Emergency communications: a $100 billion problem?

• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.
• Position: Washington PULSE - David G. Boyd of Department of Homeland Security grades government - Brief Article

The 9/11 Commission apparently did not do its homework when it graded the U.S. government's performance in its final report card, said a Department of Homeland Security official. The bipartisan panel blasted the administration, among other things, for failing to ensure that federal, state and local first responders can communicate during a national emergency.

The commission never sought any input from DHS or asked for data concerning inter-agency communications, charged David G. Boyd, director of the DHS office for interoperability and compatibility.

"Nobody talked to us," Boyd told an industry conference in Washington. The commission focused on one problem--the shortage of radio frequency spectrum dedicated to public safety--and failed to address the bigger picture, he said.

The spectrum is an issue that is relatively easy to fix, once Congress passes new legislation to mandate...