”A well-grounded but flexible governance structure is critical to the...
"A well-grounded but flexible governance structure is critical to the future of public safety communications if it is to be national in scope, interoperable, and cost-effective,” said the Congressional Research Service in a report dated Wednesday. But such a governance…
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structure “does not exist,” the Service said. Congress gave the FCC and Department of Homeland Security authority to act on behalf of public safety, but it “would appear that neither agency has the needed depth of experience or resources to develop and deploy a leading-edge broadband network in a timely, cost-efficient manner.” Public safety bills introduced so far would increase the FCC’s powers and responsibilities, placing Homeland Security in an advisory role, the Congressional Research Service said. “Governance of the public safety network at a national level would be dependant almost entirely on the FCC and its willingness to write and enforce regulations.” After 9/11, Congress passed several laws empowering Homeland Security, the service noted. “By choosing to focus on interim solutions, the Department seems to have passed on the opportunity to provide the needed leadership and planning to move public safety toward a next-generation communications network.” An FCC spokesman said the report “missed important aspects that would shed light on the considerable expertise that the FCC brings to this issue.” The report’s author didn’t talk to senior agency officials, he said. However, the paper “affirms much of what the FCC has been calling for over the last six months: a well-grounded, flexible governance system which does not currently exist.” The DHS didn’t comment.