12.21.06   |  Doug Mohney

In a series of announcements this week, The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International affirmed its interest in high-tech communications.

Representing 15,000 members, APCO is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications and creates a platform for setting professional standards, addressing professional issues and providing education, products and services for people who manage, operate, maintain and supply the communications systems used by police, fire and emergency medical dispatch agencies.

Earlier this week, APCO reemphasized the need for Congress and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address a long standing need for broadband communications capacity that meets public safety service requirements. The announcement was made in response to an FCC action to comments on a proposal to make changes in the licensing rules for certain data channels within the current 700 MHz band public safety allocation.   Public safety officials are lobbying for additional 700 MHz spectrum and have shown an interest in reallocate 30 MHz of spectrum now slated for auction to a "Public Safety Broadband Trust."