The need appears increasingly urgent for timely decisions by policy makers on new infrastructure for emergency communications and spectrum allocation for public safety radios. Contents of this report: (1) Goals and Challenges: Background: Planning to Meet Goals;Challenges and Barriers to Change; (2) Policy Considerations for the Future: Governance and Grants; Decision Making and Planning Authority: Federal Involvement; State and Local Involvement; Commercial Involvement; Role of the Emergency Response Interoperability Center and the Public Safety Spectrum Trust; Cost Estimates: Wireless Networks; Network Infrastructure: Wireless Backhaul and NG9-1-1; Radios; Network Access; Financial Resources; Managing Radio Frequency Spectrum; Technology: Networks; Radios; Migration to Commercial Technologies; (3) Legislation in the 112th Congress to Improve Emergency Communications; (4) Conclusion; (5) Appendixes: Proposals for Spectrum Assignment; Congressional Efforts on Behalf of Public Safety Communications. Figures. This is a print on demand report.

Using spectrum to advance public safety, promote broadband, create jobs, and reduce the deficit: hearing before the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, first session, April 12, 2011.