Public Safety Assoc Hold Third Meeting - Nationwide Broadband Network

PUBLIC SAFETY ASSOCIATIONS HOLD THIRD MEETING TO FORM CONSENSUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONWIDE BROADBAND NETWORK

November 16, 2009, Alexandria, Va. - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC) co-hosted a meeting on Friday of nine major public safety organizations to further address matters related to the development of a nationwide interoperable broadband network. …

…Building on the success of the previous two meetings, the participating organizations substantially agreed:

• that there are considerable efficiencies generated through the use of broadband technology for first response and other government agencies;
• to continue to support the approval of waiver requests for use of 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum and early build-out in those areas requesting waivers;
• that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) should more clearly specify and delineate, and accept applications from, public safety as an entity to receive funding through the next round of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). …