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PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS REITERATE CALL FOR CONGRESS TO REALLOCATE D BLOCK TO PUBLIC SAFETY
- Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
- International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
- Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC)
- Major County Sheriffs' Association (MCSA)
- Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs)
- National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)
- National Emergency Number Association (NENA)
- National Sheriffs' Association (NSA)
FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Chief Presents at APCO Winter Technology Summit
January 28, 2010, Orlando, Fla. - In the wake of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) first public disclosure of proposed portions of the National Broadband Plan due to Congress in March, major national public safety associations firmly reasserted their strong, united support for Congress to introduce and pass legislation reallocating the D Block spectrum to public safety now. Rear Admiral (Ret.) James Arden Barnett, Jr., Chief of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, presented on the FCC's National Broadband Plan as part of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International's 2010 Winter Technology Summit.
"We recognize that the FCC is constrained by current law, but public safety leaders and many of our providers are united in concluding that the D Block must be reallocated to public safety on technical, practical, operational and fiscal grounds," APCO International President Richard Mirgon said.
Public safety leaders are overwhelmingly applauding Chief Barnett's open dialogue and serious consideration of the nation's first responder community's priority communications needs since taking the helm earlier this year. In addition to the open discussion on spectrum needs, public safety leaders were pleased with Chief Barnett's support and emphasis on the need for federal funding essential for the success of a nationwide public safety broadband network.
"Public safety has demonstrated the need for the full 20 MHz of broadband spectrum in order to effectively deploy a sustainable national public safety wireless broadband network," Major Cities Chiefs Association representative Chris Moore said. "We appreciate the FCC's ongoing efforts to help make this network a reality."
The nine leading national public safety associations held a press conference earlier this month at the National Press Club in Washington, DC announcing their joint effort.
Go to www.d-block.net for additional information.
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