Congressman Waxman Seeks Broadband Public Safety Net
By Aaron Blevins, 2/09/2012
System Would be Used by First Responders
U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-California) is looking to create a broadband public safety communications system that could be utilized by first responders in national emergencies across the country.
In December, Waxman introduced the Wireless Innovation and Public Safety Act of 2011, which aims to thwart the communication problems that were highlighted in the response to 9/11.
“It’s taken a long time for us to finally get our act together,” he said.
The legislation would also grant private entities, such as TV broadcasters, the ability to auction electromagnetic spectrum, or frequencies, that they are not using, Waxman said. He said the sale of spectrum could produce billions of dollars that could be invested in the communications system, debt reduction or government services elsewhere.
“Demand for spectrum is great,” Waxman said. “We’re talking about a huge amount of money.”
However, the legislation has reached some opposition in the House, and a compromise has proved difficult with House Republicans, he said. Waxman said it illustrates the “very precarious political situation we’re in.”
“It’s of major importance for the future of wireless broadband as well as developing the public safety provision,” he said. “This is important legislation.”
Republicans have sought to include an amendment on the House bill that would restrict the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in enforcing network neutrality conditions, which keeps Internet providers from blocking access to legitimate sites, on spectrum sold through an auction. The bill’s Senate counterpart had no such restrictions.
“It’s very unlikely that would stay in the bill,” Waxman said. “It would just pull down the whole bill.”
Though the House and Senate versions of the bill have different provisions, legislators are now tasked with consolidating the two to see if a compromise can be reached. It is possible that the broadband legislation could be packaged with Congress’ extension of the payroll tax.
Tags | Broadband Legislation, Henry Waxman, Inter-operable Communications
