have been overloaded. Finally, Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) in the region were flooded by non-emergency 9-1-1 calls from the general public asking information about the earthquake. This tied up 9-1-1 lines and may have delayed responses to actual emergencies.
Public Safety organizations and state and local officials throughout the United States have repeatedly asked Congress to enact legislation that would provide for the creation and funding of a nationwide, interoperable communications network before the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks – which is just 18 days away. Congress has authorized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to oversee spectrum management for commercial, private, and non-federal government use, which is why public safety and state and local governments are petitioning Congress to allocate additional spectrum to public safety, consistent with the bipartisan 9/11 Commission recommendation.
“The events of today once again prove how powerful the argument for dedicated spectrum is for public safety, and becomes so understandable for those today that tried to reach their loved ones by wireless devices and could not do so,” said APCO International spokesman Sean Kirkendall.
Numerous first responders were stymied and forced to wait to communicate during today’s emergency efforts. Hundreds of thousands of mobile phone consumers trying to contact loved ones could not get through due to overcrowded wireless networks. Clearly, public safety cannot rely on these same commercial networks during critical incidents and major events, as they cannot gain access to roam onto them or gain the level of priority access necessary to be effective in such incidents.
“Congress needs to give top priority and pass S.911: The Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act of 2011 now” Kirkendall continued. “How many more warnings, close calls and critical incidents do we need before Congress breaks through the politics as usual and acts for the good of the nation’s safety, citizens’ safety, and for the protection and effectiveness of our first responders?”
For more information on a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network, visit www.apcointl.org and www.psafirst.org.
For more information, contact: Yucel Ors Phone: 202-436-4558 Email: orsy@apcomail.org