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Senate and House Pass $1 Billion Appropriation for Interoperable Communications for Public Safety Agencies

December 19, 2006 - Press Release From CHIEF Grants

Public safety won a victory that will bring additional funding for communications equipment during the present fiscal year. Congress instructed NTIA to award $1,000,000,000 for public safety interoperable communications grants no later than September 30, 2007

APCO President Wanda McCarley recently released the following statement in a letter regarding funding for Interoperable Communications projects for public safety agencies. In her statement she was quoted as stating the following:

"I have been advised that today, in the early morning hours, as Congress was closing up shop and leaving Washington DC, public safety won a victory that will bring additional funding for communications equipment during the present fiscal year. Congress instructed NTIA to award $1,000,000,000 for public safety interoperable communications grants no later than September 30, 2007.

"This language was appended to the "Call Home Act of 2006" sponsored by Senator Stevens that addressed telephone rates for members of the Armed Forces deployed abroad.

"We owe thanks to our friends at Motorola, led by Bill Anaya and Jim Goldstein and to our APCO staff, specifically Yucel Ors and Bob Gurss. Yesterday Yucel volunteered to prepare and send a letter supporting this grant language to key congressional leadership. He accomplished this task in less than one hour at a very critical moment in time. Both he and Bob deserve accolades for their excellent work. Likewise, Ken LaSala, IAFC, deserves our thanks. Ken was on the phone and made calls to key Member offices whose support was vital.

"Lesson well learned: In 2005, when we, as an industry, worked together to support the DTV transition the results were very positive. Today we again celebrate the results of working as a team to achieve results for public safety. Your Board of Officers is delighted with the results of this effort, we commend those who worked to make it happen, and we hope that it is a bright spot for the men and women who will be working, even through this Holiday Season, to protect and serve our nation's citizens."

According to Thomas.gov as of Dec. 9, 2006, both the House and Senate of the Congress have signed off on this amendment to the original bill. It has been forwarded to the White House for final Presidential consideration.

Details for this grant program concerning eligibility, project scope, application process etc. have not been worked out at this point. However, we here at CHIEF Grants will be following this story closely and will keep you advised on the progress of this bill and the details of the program as they emerge. If signed by the President into law, the appropriation must be spent during the current fiscal year ending on September 30, 2007.

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