| Remembering 9/11 |
September 8, 2011 |
|
John Rockefeller, D-WV
|
|
"It would set aside the 10 megahertz of spectrum known as the “D-block” for public safety to support the network and help foster communications for our first responders across the country."
|
|
| Statements On Introduced Bills And Joint Resolutions |
May 19, 2011 |
|
John McCain, R-AZ
|
|
"In 2007, I introduced legislation to auction the remaining public safety spectrum to a commercial carrier that would then build out a network for public safety. The FCC held such an auction, but no bidder met the reserve price. Ten megahertz of spectrum remains available for public safety’s needs. The FCC had announced its intention to auction this spectrum to a commercial provider. Thankfully, the White House announced late last year that it now supports the spectrum being provided to first responders for the construction of a nationwide public safety network, as did the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee."
|
|
| Disapproving Fcc Internet And Broadband Regulations |
April 8, 2011 |
|
Edward Markey, D-MA
|
|
"In 1993, there were two companies—analog, 50 cents a minute. No one had cell phones in their companies. “We” had to move over the 200 megahertz. “We” had to say there was a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth company so that there would be competition and then block the first two companies that were not innovating. Why were they not innovating? Because there was no Darwinian paranoia inducing competition to force them to move. Then in 1996, when the whole country was analog, we had to pass another bill to move them to digital, to move them to broadband, because the behemoths had yet to deploy broadband to one home in the United States."
|
|
| Interoperable Wireless Broadband Network |
March 10, 2011 |
|
John Rockefeller, D-WV
|
|
"I believe it is time to do something about it. In the Commerce Committee, we happen to take that approach. That is why I introduced S. 28, the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act. This legislation does two things. First, it sets aside the 10 megahertz of spectrum known as the D-block. I don’t know why it is called the D-Block, but it is the D-Block. Its 10 megahertz adds on to the 10 megahertz they already had, making 20, which means they could do the whole thing, completely connect with each other, every sheriff, police person, law enforcement, Federal, State, county, municipal. They would all be on one system and talk to each other from a common communications base and a common database. It is an interoperable wireless broadband network that we have to have, and it is that which we do not have. We do not have it because we have not made the effort."
|
|
| Statements On Introduced Bills And Joint Resolutions |
August 5, 2010 |
|
John Rockefeller, D-WV
|
|
"Second, this legislation will provide public safety officials with an additional 10 megahertz of spectrum known as the “D-block.” This spectrum will support a national, interoperable wireless broadband network that will help first responders protect us and keep us from harm. I believe this is the right thing to do, because we owe those courageous individuals who wear the shield the resources they need to do their job. But more than that, by providing authority for incentive auctions, this legislation will offer a revenue stream to assist public safety with construction and maintenance of their network."
|
|