[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1457-E1458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NEXT GENERATION PUBLIC SAFETY DEVICE ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 28, 2010

  Ms. HARMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the bipartisan 
Next Generation Public Safety Device Act of 2010 with my Energy and 
Commerce colleague Representative John Shimkus, Co-Chair of the E-911 
Caucus. Our legislation is intended to spur development of 21st Century 
public safety communication devices that will provide the highest-speed 
transmission of data, voice, and video services over the Internet.
  Almost a decade after 9/11, America's first responders still do not 
have the communication tools they need to support their mission.
  Currently, the public safety device market is a monopoly. There are 
two reasons for lack of competition: first, this particular market is 
relatively small, and second, the device requirements are unique. As a 
result, first responders and local governments can pay up to $5,000 per 
radio. The money spent on these devices

[[Page E1458]]

has not enabled seamless on-the-ground coordination between first 
responders or the ability to access databanks, fingerprint records, 
facial recognition software, or streaming video.
  To solve the problem, our bill authorizes $70 million for a research 
and development grant program to build devices that support data, 
video, and voice communications.
  This bill charges the National Telecommunications and Information 
Agency to coordinate with a working group, consisting of the Federal 
Communications Commission, the DHS Office of Emergency Communications, 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and public safety 
stakeholders, to develop criteria, evaluate devices in multiple stages, 
and select products for funding and licensing. This process will 
produce devices ready for first responders' use within five years--
hopefully sooner. Thereafter, the GAO will study the process by which 
the program was carried out, the impacts of the grant program on 
competition in the market and the development of first responder 
devices. The cost of this program will not add to the deficit because 
it is offset by extending the authority of the FCC to auction spectrum.
  Directed research and development is essential to achieving 
interoperability because it will drive down cost and develop devices 
that public safety has a hand in selecting. Equally as important, this 
bill will accelerate the development of those devices, quickly giving 
public safety more options with new cost savings to states and 
localities, and assurance that the technology can be trusted for their 
important work.
  This bill has the support of the Association of Public Safety 
Communications Officials, which has identified research and development 
as one of its top priorities. The Fraternal Order of Police and the 
National Emergency Numbers Association also endorse the bill, as do 
Sprint and the Rural Cellular Association.
  We in Congress must ensure public safety officials have access to a 
competitive, dynamic, and innovative market for the devices that are 
used to save lives and help protect our communities.
  I hope that this effort will bring technologists, first responders, 
and government together to create innovative solutions for a major 
national security concern, and urge prompt action on this legislation.

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