"D Block"
Senate Committee Hears Public Safety Concerns
September 24, 2010“You have the ability to give rural and urban America the capability to allow public safety to do a better job,” said Jackson County (W.Va.) EMS Director Stephen E. McClure to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee during a hearing on Senate Bill 3756. “[The bill] will allow an unprecedented move to develop a public safety communications network. We will be able to do things we are not able to do in today’s system.”
Read full articlePublic Safety Recieves Support & Action from Sen. Rockefeller & Rep. Harman
August 6, 2010Sen. Jay Rockefeller introduces Senate Bill 3756,The Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act; Rep. Jane Harman introduced of legislation to enhance public safety mobile communications devices, the Next Generation Public Safety Device Act of 2010.
Read full articleFrom the FCC
August 2, 2010At 3:15 p.m. on Aug. 2, FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Chief Admiral Jamie Barnett and Jeff Cohen spoke to APCO members and conference attendees about the issues currently pending at the Commission.
Read full articleFrom the APCO First General Business Meeting
August 2, 2010On Aug. 1, at 1 p.m., APCO President Richard Mirgon called the association’s First General Business Meeting to order. In addition to business matters and reading this year’s proposed resolutions, the Quorum was treated to presentations from Chris Essid, Robert Gurss and Sean Kirkendal.
Read full article3 Senators Join Public Safety’s Fight for the D Block
July 29, 2010On July 21, the Public Safety Alliance and 40-plus national organizations supporting its position, took their message of public safety D-Block allocation and funding for the nationwide public safety broadband network to Capitol Hill. They were joined by Senators Joe Lieberman and John McCain, who introduced the First Responders Protection Act of 2010 (S. 3625).
Read full articlePublic Safety Reacts to FCC Findings
June 25, 2010Public safety representatives blasted the FCC’s position and its June 15 white paper, saying that the policy decision preceded the paper and that its findings were designed to justify the position.
Read full articleFirst Responders Launch Campaign for Nationwide Communications Network
June 7, 2010The Public Safety Alliance, a partnership among the nation’s leading public safety associations, announced a national advertising and grassroots campaign, calling on Congress to modify the FCC’s proposed auction of the D Block included in its national broadband plan. The group is comprised of major national organizations representing police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies — all concerned by the lack of a nationwide interoperable communications network they desperately need to keep America safe and respond to crime, fire, emergencies, acts of terrorism and natural disasters.
Read full articleNational Broadband Plan Released
March 24, 2010APCO and the public safety community have been anticipating the release of the FCC’s National Broadband Plan for some time now. In March, the FCC finally released the plan.
Read full articleCongress Called to Take Action
January 15, 2010A 700 MHz public safety nationwide broadband wireless network supporting both broadband voice and data will enhance interoperability in public safety emergencies requiring a multi-jurisdictional response. The September 2009 Draft of the National Broadband Plan calls for an eventual converged broadband voice and data network for public safety as a strategic goal.
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