Motorola Testifies Before House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and The Internet
Wednesday June 11, 3:33 pm ET
Spectrum, Funding and Interoperability Key for Public Safety Communications
WASHINGTON, June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Speaking before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications & the Internet, Greg Brown, President and CEO, Motorola (NYSE: MOT - News) Commercial Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS), said today Congress must act to deliver much needed spectrum and additional funding to enable first responders to have full interoperability and improved wireless communications to carry out their critical mission.
Today, Brown testified along with public safety and government officials and communications leaders in an effort to emphasize the vital communications needs of America's public safety community.
According to Brown, "While technology exists to improve the quality of wireless communications, public safety lacks the spectrum and funds to improve communication as rapidly and completely as the public expects in a post-9-11 world."
Brown commended Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton for making public safety communications a national priority.
"Motorola looks forward to working with Chairman Upton and the committee to ensure that the necessary spectrum, funding and full interoperability tools are in place so that our nation's heroic first responders can be better prepared to carry out their critical mission. We owe them these needed resources."
Brown testified that public safety first needs additional federal funding to buy the radios and systems necessary to do its job, including improved interoperability. Secondly, he said, public safety must have access to its 700MHz spectrum nationwide by December 2006 to fully achieve interoperability and deploy advanced data technology.
"Motorola supports the efforts of Congresswoman Jane Harman, and Congressman Curt Weldon to work with the leadership of Chairman Billy Tauzin and Ranking Member John Dingell to drive a solution to the digital television transition which will clear the way for the 700 MHz band to be usable by public safety agencies by the end of 2006," Brown said. "Without setting a firm deadline, our nations first responders are left in limbo and our citizens could be left less protected," he added.
The 700 MHz technologies offer a whole new level of mobile communications capabilities, which is far beyond today's voice and low speed data applications. Brown cited examples of advanced high-speed data applications:
-- An officer or agent could transmit video of a potential bomb or
biological weapon and get real time counsel from an expert in another
location.
-- Local or state police could instantly send or receive a photograph of a
missing or abducted child.
-- Firefighters in the field could instantly access online building blue
prints, hydrant locations and hazardous material data.
"Additionally, a sustained, well funded and multi-year federal program is needed. We certainly cannot afford the human costs associated with delaying achievement of full interoperability," Brown said.
Reflecting on the nation's homeland security responsibilities, Brown urged that Congress ensure that public safety officials can buy the communications tools they need to protect the American public.
"It is important that the Congress assume and accept this critical mission," Brown said.
About Motorola
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT - News) is a global leader in wireless, automotive and broadband communications. Sales in 2002 were $27.3 billion. Motorola is a global corporate citizen dedicated to ethical business practices and pioneering important innovations that make things smarter and life better, honored traditions that began when the company was founded 75 years ago this year. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com .
Motorola Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS) Motorola's Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS) is a leading provider of integrated radio communications and information solutions, with more than 65 years of experience in meeting the mission-critical requirements of public safety, government and enterprise customers worldwide. The sector offers an extensive portfolio of solutions to meet growing public safety and security needs, including: interoperable two-way radio communications solutions; command and control solutions; identification and tracking solutions; information management for criminal justice and civil needs; and physical security and monitoring solutions. In 2002, CGISS received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for manufacturing, the national premier award for performance excellence and quality achievement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Motorola, Inc.
Wednesday June 11, 3:33 pm ET
Spectrum, Funding and Interoperability Key for Public Safety Communications
WASHINGTON, June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Speaking before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications & the Internet, Greg Brown, President and CEO, Motorola (NYSE: MOT - News) Commercial Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS), said today Congress must act to deliver much needed spectrum and additional funding to enable first responders to have full interoperability and improved wireless communications to carry out their critical mission.
Today, Brown testified along with public safety and government officials and communications leaders in an effort to emphasize the vital communications needs of America's public safety community.
According to Brown, "While technology exists to improve the quality of wireless communications, public safety lacks the spectrum and funds to improve communication as rapidly and completely as the public expects in a post-9-11 world."
Brown commended Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton for making public safety communications a national priority.
"Motorola looks forward to working with Chairman Upton and the committee to ensure that the necessary spectrum, funding and full interoperability tools are in place so that our nation's heroic first responders can be better prepared to carry out their critical mission. We owe them these needed resources."
Brown testified that public safety first needs additional federal funding to buy the radios and systems necessary to do its job, including improved interoperability. Secondly, he said, public safety must have access to its 700MHz spectrum nationwide by December 2006 to fully achieve interoperability and deploy advanced data technology.
"Motorola supports the efforts of Congresswoman Jane Harman, and Congressman Curt Weldon to work with the leadership of Chairman Billy Tauzin and Ranking Member John Dingell to drive a solution to the digital television transition which will clear the way for the 700 MHz band to be usable by public safety agencies by the end of 2006," Brown said. "Without setting a firm deadline, our nations first responders are left in limbo and our citizens could be left less protected," he added.
The 700 MHz technologies offer a whole new level of mobile communications capabilities, which is far beyond today's voice and low speed data applications. Brown cited examples of advanced high-speed data applications:
-- An officer or agent could transmit video of a potential bomb or
biological weapon and get real time counsel from an expert in another
location.
-- Local or state police could instantly send or receive a photograph of a
missing or abducted child.
-- Firefighters in the field could instantly access online building blue
prints, hydrant locations and hazardous material data.
"Additionally, a sustained, well funded and multi-year federal program is needed. We certainly cannot afford the human costs associated with delaying achievement of full interoperability," Brown said.
Reflecting on the nation's homeland security responsibilities, Brown urged that Congress ensure that public safety officials can buy the communications tools they need to protect the American public.
"It is important that the Congress assume and accept this critical mission," Brown said.
About Motorola
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT - News) is a global leader in wireless, automotive and broadband communications. Sales in 2002 were $27.3 billion. Motorola is a global corporate citizen dedicated to ethical business practices and pioneering important innovations that make things smarter and life better, honored traditions that began when the company was founded 75 years ago this year. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com .
Motorola Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS) Motorola's Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS) is a leading provider of integrated radio communications and information solutions, with more than 65 years of experience in meeting the mission-critical requirements of public safety, government and enterprise customers worldwide. The sector offers an extensive portfolio of solutions to meet growing public safety and security needs, including: interoperable two-way radio communications solutions; command and control solutions; identification and tracking solutions; information management for criminal justice and civil needs; and physical security and monitoring solutions. In 2002, CGISS received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for manufacturing, the national premier award for performance excellence and quality achievement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Motorola, Inc.
<< Home