In February, IAFC President Al Gillespie joined U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and other public-safety leaders at the White House after Congress passed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.
This bill, signed by President Obama into law on Feb. 22, will provide the public-safety community with the communications spectrum needed to build the nation-wide public-safety broadband network that many in public safety have worked so long for.
At the meeting, the vice president announced a new report from the Council of Economic Advisers that reinforces the positive benefits of wireless broadband for public safety as well as jobs, growth and investment.
Passage of this legislation ends a multiyear effort by the IAFC and its allies to lay the groundwork for public-safety communications capabilities. Much work still remains; the IAFC will keep members informed as work continues to make the network a reality.
Official White House photo by David Lienemann.