That's right... one billion dollars! First responders are finally going to get the money they need to update their outdated communications systems.The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 created a Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program which makes available $968,385,000 in grants to first responders across the United States. The money for this grant program will be generated from the upcoming spectrum auction as part of the transition to digital television.
The PSIC grant program will assist public safety agencies in the acquisition, deployment, and training of interoperable communications systems that utilize- or enable interoperability with communications systems that can utilize- reallocated 700 MHz spectrum to enhance interoperable communications of voice, data, and/or video signals.
In his remarks at a press conference announcing the availability of the money, Secy. Chertoff stressed an important point about the role of governance that I think deserves some thoughtful consideration.
Let me conclude by saying this. You know part of the capability that is necessary is not just a matter of equipment. I mean clearly you have got to have the right equipment. But it is also a matter of training and it's a matter of having a common agreement on governance.
People have to know what are the frequencies they're going to use or what is the gateway they're going to use to bridge the frequencies. They have to know what language they're going to use . . . They have to determine who are the command elements that actually talk to one another.
Some of this is a matter that can be addressed by money, but some of it requires frankly getting people to sit down and come to a common vision of the way they're going to organize themselves so they can be interoperable.
