[MilCom] Responders' lack of spectrum 'cost lives'

[MJ Cleary]

Here's another one:

Democrats seek funds for responder communications
By David Hatch, National Journal's Technology Daily


A growing chorus of Democrats is seeking billions of dollars in 
congressional funding to improve communications for emergency responders 
after problems hampered relief efforts stemming from Hurricane Katrina.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan on Tuesday was planning to offer an 
amendment to the budget resolution that would provide a "down payment" of $5 
billion for the Homeland Security Department to purchase equipment and 
conduct training. The money is part of a $15 billion allocation that 
Stabenow and her supporters envision over the next few years.

"The lack of this communication for America's first responders has put them 
and put all of us -- all of our communities -- in danger," Stabenow said 
during a press briefing.

But her bill and others like it have failed in the past. Congress has 
approved $14 billion since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks for states to 
use to bolster the communications of emergency responders. "This is a 
life-and-death issue," said Sen. Carl Levin, also a Michigander. He said 
that a "focused source of money" for this equipment is essential.

"Whatever we have done has not been enough," added Sen. Mary Landrieu, who 
represents the devastated state of Louisiana. Sen. Joseph Lieberman of 
Connecticut said if the federal government does not provide the funds, "it 
ain't gonna happen." Another proponent is Sen. Barbara Boxer, whose state of 
California is notorious for earthquakes, mudslides and other natural 
disasters.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has expressed worries in recent 
days about the ability of communications systems to work across 
jurisdictions, but it was unclear at deadline whether he supports the 
amendment. His office did not return calls.

At the briefing, Stabenow expressed hope that Frist, who visited the 
hurricane-stricken region, and other Republicans would back the proposal. 
She said Frist and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have pinpointed 
communications problems as a top priority.

There are indications that some Republicans want the matters addressed 
locally. "We're keenly interested in the reports of communications problems 
that police and other emergency workers encountered in the New Orleans 
area," Kevin Schweers, spokesman for House Commerce Committee Chairman Joe 
Barton, R-Texas, wrote in an e-mail.

"So far, however, most of these seem to involve a need for local cooperation 
to sort out frequencies and planning to provide a source for emergency 
electricity that will permit radios to work when the normal power fails and 
batteries die."

Rep. Henry Waxman of California, the ranking Democrat on the House 
Government Reform panel, is expected to raise concerns about communications 
capacity at upcoming hearings. The panel holds its first hearing on 
Hurricane Katrina this Thursday. Waxman outlined his concerns in a Sept. 6 
letter to Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., among other lawmakers, has 
spoken in recent days of the need for more funding to bolster emergency 
communications. Several other lawmakers, including Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Rep. 
Bart Stupak, D-Mich., are preparing bills to address the issue.