I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3642 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 13, 2011 Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas (for herself and Ms. Edwards) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to document operational requirements, assist with national voluntary consensus standards, and conduct technology research to advance a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Public Safety Broadband Network Enabling Act.

2.

Public safety broadband network standards and research

The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is amended— (1)by redesignating section 34 as section 35; and (2)by inserting after section 33 the following:

34.

Public safety broadband network standards, research, and demonstration testbed

(a)

In general

The Director shall— (1)document operational requirements for a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network; (2)if necessary and practical, help to accelerate the development of national voluntary consensus standards for a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network, including standards that address the requirements documented under paragraph (1); (3)conduct research and assist with the development of technologies and applications to advance wireless public safety communications; and (4)continue to develop and maintain a demonstration testbed for use by manufacturers, providers of commercial mobile services (as defined in section 332 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332)), and public safety agencies to evaluate advanced broadband communications equipment and software for use by the public safety community. (b)

Research activities

In carrying out subsection (a)(3), the Director shall— (1)accelerate the development of communication capabilities between currently deployed public safety narrowband systems and a nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network; (2)seek to develop technologies, processes, and architectures that improve network security, resiliency, and trustworthiness; and (3)develop and implement a research roadmap that addresses the wireless communications needs of public safety entities beyond what can be provided by the current generation of broadband technology. (c)

Coordination

(1)

In general

In carrying out the activities described in this section, the Director shall coordinate with relevant Federal agencies, the private sector, and public safety organizations. (2)

Working groups

The Director shall convene working groups of relevant government and commercial stakeholders to achieve the requirements of this section, as appropriate.

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3.

Spectrum auction proceeds

From any trust fund established in the Treasury of the United States after October 1, 2011, consisting of proceeds from the auction of electromagnetic spectrum, there shall be made available to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, without further appropriation, $300,000,000 to carry out section 34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act, as amended by section 2. Such amount shall remain available until expended.