Attorney General Holder Makes Pitch For Public Safety Network

Attorney General Eric Holder made another pitch for setting aside airwaves for emergency services. Police and fire chiefs and other public safety officials have been pushing Congress to pass a Senate Commerce bill that would reallocate a chunk of spectrum known as the D-block to public safety for their network and authorize funding to build it. Telecommunications mostly held up during Hurricane Irene, even if power grids didn't. But a quake last week caused wireless congestion. AG Holder mentioned both. "I'm proud of the pivotal role that our nation's Department of Justice continues to play in these advancing efforts, and of the essential work we are leading to ensure an effective response to emergencies ranging from industrial accidents, to natural disasters - like the earthquake and hurricane that put East Coast responders to the test just last week - and, of course, terrorist acts," AG Holder said in a speech to the Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness Conference being held just outside Washington.

He said the communications and detection technology used by first responders have advanced dramatically in the decade since the Sept. 11 attacks. The 9/11 Commission made the creation of a national, interoperable public safety communications network one of its top recommendations because first responders couldn't communicate in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. AG Holder recalled the difficulties experienced by emergency personnel on that day during his speech but said the Justice Department has taken an active role in ensuring things have improved.