Wireless Innovation and Public Safety Act of 2011

Related Documents

Fact Sheet on the Wireless Innovation and Public Safety Act of 2011

H.R. 3509, Legislative Text
"To provide for the creation of a public safety broadband network, to ensure a more efficient and innovative allocation of the electromagnetic spectrum, to permit the Federal Communications Commission to conduct incentive auctions, and for other purposes."

Organizations in Support of Legislation

  • Public Safety Alliance
  • National Governors Association
  • National League of Cities
  • U.S. Conference of Mayors
  • National Association of Counties
  • International City/County Management Association
  • Consumer Federation of America
  • Consumer’s Union
  • Public Knowledge
  • New America Foundation
  • Free Press
  • Media Access Project
  • National Emergency Number Association (NENA)

Statements in Support of Legislation

“We strongly support the efforts of Congressman Waxman and Congresswoman Eshoo to move legislation forward in the committee of jurisdiction. On behalf of the more than 2 million first responders nationwide, the Public Safety Alliance thanks both of them for their leadership on this critical issue.”
-  Mr. Chris Moore, Chief of Police for the San Jose, CA Police Department and Public Safety Alliance Spokesperson
Press Release from Public Safety Alliance, November 29, 2011

"The Wireless Innovation and Public Safety Act of 2011 would ensure that America’s first responders are able to access a broadband network capable of providing reliable high speed data and voice transmissions. By authorizing the reallocation of the 700 MHz D Block of spectrum to public safety, this legislation will provide the means to build an interoperable communications network that has sufficient capacity to allow real-time information sharing between our first responders in every American city and town. The legislation also will provide a revenue stream for construction and development, ensuring a truly nationwide network where no community is left behind... If Congress fails to pass this legislation, our nation’s first responders will be trapped in the current patchwork of public safety communications systems, where neighboring jurisdictions—and often, local emergency personnel with overlapping jurisdictions—cannot communicate with one another or share information effectively."
- Mr. Donald J. Borut, National League of Cities
Letter from the National League of Cities, November, 28, 2011

"I write on behalf of the nation’s mayors to register our strong support for your efforts to establish a nationwide public safety communications network.   You listened to the strong concerns which public safety and local and state government officials had with the plan to auction off the D Block to the highest bidder for commercial applications.  Your legislation, the Wireless Innovation and Public Safety Act of 2011, would ensure that our nation’s first responders are able to access a broadband network capable of providing reliable high speed data and voice applications so that they can meet current and future public safety needs."
- Mr. Tom Cochran, United States Conference of Mayors
Letter from the United States Conference of Mayors, November 28, 2011

"The Waxman/Eshoo bill clearly shows how we can have both a robust incentive auction for licensed use and sufficient spectrum for TV white spaces and other cutting edge technologies made possible with unlicensed spectrum. This approach reduces the deficit, provides licensed and unlicensed wireless capacity for our digital future, and builds out a national wireless public safety network. It is win-win-win, and Republicans should say yes-yes-yes."
- Mr. Harold Feld, Public Knowledge

"Talk about "unlicensed spectrum" may sound like techno-mumbo jumbo to most Americans, but the Waxman/Eschoo bill means will jumpstart a new generation of super-wi-fi technologies that can transform American business, education and the arts."
- Mr. Andrew Jay Schwartzman, Media Access Project

“The Waxman/Eshoo spectrum bill wisely leaves the expert agency with the discretion to conduct auctions and reorganize the TV band to maximize the benefits of both licensed and unlicensed Wi-Fi services for consumers, job creation and technology innovation. As consumers and the wireless industry rapidly integrate unlicensed spectrum into networks to achieve efficiency and bring broadband to rural areas, this balanced approach will prove to be the best policy for the economy and innovation long term.”
- Mr. Michael Calabrese, Wireless Future Project at the New America Foundation

"This legislation recognizes that unlicensed spectrum has enabled momentous growth and innovation in the wireless market and would expand this dynamic technology to create jobs.”
- Mr. Joel Kelsey, Free Press

“NENA is pleased to see language that recognizes the nexus between Next Generation 9-1-1 and the Public Safety Broadband Network. The funding authorized by this legislation would help move our nation’s 9-1-1 centers into 21st Century technology. In emergency situations, Next Generation 9-1-1 will better serve the over 600,000 Americans who call 9-1-1 each day.”
- Mr. Rick Galway, National Emergency Number Association (NENA) Board

Nov 28, 2011