DHS Misses Hill Deadline on Public Safety Report
The Dept. of Homeland Security missed a deadline to tell Congress how to meet needs in public safety communication, including interoperable modalities. The report was due June 20, a date reflecting a 6 months-plus extension. Congress told DHS to report in the 2004 Intelligence Reform Act. The report, originally due Dec. 17, was to accompany an FCC report on public safety use of 700 MHz spectrum, which the Commission sent Congress in Dec. (CD Dec 22 p2).
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DHS spokespeople said they couldn’t comment because they didn’t know of the study and couldn’t find anyone who did in a holiday week. A DHS Inspector Gen. Office spokeswoman said that office was “not involved” with the report but is “very interested in reading the report, once completed.”
“I heard it has been moving through various hoops at the federal government, but I haven’t heard anything recently,” said a public safety source. “There’s been a lot of changes within DHS and it’s hard to tell what’s happening… There are concerns. We're hoping the report supports that we have needs.” A 2nd public safety source said: “Anything that adds to uncertainty on 700 MHz is a concern… We are watching.”
The Intelligence Reform Act required DHS, in tandem with the FCC and NTIA, to “assess strategies that may be used to meet public safety telecommunications needs.” The study was to look at “the need and efficacy of deploying nationwide interoperable communications networks,” and public safety entities’ ability to use wireless broadband applications and “the communications capabilities of all emergency response providers” and “current efforts to promote communications coordination and training among emergency response providers.”
In 2005, the FCC agreed with public safety groups that 24 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum set to go to public safety after the DTV transition should be adjusted to allow more ambitious broadband uses. In March, the FCC sought comment on proposals for offering broadband in the band.