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Government Security

US to invest in nationwide public safety network

By Clarice Africa | 2 June 2011

The rollout of “4G” technology now being deployed in the United States by leading carriers promises considerable benefits to the US economy and society. To seize that opportunity, US President Barack Obama is calling for an investment of USD 10.7 billion to develop and deploy a nationwide, interoperable, wireless network for public safety agencies.

An important element of this plan is the reallocation of the “D Block” ” (which is a band of spectrum that would be reserved and prioritized for public safety and not auctioned as called for under existing law) for public safety where the government will spend USD 3.2 billion.

Jeppe Jepsen, Director of International Business Relations at Motorola Solutions, told FutureGov that competition for spectrum is gradually becoming more intense as communications methods multiply – and that as technology advances, so do expectations.

“New wireless broadband networks promise the general public wireless broadband speeds across large parts of the country. This in turn raises the expectation that public safety organisations will have access to faster and wider spread networks than the public they serve”

According to an official statement from the Office of the Press Secretary of the White House, The 9/11 Commission noted that the homeland security is vulnerable, in part, due to the lack of interoperable wireless communication among first responders.

“First responders, who we ask to work in challenging and often life-threatening circumstances, must have access to the best communications tools available – of which spectrum plays a part – to safeguard themselves and better protect the public,” Jensen said.

“We need to be making the point of how critical this issue is and why it is in the national interest for all countries to reserve harmonized spectrum for their first responders,” he said.

Included in US President Barack Obamas plans are an investment of USD 7 billion to support the deployment of the network, and USD 500 million from the Wireless Innovation Fund for R&D and technological development to tailor the network to meet public safety requirements.

This investment, in coordination with the investment in rural buildout, will ensure that the rollout of 4G in rural areas serves the needs of public safety and the broader community.

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