GILMORE WARNS NATIONAL POLICY FOR HOMELAND SECURITY IS NEEDED
Best response to homeland security emergency will be from “lean federal agency, probably FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency], that is able to coordinate strategy with local responders who probably already are flying to the scene,” former Va. Gov. Jim Gilmore (R) said Wed. He keynoted Safety and Security Solutions conference hosted by Motorola in Washington. Homeland security isn’t strictly federal responsibility, he said, and Office of Homeland Security (OHS), headed by former Pa. Gov. Tom Ridge (R), “has to be a planning office to coordinate federal, state and local responders and how they fit together. The office need not be the responder,” he said. Gilmore is chmn. of Congressional Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism involving Weapons of Mass Destruction.
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In response to question on homeland security budgets, Gilmore said OHS “needs budget authority,” adding: “What the budget will look like depends 100% on what happens with a national strategy.” Ridge is expected to reveal proposed security plan this summer. “Hopefully [the budget] will not get caught up in pork barrel politics,” Gilmore said. “I'm not naive, but I hope the pork barrel tax” doesn’t hinder homeland security efforts.
Motorola conference brought together public safety officials from around U.S. to demonstrate Motorola communications products and new technology used in 700 MHz and 800 MHz public safety spectrum. Vendor organized seminars on first responder communications, equipment interoperability, spectrum availability, wideband data applications. It described wideband data system used by police, fire and emergency medical service in Pinellas County, Fla. Set up Dec. 2000, system delivers 2-way video with high-speed data and full duplex voice to selected public safety mobile units in county.
Wireless network operates in 700 MHz spectrum allotted to public safety and provides 460 kbps bandwidth under experimental FCC 150 kHz license. System has been “tested in variety of situations,” he said, and provides ability to, for example, more accurately identify subjects of traffic stops and transfer missing child photos instantaneously to police field units.