Fire Chiefs Support President Obama’s Call to Establish a Nationwide Public-Safety Broadband Network

The White House-issued fact sheet on the Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative unveiled by the president discusses his support of allocating the D Block in the 700 MHz band of spectrum to public safety, an initiative that has been long supported by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and other public-safety leadership organizations.

The allocation of the D Block is an important component in the development of a nationwide wireless broadband network for public-safety responders. Likewise, high-speed wireless services to rural America improves the likelihood that responder technology will function throughout those response areas and that coverage exists to report emergencies to 911 centers.

Chief Jack Parow, IAFC president and chairman of the board, praised the president’s support of public safety’s communication needs. “The International Association of Fire Chiefs is proud to support President Obama’s proposal. The events of both 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the importance of public-safety communications systems that are resilient and both operable and interoperable. We believe that a public-safety broadband network is vital for future, effective emergency response operations, and we urge Congress to pass legislation this year.”