First Responder Communications

Even a decade after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, our nation’s first responders continue to suffer from a lack of interoperable communications.  The tragic events of September 11^th and Hurricane Katrina revealed the need for improved communications capability for local, State, tribal, and Federal first responders during an emergency.  In February 2012, with the vocal support of Chairman King and the Committee on Homeland Security,  Congress passed and the President signed legislation to allocate an adequate amount of contiguous broadband spectrum, specifically the D Block, to public safety.