In the wake of Hurricane Irene, Connecticut is among more than three dozen states advocating Congress to set aside part of the broadband spectrum for law enforcement use.
Attorney General George Jepsen said he and 41 state attorneys general are calling on Congress to allocate a specific broadband spectrum to public safety and designate the wireless bandwidth, known as D-Block, for law enforcement use.
D-Block is part of the spectrum — 768-763 megahertz and 788-793 megahertz — being freed up as media companies convert to digital signals. Law enforcement groups have proposed the bandwidth be used to develop a reliable, rapid and comprehensive wireless communications system for law enforcement.
In a letter to congressional leaders from the National Association of Attorneys General, the group said it is imperative to give first responders the capacity they need as field communications become more data intensive. The interruption of communications by natural disasters alone, make the allocation of the specific bandwidth vital to public safety.
“In Connecticut, Hurricane Irene knocked out power to half the state and caused widespread interruptions in telephone and other communication services,” Jepsen said in a statement. “Repeated natural disasters in recent years have driven home the need for a reliable, nationwide communication system for first responders.”
The attorneys general did not endorse any one of the several bills before Congress, but urged congressional leaders to take action before the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
