Senate set to vote on $3.1B public-safety grant program

The Senate is set to vote this week on a homeland security bill that includes more federal support for interoperable public-safety wireless communications.
The legislation addresses a serious first-responder problem highlighted in rescue efforts in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The measure also creates a huge business opportunity for wireless vendors.
The legislation would authorize $3.1 billion between 2008 and 2012 for public-safety interoperability grants as part of a broader bill to implement unfinished recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. The Department of Homeland Security would administer the grant program.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration recently contracted with DHS to manage a separate, $1 billion grant program to improve interoperable public-safety communications around the country.
Meantime, Congress and the Federal Communications Commission are examining options to help firefighters, police and medics communicate with each other during emergencies, and to give public-safety systems broadband capability by allowing first responders to access additional spectrum.