Lawmakers Acknowledge Need for General Funds to Build Public-Safety Network

Lawmakers Acknowledge Need for General Funds to Build Public-Safety Network

(9/25/09)
By Sandra Wendelken
Congressional members of the House subcommittee on communications, technology and the Internet heard views from the public-safety community and commercial carriers on the best option for the 700 MHz D block spectrum Thursday, with several lawmakers noting general funds might be the only way to ensure buildout of a nationwide public-safety broadband network.

After hearing several proposals for D block options from the seven witnesses, Rep. Rick Boucher, chair of the subcommittee, said none of the options provided full funding for the proposed network. “I’m not sure if any of these proposals derive the revenues necessary to build out this spectrum, especially in rural areas,” said Rep. Boucher. “My thought is at the end of the day we’re going to find ourselves looking at some general fund revenues in order to finance this. I don’t know of another avenue open to us.” …