Politco reports that it seems unlikely that any legislation creating a public safety network will pass by the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. Despite some bi-partisan support and intense political pressure from law enforcement and public safety groups, Congress has departed on its August recess without passing any legislation.
There is consensus that a high-speed data network is needed for broader communications. Existing radio networks have proved to be inefficient and ineffective to meet the needs of modern day public safety service. Congress is at odds regarding how to designate the band of airwaves for public safety purposes.
A few points from the article:
- The legislative showdown in Congress is stemming from differences in the House and Senate approaches to allocating the coveted airwaves.
- Intense lobbying is occurring regarding this legislation on several fronts from the broadcast industry and the wireless industry.
- One of the key lawmakers working on this a public safety network, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), has commented that the chances of a passed bill for the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 are not likely based on the way Congress is now.
- Law enforcement officials such as NYPD Deputy Police Chief Charles Dowd have expressed disappointment over the pace of the public safety network’s progress.
- Realistic hopes for the public safety network could occur in November with the results of the Super Committee established to deal with the deficit and debt.
D-Block spectrum is highly coveted because of the ability of the airwaves to provide good reception in dense buildings. Both the wireless industry and public safety groups are interested in D-Block spectrum and present different approaches to spectrum allocations. House Republicans are concerned over the ability of auctions resulting from the Senate bill to produce revenue.
As negotiations continue, it is essential that our nation sets aside a block of spectrum for better communications for our first responders and public safety professionals. Additionally, it is necessary that the wireless industry has additional spectrum to meet the needs of increasing demand for mobile broadband services. Latinos rely on mobile service to access the Internet and stay connected to the digital age. Without sufficient spectrum, Latinos will face restrictive data caps and higher costs which will jeopardize the ability of Latinos to participate in the digital age.