WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Public Safety Alliance (PSA) announced that it is pleased that the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology subcommittee took action to allocate 10 MHz of spectrum within the 700 MHz band, or D block, to public safety while providing up to $6.5 billion for construction of a 20 MHz nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network for our nation’s first responders.
“Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Eshoo and all Members of the subcommittee and their staffs on both sides of the aisle have done yeoman’s work to move comprehensive spectrum legislation forward in the past year that attempts to strike a balance between the needs of commercial wireless, public safety, broadcast and other interests, and in very difficult economic times,” stated PSA spokesman Chris Moore, Chief of Police for the San Jose, CA Police Department, “On behalf of the more than 2 million first responders nationwide, the Public Safety Alliance greatly appreciates and applauds their tireless efforts, countless hours of study, analysis, negotiation and results.”
“As the public safety community met in New York City in December, 2009, few believed that we would be able to convince lawmakers in Washington, DC to support D block allocation at all, let alone secure legislation that provides up to $6.5 billion in funding for a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network,” added Charles Dowd, Deputy Chief of New York City Police Department, “so we are very thankful that our lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate have all come together in the committees of jurisdiction to provide funding and spectrum necessary to begin to realize this unmet and long overdue 9/11 Commission Recommendation. Clearly, Congress is listening to our nation’s law enforcement, fire, EMS, and other first responders, as well as our nation’s Governors, Mayors, technologists and other state and local government officials, and are acting on behalf of our citizens’ safety by moving this legislation forward.”
There are clear indications that negotiations will go on among committee members, their staff and with stakeholders as the JOBS bill moves to rapid mark-up in the full committee as soon as next week.
“The Public Safety Alliance is committed to working closely with Congress on the legislation to ensure that it addresses the concerns of all involved who have worked so tirelessly to make this network a reality,” stated Chief Jeff Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the Western Fire Chiefs Association and former President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
For more information on a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network, visit www.psafirst.org.
About Public Safety Alliance The Public Safety Alliance is a partnership of the nation's leading public safety associations, which includes the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Major County Sheriffs’ Association, the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, the National Emergency Management Association and the National Association of State EMS Officials. The partnership is operated as a program of APCO International. The purpose of the Public Safety Alliance is to raise awareness in Congress and the White House about what our Nation’s law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services need to build out a nationwide, interoperable, 4G, wireless communications network to protect America. For more information on the Public Safety Alliance, visit www.psafirst.org.