Eshoo repeats call for national public-safety network

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) joined public-safety officials on Wednesday in calling for a national, interoperable communications network for first-responders ahead of the Sunday's anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

“On the 10th anniversary of 9/11, a fitting tribute to our first-responders, who fought so bravely to save lives and lost their own, is to provide them with a nationwide, interoperable broadband communications network," Eshoo said.

"Congress should act decisively and quickly to address the unacceptable situation which remains in place a decade since the attack on our country."

The establishment of an emergency communications network was one of the primary recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, after communications difficulties during the attacks hampered first-responders.

However, Congress has been divided over whether to use the valuable D Block of spectrum to create a public-safety network or auction off the D Block and build an emergency network that shares commercial airwaves.

Eshoo has circulated draft spectrum legislation with Energy and Commerce ranking member Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) that would reallocate the D Block to public safety, similar to a bill passed by the Senate Commerce Committee in June.

But other members of the House Committee would prefer to auction the D Block; the issue is expected to be hashed out at some point during the fall session.

“Ten years after 9/11, the lack of interoperable voice and data communications remains a significant issue for first-responders across the country,” said Chief Dennis Burns of the Palo Alto Police Department.

“Pending legislation before Congress provides an opportunity to create and fund a nationwide broadband network for public safety. Such a network would facilitate coordinated responses to disasters, regional emergencies and mutual aid events. Broadband infrastructure would enhance the abilities of public-safety personnel to provide critical services to our communities."

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