Committee Democrats Introduce Public Safety Broadband Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Today, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Technology and Innovation Subcommittee Ranking Member Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) introduced the Public Safety Broadband Network Enabling Act (H.R. 3642). The legislation will provide $300 million in proceeds from the auction of spectrum to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for research, development, and standards activities that will enable to development of a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network.
“We are all too familiar with the problems our first responders faced on September 11th and in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in trying to communicate with each other. When disaster strikes and people are in harm’s way, a fully functioning and interoperable public safety communications system is essential,” said Ranking Member Johnson. “We have a responsibility to ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past and that we take the steps that are necessary to make certain that the nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network that we envision is in fact realized.”
The House considered legislation (H.R. 3630) earlier today which proposes the creation of a public safety broadband network. Unfortunately, the Republican proposal fails to include any provisions to guarantee that important foundational public safety broadband network research, development, and standards work will be conducted.
“The proposal considered by the House today falls short of what is needed,” said Ms. Johnson. “Any legislation to create a public safety broadband network should include responsible research and development provisions. The failure to include such provisions puts the success of the entire public safety broadband network at risk.”
The Public Safety Broadband Network Enabling Act authorizes NIST to conduct research and assist in the development of technologies to advance public safety communications, including developing the capability to communicate between currently deployed public safety communications systems and emerging public safety broadband technologies; seek to improve the security, resiliency, and trustworthiness of the public safety broadband network; and develop a research plan to address the current limitations of broadband technology for use by the public safety community. In addition, the bill requires NIST to document operational requirements for a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network and, if necessary and practical, help to accelerate the development of national voluntary consensus standards that address the documented requirements.
“The creation of a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network, as recommended by the 9/11 Commission, is long overdue,” said Ms. Edwards. “It is important that we move forward in earnest, but we must ensure that broadband technologies are developed to work seamlessly with and meet the needs of our first responders. They deserve nothing less. I commend Ranking Member Johnson for recognizing the important role that NIST plays in that effort.”
Earlier this year, as part of the Fiscal Year 2012 budget request and as part of the American Jobs Act proposal, the Administration proposed the creation of a public safety broadband network. The proposal included the establishment of a Public Safety Innovation Fund which would enable NIST to carry out this type of research, development, and standards work. In addition, the Senate is currently considering legislation (S. 911) to establish a public safety broadband network which also provides funding to NIST for relevant public safety broadband activities.
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