News

D-Block Legislation Approved by Senate Committee

Published Date: 07.05.2011

On June 9, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation voted to favorably report S. 911, the Strengthening Public-safety and Enhancing Communications Through Reform, Utilization, and Modernization (SPECTRUM) Act. The bill would allocate 10 MHz of radio spectrum in the 700 MHz band (commonly referred to as the “D-Block”) to public safety for the purpose of building a nationwide broadband communications network.

The National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) top priority for D-block funding is the establishment of a nationwide broadband communications network that volunteer departments can access inexpensively. Establishment of a nationwide broadband network that includes rural areas (which S. 911 guarantees) would be hugely beneficial to volunteer agencies because it would give them access to communications tools that would otherwise not be available.
 
S. 911 is similar to S. 28, which the NVFC endorsed shortly after it was introduced by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) earlier this year. Senator Rockefeller also introduced S. 911, which is co-sponsored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Rockefeller and Hutchison are the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. S. 911 creates a governance board comprised of representatives of certain federal agencies, representatives of state and local government organizations, representatives of public safety organizations, and other unspecified representatives to oversee the development and operation of the nationwide broadband communications network.

Having passed out of Committee, S. 911 now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

Media

Search