News from Congresswoman Jane Harman

Congresswoman Jane harman - Press Release

March 25, 2003

HARMAN, WELDON INTRODUCE BILL TO PROVIDE IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS

-- Legislators Reintroduce Homeland Emergency Response Operations (HERO) Act --

Washington, DC - U.S. Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice), Ranking Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA), Vice Chair of the Armed Services Committee, today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to ensure the nation’s first responders - police, fire and other emergency workers - have greater access to shared broadcast frequencies for interoperable radio communications.

“The September 11 attacks made it abundantly clear that our first responders are in dire need of improved communications,” said Harman. “Many firefighters in New York lost their lives in the World Trade Center because they were unable to communicate with first responders outside the buildings. The HERO Act seeks to remedy this problem by providing first responders with badly needed access to broadcast frequencies for communications.”

First responders from different jurisdictions will be able to communicate with eachother through reserved broadcast frequencies.

“With the introduction of this legislation, we are finally closing a dangerous loophole that has resulted in making the job of our emergency workers progressively more difficult. Today, we have taken an important first step in increasing the effectiveness of our everyday heroes,” noted Congressman Weldon.

The Homeland Emergency Response Operations (HERO) Act sets a firm deadline of 2006 for the Federal Communications Commission to provide public safety agencies sole access to the broadcast spectrum Congress set aside for them in 1997. This spectrum is currently used by TV channels 63, 64, 68 and 69. Congress conditioned transfer to public safety agencies on digital television rollout reaching 85% of American households. At present, only 1% of households have digital television. The HERO Act removes this threshold requirement.

First responders from different jurisdictions use different frequencies and equipment to communicate. As a result, departments that are adjacent to each other can't talk to one another.

"Los Angeles County includes 88 cities, 55 police departments, and 33 fire departments,” said Harman.

“Through no fault of their own, each uses different frequencies and equipment to communicate.

As a result, departments that are adjacent to each other can’t talk to one another."

"If we expect our first responders to be prepared against 21st Century threats, we must provide them with the resources they need starting with broadcast spectrum. Interoperable communications is a key requirement for every emergency department in the country.”

“It is disgraceful that emergency responders in the 21st century are forced to use archaic and out of date communication tools,” said Weldon a former volunteer fire chief and founder of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “The increasing demands on our radio frequencies over the last 15 years have put the public and our emergency response personnel in great danger.”

“We also need to deal separately with the transition to digital television by providing content protection and overcoming barriers to infrastructure,” concluded Harman.

The bill is endorsed by numerous public safety and civic organizations, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriffs’ Association, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, National Governors Association, National Association of Counties, and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International.

The following members are original co-sponsors of the bill: Representatives Steve Israel (D-NY), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ike Skelton (D-MO), Peter King (R-NY), Doug Bereuter (R-NE), Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Donna Cristensen (D-VI), Bob Ethridge (D-NC), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), George Miller (D-CA), Susan Davis (D-CA), John McHugh (R-NY), Lincoln Davis (D-TN), Harold Ford (D-TN), Chris Shays (R-CT), and Howard Berman (D-CA).