To make networks safer from botnets and other malware, public-private partnerships and a minimal role for government are the best approaches, said officials from the FCC, Commerce Department and other agencies. Any framework for protecting and notifying end-users of an attack should be voluntary and comprised of input from multiple stakeholders, they said Tuesday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

A fresh House bill to reallocate the 700 MHz D-block to public safety has the support of House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King, R-N.Y. Rep. Steve Rothman, D-N.J., who serves on the Appropriations Committees, on Tuesday introduced the Help Emergency Responders Operate Emergency Systems (HEROES) Act. Using proceeds from spectrum auctions, the bill would provide $5.5 billion for construction, maintenance and operation of the national public safety network and $400 million to set up a grant program to help first responders upgrade their radios to comply with the FCC’s 2004 narrowband mandate.

William Burgess, president of the Nebraska Sheriff’s Association, urged Congress to approve spectrum bill S-911 by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Rep. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. A nationwide interoperable public safety wireless broadband data and voice network is critical to enable communications with other states, the federal government, tribal and local authorities, he said. It’s important that the system start out as an interoperable data system, he said. Work can then be done as the technology develops, to move and integrate voice communications to that system on a voluntary basis, he said. Wireless broadband enables features that would help first responders address all types of emergencies quickly, such as database searches, real-time video links, public alert broadcasts and more, he said. With broadband video, first responders will be able to view the accident scene before arriving and know better what to expect, he said. Quick action from Congress is needed, he said, noting Nebraska is subject to a wide range of severe weather.

Public safety communications has come a long way in the last decade, said Attorney General Eric Holder. “We've seen breakthrough technological advances and more effective communications platforms and techniques,” he said Tuesday at the Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness Conference at National Harbor in Maryland. In spite of the improvements and innovations, it’s important to remember that -- “in those crucial first seconds after an incident is reported -- even the most advanced technology is just a tool.” It’s the local, state, tribal or federal responder “who ensures public safety and saves lives,” he said. Collaborative efforts between the Justice Department, the FBI, the National Institute of Justice and other departments, have brought about important innovations and achieved significant results, but “we can never afford to become complacent.” The government, law enforcement, researchers and others must continue raising awareness about protecting citizens and first responders “by ensuring that public safety officers have access to the latest technologies and the best information-sharing technologies available."

Public safety communications have come a long way in the last decade, said Attorney General Eric Holder. “We've seen breakthrough technological advances and more effective communications platforms and techniques,” he said Tuesday at the Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness Conference at National Harbor in Maryland. In spite of the improvements and innovations, it’s important to remember that -- “in those crucial first seconds after an incident is reported -- even the most advanced technology is just a tool.” It’s the local, state, tribal or federal responder “who ensures public safety and saves lives,” he said. Collaborative efforts between the Justice Department, the FBI, the National Institute of Justice and other departments, have brought about important innovations and achieved significant results, but “we can never afford to become complacent.” The government, law enforcement, researchers and others must continue raising awareness about protecting citizens and first responders “by ensuring that public safety officers have access to the latest technologies and the best information-sharing technologies available."

During the introductory remarks at the August 18, 2011 COAC meeting, a DHS official discussed the status of DHS’ Global Supply Chain Security Strategy. According to DHS, the plan is still being reviewed and revised, and scrubbed by the National Security Staff.

The Rural Utilities Service continues to hand out grants and loans even after the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) has run its course, Administrator Jonathan Adelstein said Monday during a call with reporters. Adelstein spoke as the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $103 million in funding for 23 projects to provide broadband service to unserved and underserved rural communities.

The Rural Utilities Service continues to hand out grants and loans even after the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) has run its course, Administrator Jonathan Adelstein said Monday during a call with reporters. Adelstein spoke as the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $103 million in funding for 23 projects to provide broadband service to unserved and underserved rural communities.

The U.S. GPS Industry Council used its reply comments in the broadband for native nations proceeding to take a swipe at LightSquared in docket 11-41 (http://xrl.us/bk5o48). “In its comments, LightSquared takes credit for the planned distribution of up to 2,000 MSS satellite phones to units of the Indian Health Service. … LightSquared then closes its comments with a request that the Commission consider extending waivers to cover LightSquared’s 4G LTE terrestrial mobile service base stations in order to facilitate deployment of satellite infrastructure on Tribal Lands,” the council said in its comments. “These two aspects of LightSquared’s comments are fundamentally at odds.”

Prohibiting state taxes on wireless for five years wouldn’t cost the government anything, the Congressional Budget Office said last week in a report on the Wireless Tax Fairness Act (HR-1002). It wouldn’t cost state, local or tribal governments, either, CBO said: “CBO did not identify any state or local governments that planned to change or impose new wireless taxes in the next five years.” The House Judiciary Committee reported HR-1002 to the full House earlier this month (CD July 15 p7). An identical Senate bill is pending before the Senate Finance Committee.