WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 29, 1011 – The Public Safety Alliance (PSA) announced today that it applauds the introduction of the Wireless Innovation and Public Safety Act of 2011 by the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA30), and the Ranking Member Subcommittee of Communications and Technology, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA14).

“We strongly support the efforts of Congressman Waxman and Congresswoman Eshoo to move legislation forward in the committee of jurisdiction,” said PSA spokesman Chris Moore, Chief of Police for the San Jose, CA Police Department, “On behalf of the more than 2 million first responders nationwide, the Public Safety Alliance thanks both of them for their leadership on this critical issue.”

Chief Moore continued, “The PSA urges Congressman Greg Walden (R – OR5), as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, to quickly report out legislation that allocates the D Block to public safety and provides funding to build a nationwide broadband network.  We look forward to working together toward final enactment of this top priority legislation that promotes the safety of our nation.”

“Public safety needs this legislation to allow our firefighters in Oregon and elsewhere to view building diagrams, hydrant locations, maps and highway information on hand-held devices.  It would provide video to facilitate instantaneous situational awareness of major fire and hazmat incidents in real-time,” said Chief Jeff Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the Western Fire Chiefs Association and the International Association of Fire Chiefs representative to the PSA.  “The future capability of emergency medical services (EMS) in Oregon and across the country depends on Congress passing legislation that will allow this to happen.  Our ability to transmit digital imaging, portable EKGs and ultrasounds, field blood work and video of an accident scene to an emergency department and a physician many miles away depends on how much spectrum we will have to build out a nationwide interoperable broadband network.”

“Law enforcement would use the wireless broadband network for numerous applications from field fingerprint identification to the rapid access of criminal records,” said Deputy Chief Charles Dowd of the New York City Police Department. “Cops and Sheriffs from New York to Oregon, from the State of Washington to Texas, from largest precincts to the smallest towns, from public safety agencies that have 10 officers to agencies that have more than 40,000 officers, need this legislation passed now!  Public safety agencies across the country have begun deploying networks today and any further delay by Congress to pass legislation will result in increased costs and lack of efficiency for this monumental effort.”

For more information on a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network, visit www.psafirst.org.

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About Public Safety Alliance

The Public Safety Alliance is a partnership of the nation’s leading public safety associations, which includes the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Major County Sheriffs’ Association, the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, the National Emergency Management Association and the National Association of State EMS Officials. The partnership is operated as a program of APCO International. The purpose of the Public Safety Alliance is to raise awareness in Congress and the White House about what our Nation’s law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services need to build out a nationwide, interoperable, 4G, wireless communications network to protect America. For more information on the Public Safety Alliance, visit www.psafirst.org.