Commerce Department asks for input on public-safety network

The Commerce Department agency responsible for the government's use of the airwaves will ask for comments on a planned nationwide public-safety broadband network.

Larry Strickling, the administrator of the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), announced the request for information Monday in a speech at the International Public Safety Broadband Summit and Expo, which was sponsored by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.

NTIA will ask for input on the distribution of $135 million in grants for state and local governments to plan the deployment of the network.

Congress set aside wireless frequencies and $7 billion in funding for the national public-safety network, called FirstNet, as part of the payroll tax cut extension earlier this year.

The network, which would help first-responders from different agencies communicate during emergencies, is one of the last outstanding recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Report. 

FirstNet would also allow emergency responders to send video and other data in real time.

Strickling said he wants more detailed information about the technical needs of first-responders. He will also requested input on how to select the board of directors that will head FirstNet.

He said that finding a board that meets the various technical and geographic requirements will be like solving a "multi-dimensional jigsaw puzzle." 

Strickling also announced on Monday that NTIA will partially suspend the funding of seven public safety communication programs that were authorized by the stimulus bill. He explained that the government should suspend the projects until it becomes more clear how they will fit into the planned national broadband network.

Strickling said he decided to pause the projects "to protect taxpayer funds and avoid investments that would need to be replaced" if they are incompatible with the nationwide network.

—Updated at 4:54 p.m.

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