By Jeffrey Silva
RCR Wireless News
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The growing pool of federal dollars for interoperable public safety communications grants could get even bigger, even though the nearly $3 billion spent to date has largely failed to improve first responder communications around the country.
Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, an independent Democrat from Connecticut, and ranking member Susan Collins (R-Maine) added $400 million for interoperable public safety communications to a non-binding budget measure. The Senate passed budget resolution for fiscal 2008 provides a blueprint for follow-up spending bills.
“We know our first responders don’t have the training, equipment, and frequently the manpower they need to do their jobs properly,” Lieberman said. “Unfortunately, time and again, disasters occur, and police, fire fighters, and emergency medical workers are unable to exchange information with each other. Lives are lost as a result. This funding represents a sustained federal commitment to supporting these essential programs that bolster our preparedness. I am pleased that my colleagues agree that more, not less, must be done to strengthen an ‘all-hazards’ approach to preparing for and responding to terrorist attacks as well as natural disasters.”
Full Story: Interoperability plans garner additional $400M