Dear Fellow Firefighters,
I write to request a CALL TO ACTION. Communications at every emergency incident is critical to achieve effective operations and firefighter safety. Below you will read about an opportunity to get more radio spectrum that will result in affordable broadband services and how you can help make it happen. IMMEDIATE RESPONSE NEEDED.
The fire service has a once in a lifetime opportunity to seek an additional 30 MHz of spectrum on which a next generation wireless broadband network could be built, but we must act quickly if to influence federal policymakers. There is a proposal to license spectrum to public safety for deployment of an advanced, nationwide, wireless broadband network which could support current and emerging technologies (text messaging, photos, diagrams, and video not currently available in existing public safety land mobile systems) to enhance public safety communications and increase our personal safety when we are fighting fires and responding to disasters.
The FCC is receiving Comments until November 29, 2006 on the proposal and we have devised a way to ease your ability to send letters to your representatives in Congress with copies going to the 5 FCC Commissioners and a copy filed in the FCC docket. Now is the time for everyone within public safety to formally tell the in coming Congress and the FCC that a new solution is needed for public safety’s communications challenges!
Your support is needed for the principles put forth in a petition Cyren Call Communications filed with the FCC to create a Public Safety Broadband Trust (PSBT) and convey 30 MHz of spectrum in the upper 700 MHz band for a nationwide network. You can support the proposal by filing your comments today.
To file Comments electronically through the FCC’s web site, and send letters to your representatives in Congress and to the FCC Commissioners please click on or visit this link http://ga3.org/campaign/urg_congress. Through your name, address and e-mail address the database will research your 2 U.S. Senators and your Representative in the House of Representatives and generate and send the letters. For answers to questions about the letters or filing your comments at the FCC, you may e-mail [email protected] for a quick response.
I thank you for taking a few moments to do this and ask that you forward this request to your friends, co-workers and associates. Together, we can make a difference to improve public safety communications for first responders and all citizens of our great nation.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Police Chiefs, APCO-International and Virginia Fire Chiefs Association have all passed supporting resolutions.
Fraternally,
Charles L. Werner
Vice President, Virginia Fire Chiefs Association
International Association of Fire Chiefs Communications Committee
Fire Chief, City of Charlottesville, VA
