The National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) applauds Senator Jay Rockefeller, IV (D-WV), Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) for announcing their intentions to introduce legislation to direct the FCC to allocate the D-Block Broadband Spectrum to public safety.
 
Senator Rockefeller is Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and continues to demonstrate his Committee’s expertise in telecommunications issues with this effort.  Chairman Lieberman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Senator McCain, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee once again stand beside the nation’s first responders as they introduce this bi-partisan legislation.
 
NEMA strongly supports these efforts because working arm-in-arm with our public safety partners extends far beyond the emergency management industry.  As coordinators of emergency response functions, the state emergency managers recognize the need for Congress to take action immediately.  This effort to prevent the auction of the D-Block is imperative so that public safety has all necessary tools to effectively respond to an incident.  This nationwide Broadband network is critical to ensuring our police, fire, medical, and emergency professionals have access to modern and reliable communications capabilities.
 
The leadership and support of Senators Rockefeller, Lieberman, and McCain on this top priority issue for our nation’s public safety and first responder communities is critical and we are eager to work cooperatively with them and their colleagues in the Senate to realize this long overdue 9/11 Commission recommendation.