As the First Response Coalition's new Executive Director and someone who has been involved in the emergency response community for years, I am very excited about the potential of this organization to positively affect the lives of first responders and the American people.

The First Response Coalition remains dedicated to helping to solve the first responder community's ongoing communications problems. To do that, however, we're going to need your help. As Thomas Kean said when disbanding the 9/11 Public Discourse Project:

Now it is time to take the responsibility we were given and give it back. What we learned this past year is that change and reform doesn't happen in this country unless the American people demand it. There is no substitute for an engaged and attentive public watching what its elected leaders do... citizen involvement makes a huge and positive difference.

It is in this spirit that the First Response Coalition encourages you, the reader, to get involved. Sign up for "action alerts" and our biweekly newsletters. Explore the website and read our recent reports.

Maybe you know a firefighter, a police officer, or an EMT who may interested in the important work we're doing. Maybe you know a doctor, or a nurse, or a public works employee who would benefit from the useful information to be found on this website. Please, let them know that we're out here advocating on their behalf. And if you want to help us help first responders, consider making an on-line donation so that we may continue our important policy and outreach work on behalf of first responders.

I encourage you to contribute to our efforts in any way you see fit. Together, we can help make sure first responders are given the funding, equipment and the training they need to save lives and protect our communities.

An important first step towards "fixing the radios" was made when the President recently signed legislation that sets February 17, 2009 as the "hard date" for the transition from analog to digital television. By that date, broadcasters are required to have vacated critical parts of the spectrum they now occupy. In doing so, 24MHz of spectrum will be freed up for the exclusive use of our nation's first responders.

Not to downplay the importance of an established "hard date," but is that really much to celebrate considering:

(a) First responders won't get the spectrum they needed yesterday until 2009

(b) Considering the speed at which technology is evolving, three years from now it's almost certain that additional spectrum will be needed if first responders are going to actually take advantage of potentially life-saving technologies?

Having spectrum available to you and the ability to actually do something with it are two very different things.