October 3, 2005

As highlighted in the Conference of Mayors 192-City Interoperable Communications Survey, limited access to spectrum for public safety is identified as an obstacle to achieving full interoperability.

Meet with your members in the House and Senate and urge them to support critical interoperable spectrum communications needs of first responders by passing legislation this year that establishes a hard date for the transition of analog broadcast spectrum as close as possible to December 31, 2006 for public safety use.

Major incidents, whether 9/11 attacks, Oklahoma City bombing, Hurricane Katrina, tornados or floods, repeatedly show the criticality of first responder communications.