Funding Emergency Communications

The need appears increasingly urgent for timely decisions by policy makers on new infrastructure for emergency communications and spectrum allocation for public safety radios. Contents of this report: (1) Goals and Challenges: Background: Planning to Meet Goals;Challenges and Barriers to Change; (2) Policy Considerations for the Future: Governance and Grants; Decision Making and Planning Authority: Federal Involvement; State and Local Involvement; Commercial Involvement; Role of the Emergency Response Interoperability Center and the Public Safety Spectrum Trust; Cost Estimates: Wireless Networks; Network Infrastructure: Wireless Backhaul and NG9-1-1; Radios; Network Access; Financial Resources; Managing Radio Frequency Spectrum; Technology: Networks; Radios; Migration to Commercial Technologies; (3) Legislation in the 112th Congress to Improve Emergency Communications; (4) Conclusion; (5) Appendixes: Proposals for Spectrum Assignment; Congressional Efforts on Behalf of Public Safety Communications. Figures. This is a print on demand report.

Emergency communications breakdowns undermined response efforts during terrorist attacks in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In response, federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have increased efforts to enhance emergency communications. This report identifies: (1) vulnerabilities, if any, to emergency communications systems; (2) federal assistance available or planned to first responders for addressing vulnerabilities or enhancing emergency communications; and (3) challenges, if any, with federal emergency communications efforts. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

The United States has yet to find a solution that assures seamless communications among first responders and emergency personnel at the scene of a major disaster. Since September 11, 2001, when communications failures contributed to the tragedies of the day, Congress has passed several laws intended to create a nationwide emergency communications capability. The 111th Congress considered pivotal issues, such as radio frequency spectrum license allocation and funding programs for a Public Safety Broadband Network (PSBN), without finding a solution that satisfied the expectations of both public safety and commercial network operators. This book explores the areas where changes in existing policies and practices may facilitate achievement of the important goals for emergency communications that Congress and others have identified. Why these goals have become important, and recent planning efforts to achieve these goals is discussed.

Today¿s 911 system is built on an infrastructure of analog technol. that does not support many of the features that should be part of an emerg. response. Efforts to splice newer, digital technol. onto this infrastructure have created points of failure where a call can be dropped or misdirected, sometimes with tragic consequences. This report discusses how modernizing the system to provide service that approaches the expectations of its users will require investments in new technol. that should incorp. Internet Protocol (IP) standards. An IP-enabled emerg. commun. network that supports 911 will facilitate interoperability and system resilience; improve connections between 911 call centers; provide more robust capacity; and offer flexibility in receiving calls.