Obey ANNOUNCES ADVANCEMENT OF $500,000 TO HELP UPGRADE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS IN Northeast WISCONSIN

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seventh District Congressmen Dave Obey (D-WI) announced today that the U.S. House Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee approved $500,000 to help the North East Wisconsin Public Safety Communications group (NEWCOM) improve regional public safety radio interoperability.  Obey is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and worked to secure the funding. 

“Clear communications between our emergency responders can mean the difference between life and death,” said Obey. “This funding will help our emergency responders do their job safely and effectively.”

NEWCOM is a cooperative partnership of 16 counties with over 500 law enforcement groups contained in one-third of the land area of the state.  NEWCOM’s goal is to establish an interoperable public safety mobile radio system and mobile data system for the region.

Obey noted that, “the bill must still be approved by the full House and Senate and signed by the President before it becomes law, but having these funds included in today’s version means that a major hurdle has been cleared.”

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