Outreach News - 11/19/2010

1. A message from the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Emergency Communications is below:

OEC Stakeholders,

This week the SAFECOM Program held its bi-annual Emergency Response Council meeting in Washington, DC. Over 50 members attended, representing national associations and public safety agencies. At the meeting, the Executive Committee announced that Kevin McGinnis was elected the previous day as Chair of the Executive Committee. Kevin is the former Director of Emergency Medical Services for the State of Maine, ambulance service chief, and a paramedic for the past 36 years. For the past seven years, he has represented the National Association of State EMS Officials on SAFECOM and has served as vice-chair of SAFECOM for the past four years. Fire Chief Charles Werner, of Charlottesville, Virginia, who served as the SAFECOM Chairman from March 2008-November 2010, has been elected as the Vice Chair of the Executive Committee.

We look forward to sharing more information with you about the SAFECOM Program in the future.

Sincerely,

Chris Essid
Director
Office of Emergency Communications
U.S. Department of Homeland Security


2. Paul Kirby of TR Daily wrote an excellent article related to the differences in perspective regarding the proposed 700 MHz public safety broadband network between some members of the commercial carriers and public safety’s leadership on the issue. A link to the article is below.

Public Safety, Industry Representatives Clash On Reallocation Of D ...BroadbandBreakfast.com

http://broadbandbreakfast.com/2010/11/public-safety-industry-representatives-clash-on-reallocation-of-d-block/