WASHINGTON – Senators McCain and Lieberman today introduced the “Spectrum Availability for Emergency-Response and Law-Enforcement to
Improve Vital Emergency Services Act,” known as The SAVE LIVES Act of 2005.
The 9/11 Commission, in its final report, reiterated the immediate need for additional spectrum for public safety stating, “Congress should support pending
legislation which provides for the expedited and increased assignment of radio spectrum for public safety purposes.” The SAVE LIVES Act of 2005 would
provide public safety entities with more spectrum by January 1, 2009 by requiring television broadcasters to begin using their digital television spectrum
and to return their analog television spectrum.
Access to this spectrum will be extremely helpful as signals sent over these frequencies are able to penetrate walls, travel great distances, and assist multiple jurisdictions in deploying interoperable communications systems.
Senator McCain said, “The SAVE LIVES Act implements one of the top recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. It also ensures that when our Nation experiences another attack or is confronted with a natural disaster or emergency, our police, fire fighters and emergency response personnel will have the ability to communicate with each other to prevent another catastrophic loss of life. Now is the time for Congressional action before another national emergency or crisis takes place.”
Joined by 9/11 Commission Chairman Thomas H. Kean, Vice Chairman Lee H. Hamilton, and Mary Fetchet, Founding Director and President of the
Voices of September 11th.
Senator McCain also added, “Today Senator Lieberman and I re-dedicate ourselves to preparing for another attack by introducing the SAVE LIVES Act of 2005 and seek to honor those who lost their life on September 11, 2001.”
* Senator Lieberman was not in attendance due to Shavuot observances.