Today’s hearing will focus on the present and future of public safety communications.  This is a matter of continuing importance to our nation, and to the men and women who risk their lives daily to provide Americans with emergency assistance. 

 

In too many cities and counties across this nation, our nation’s first responders struggle to talk to one another during natural or manmade disasters.  Unfortunately, this problem is not new.  More than a decade ago, a specially- created Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee reported on the need for immediate measures to alleviate spectrum shortfalls and to promote voice interoperability. 

 

While we have made significant strides since that time, one need only look at our experience during the events of September 11, and the Northeast blackouts in 2003, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, to know that we still have a long way to go.

 

In 2005, the Commerce Committee took an important step by creating a new $1 billion grant program to help fund new equipment and training necessary to improve communications interoperability.  Regrettably our efforts to make progress on this problem are being undermined by the Administration, which is using this money, already in the pipeline, to hide the $1.2 billion dollar cut from the Department of Homeland Security grants that support state and local preparedness and firefighter assistance.  I hope and trust that Congress can do better in this regard.

 

In the 110th congress, I have begun by working with my colleagues Senators Stevens, Kerry, Smith and Snowe, by introducing S. 385 -- the Interoperable Emergency Communications Act -- which would eliminate current restrictions in the law that hinder some interoperability efforts and would provide the National Telecommunications and Information Administration with needed guidance from Congress to ensure the money is effectively dispersed.

 

I hope that we will move quickly on this bill in the coming weeks.

 

Today’s hearing allows us to peer into the future of public safety communications.  By now, even the casual observer recognizes how broadband networks are changing the way in which we communicate and exchange information.

Our children lead the way, using the power of new technology to provide streaming video and real-time information to our home and work computers, and increasingly, to mobile devices on-the-go.  It does not take much imagination to realize how invaluable these capabilities could be to those first on the scene of an emergency.

 

Such technology could send streaming video to command posts in the aftermath of a hurricane, could assess environmental conditions faced by firefighters responding to a chemical fire, and could transmit the vital signs of injured victims to those providing emergency medical assistance.

 

To realize this future, we must prepare for it.  This hearing raises the most important questions this committee will face: 

 

 

 

Now is the time for this discussion.  In February 2009, broadcasters will complete the digital television transition and will open significant amounts of new spectrum for commercial and public safety use.  Our current plans for the use of that spectrum were adopted nearly a decade ago.  Given the stakes, it is worth taking a fresh look.