NOTES PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA’S CALL TO DELAY TRANSITION/SENDS LETTER TO SAFETY OFFICIALS

Washington, Jan 14, 2009 - “Although President-Elect Obama called on Congress to delay the DTV transition, I share the concern that such a delay would prevent the clearing of spectrum for the benefit of public safety,” said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee. Stearns sent a letter to four safety officials expressing his agreement with their concerns over any delay and outlining the safety threat of such a delay. The DTV transition is set by law to occur on February 17, 2009.

Wrote Stearns, “Five years to the day before September 11, public safety officials identified the need for more spectrum. Five years later your call still had not been answered, with tragic results. Since then, there have been a number of attempts to clear the specific spectrum promised to first responders. Each has failed, primarily because there is really no way to provide that spectrum to public safety officials without clearing all the spectrum that broadcasters use for full-power analog television.” Stearns concludes by expressing his support for the mandated February 17th deadline.

The letter was sent to Chris Fischer, President, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International; Chief Russell B. Laine, President, International Association of Chiefs of Police; Chief Larry J. Grorud, President, International Association of Fire Chiefs; and Ralph A. Haller, Chairman, National Public Safety Telecommunications Council.