Public Safety Organizations Call for Congress to Provide Critical Spectrum for Emergency Communications

Public Safety Organizations Call for Congress to Provide Critical Spectrum for Emergency Communications

Congress Urged to Set a Firm Date for Clearing the Airwave

DENVER, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Safety organizations are calling for the United States Congress to act now in order to provide critical airwaves of spectrum to help first responders on the front lines of Homeland Security communicate during emergencies.

"It is a life or death issue," said Harold Hurtt, Houston Chief of Police and President of Major Cities Chiefs, an organization that represents 63 of the nation's largest police organizations. Hurtt made his comments in a video interview distributed during the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International 71st annual convention in Denver.

In 1997, Congress and the Federal Communications Commission passed legislation that allocated 24 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band for state and local public safety organizations. The allocation was tied to the transition to Digital Television, which would remove television stations from these airwaves. However, Congress did not set a firm date for this transition to be completed.

Hurtt said many of the nation's 63 largest police departments cannot access this spectrum because a small number of television stations are still using the airwaves. He urged Congress to support a firm date to clear the 700 MHz spectrum for public safety organizations. He called for the completion of the transition to Digital Television by December 31, 2006.

"In spite of the fact that legislation allocating this spectrum to us passed both the House and Senate in 1997, we are still waiting for action eight years later," Hurtt said. "We have example after example of the need for improving our communications capabilities to enhance Homeland Security efforts."

"Our need for spectrum access is greatest in urban areas," Hurtt added. "Broadcasters are preventing access by public safety agencies that serve more than half of America's population. The most frustrating part is that broadcasters, because of the lack of a firm date for clearing the spectrum, can continue to block public safety's access to this spectrum indefinitely."

"The transition to Digital Television will not result in the loss of TV signals for anyone," Hurtt said. "Some 85 percent of Americans receive TV signals over cable or satellite and would not be affected by the transition. For those households who receive TV over-the-air, they will receive better, Digital Television signals with an inexpensive converter box. This is a win-win situation for everyone involved. Congress needs to act now."

Source: City of Houston Police Department

CONTACT: Captain Dwayne Ready of City of Houston Police Department,
+1-713-308-3228

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