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APCO APPLAUDS FCC ACTION ON PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND WAIVERS
Urges FCC, Obama & Congress to Secure Sufficient Public Safety Spectrum with D Block
May 13, 2010, Alexandria Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today congratulated those organizations who submitted and received waivers to allow them to begin to build-out and test the first phases toward realization of a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network. Twenty-one requests were conditionally approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), including New York City, the State of New York, the State of New Jersey, the City of Boston and Washington, DC.
"As we were just reminded again with the attempted car bombing in Times Square, these state and local government jurisdictions know first-hand the true need for sufficient, flexible and dedicated public safety broadband spectrum to ensure mission-critical communications in times of emergency, whether every day, special event, critical incident, terrorist-related or catastrophic incidents," APCO International President Richard Mirgon said. "While we continue to disagree with the FCC's recommendation that the D Block be auctioned for commercial use instead of allocating it for mission-critical public safety needs, we strongly support their actions today to allow these jurisdictions, as early adopters, to begin to finally build-out toward a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network, consistent with public safety's call for Long Term Evolution as the broadband technology standard."
APCO International also reiterated its call for support to the FCC, the Obama Administration and Congress to ensure allocation of the D Block to public safety.
"Many questions remain regarding public safety gaining sufficient funding, support and spectrum to realize this nationwide network as quickly and as adequately as possible," Mirgon said. "APCO and its partners are prepared to bring this appeal straight to the American people in the coming weeks and months, and we are confident that public officials will recognize the need to address this critical issue as a national priority and as highlighted in the 9/11 Report, despite its seeming technical complexity and projected costs." About APCO International
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO International serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by creating a platform for setting professional standards, addressing professional issues and providing education, products and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical dispatch agencies throughout the world. For more information, visit www.apcointl.org.
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