[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 135 (Friday, August 11, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1995

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                               speech of

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 1995
       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1555) to 
     promote competition and reduce regulation in order to secure 
     lower prices and higher quality services for American 
     telcommunications consumers and encourage the rapid 
     deployment of new telecommunications technologies:

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, as we move forward on telecommunications, I 
want to ensure that we do not enact any provision that could result in 
existing radio users being deprived of the ability to operate, expand, 
and modify as necessary their radio systems. This would be especially 
true of noncommercial internal use radio systems, operated by safety 
providers like AAA. These systems are important in protecting the 
safety and security of the American public. Last year, for example, AAA 
responded to over 22 million calls for emergency assistance relying 
heavily on its radio dispatch system. I would therefore urge the House 
and Senate conferees on the telecommunications bill to reject any 
provision which would put at risk this public safety service.


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