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For Immediate Release
September 14, 2005 |
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Bridgeport Wins $6 Million
Interoperability Grant
Washington, D.C. – The City of Bridgeport
will receive a $6 million Interoperable Communications Technology
Grant from the Department of Justice, Senators Chris Dodd
and Joe Lieberman and Congressman Christopher Shays announced
today. The funding will support a Combined Dispatch and Emergency
Operations Center servicing 11 towns in Fairfield County.
"The events of September 11th and now Hurricane Katrina
have shown us how critically important it is to have communication
devices in place that can operate and inform our first responders
during emergencies,” said Sen. Chris Dodd, who requested
the funding in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
“This funding will allow Bridgeport to invest in new
technologies and equipment and will help create a central
emergency operations center, allowing the city to take important
first steps toward establishing a seamless communications
network with other towns throughout Fairfield County.”
“Poor communication during a time of crisis—whether
a natural disaster or terrorist attack--can mean the difference
between lives saved and lives lost,” said Lieberman.
“This Communications Technology grant will help local
and regional first responders better communicate with one
another.” Lieberman, who is the Ranking Member of the
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee,
has introduced legislation to promote interoperability and
provide grants to first responders.
“This funding will allow us to build a Communications
Center in Bridgeport – right where it belongs,”
Shays said. “It will allow communities to communicate
with each other in ways that will make us all safer and help
save lives. This is huge!” As Chairman of the Subcommittee
on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations,
Shays has held hearings on first responder interoperability,
including a field hearing in the Fourth District which highlighted
the need for communication among towns’ emergency services.
“The ability to be prepared and respond effectively
in an emergency hinges largely on the ability of first responders
and municipal leaders to communicate seamlessly and across
town lines,” explained Bridgeport Mayor John M. Fabrizi.
“This plan takes our aging infrastructure and provides
a state-of-the-art, 21st Century upgrade. There is no question
the citizens in our region will be safer thanks to this partnership
with the federal government. I especially want to thank our
federal delegation for active participation in securing this
funding. Persistence and teamwork has paid off for the citizens
of Fairfield County.”
The Combined Dispatch/Emergency Operations Center will enhance
the effectiveness of public safety communications through
the creation of a seamless communication network among local
and regional first responders, creating interoperability between
11 Fairfield County towns. The Center will facilitate communications
among Bridgeport’s Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services,
Public facilities, Marine Unit, the Board of Education, Health
Department and Emergency Management.
The city will contribute $2 million to the Center, matching
the Federal grant by 25%.
Contact: Sarah Moore,
202/225-5541
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