SPECTRUM TRUST SEEKS $15 BILLION IN STIMULUS MONEY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

摘要

The Public Safety Spectrum Trust asked President-elect Barack Obama to include $15 billion for a national public-safety broadband network in the economic stimulus package. Trust Chairman Harlin McEwen made the request by letter as the FCC remains stalled on the 700 MHz D block. Commission members of both parties have repeatedly said government money for a public- safety network would be better than a public-private partnership without federal money. 揟here抯 a three-win opportunity here for both Congress and the president-elect,?McEwen said in an interview. 揟he first is it would create jobs, the second is it would bring Internet to the rural areas that don抰 have it, and third it would build a public safety national network.?nnMcEwen wrote Obama: 揂s Chairman of the PSST, a nonprofit corporation that represents 15 national public safety organizations, I am extremely interested in discussing these issues with your staff. Building a nationwide wireless broadband network would provide economic and public safety benefits comparable to the economic and national defense benefits that building the Interstate Highway System brought to our country 50 years ago.?But urgent action is needed 搕o assure both potentially interested commercial partners and other commercial sources of financing that the long-debated nationwide wireless broadband network plan will obtain the critical capital needed to overcome concerns on how to raise money for the network during the current credit crisis and recession,?the letter said.