House Homeland Security Committee Seeks Interop Answers from DHS, NTIA
The House Homeland Security Committee leaned on NTIA Dir. John Kneuer and a Homeland Security official in a Fri. letter on use of public safety interoperability communications (PSIC) grants. The letter sought to clarify the officials’ positions on use of grants for purposes other than equipment upgrades. Committee Chmn. Thompson (D-Miss.) has been adamant that grants go for other purposes as well. The issue was raised this month in a Subcommittee on Emergency Communications hearing on interoperability (CD March 15 p5). The letter was signed by Thompson, Ranking Member King (R-N.Y.), Subcommittee Chmn. Cuellar (D-Tex.) and Ranking Member Dent (R-Pa.). The other addressee, Corey Gruber, is DHS acting assistant secy.-grants & training.
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Follow-through on a recent NTIA-DHS memo of understanding (MOU) (CD Feb 23 p1) must cover all 5 aspects of SAFECOM interoperability, the letter said. They are: (1) Technology acquisition and deployment. (2) Governance. (3) Standard operating procedures. (4) Training and exercises. (5) Usage plans. The Committee cited Kneuer’s testimony at the hearing, which it said led members to believe Kneuer feels PSIC grant funds can be used only “to support technology purchases” -- although at the same hearing Kneuer said money from FY 2007 would go for statewide interop planning. The MOU indicates that the funds may be used for “planning and other activities” promoting more efficient use of interoperable systems, the letter said. The writers requested a meeting by April 9 bringing together NTIA, DHS and Committee staff to work out issues, including the status of grant guidance and application kits. An NTIA spokesman said the agency would respond to the Committee, and praised the NTIA and Committee staffs.
Sec. 3006 of the 2005 Balanced Budget Act establishes a grant program “to assist public safety agencies in the acquisition of, deployment of, or training for the use of interoperable communications systems that utilize, or enable interoperability with communications systems that can utilize, reallocated public safety spectrum for radio communication.”