APCO URGES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND NETWORK

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March 19, 2010, Alexandria, Va.- The Association of Public Safety-Communications Officials (APCO) International expressed its support for the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) estimate of $12 billion to $16 billion for a public safety wireless broadband network. APCO International now calls on Congress to establish the necessary appropriations and programs to fund the build out, operation, and maintenance of a public safety wireless broadband network over the next 10 years.

"Congress has been asking how much it will cost to build out the public safety broadband network, and we applaud the FCC for answering this critical question," APCO International President Richard Mirgon said. "We strongly believe that if the NBP is going to be successful, then Congress must be willing to establish funding programs that take into account local, State, Tribal and Federal funding resources needed to build out the wireless broadband network."

APCO International is still very concerned that the NBP looks to auction the 700 MHz D-Block spectrum. In order for any public safety broadband plan to be successful, Congress must act quickly to enact legislation that will allocate the D Block spectrum for public safety use. Without sufficient spectrum, public safety will not be able to meet the mission critical needs of our first responders, which will place the public’s safety and the safety of our first responders at risk.

About APCO International

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO International serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by creating a platform for setting professional standards, addressing professional issues and providing education, products and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical dispatch agencies throughout the world. For more information, visitwww.apcointl.org.

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