For Immediate Release: June 8, 2007 Press Contact: Todd Sedmak, (202)…

For Immediate Release: June 8, 2007
Press Contact: Todd Sedmak, (202) 482-7002

                    Commerce Department Report Encourages
                   Commercial Technologies for First Responders

             Washington, D.C.'s WARN System Model for Nation's Public Safety Needs

Washington ­ The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) in a report released today encourages the federal, state and
local public safety community to consider utilizing commercial technologies in satisfying
broadband interoperable communications among first responders. The report also recommends
agencies consider commercial broadband services, when feasible.

NTIA's report, "A Public Safety Sharing Demonstration," analyzed the District of Columbia's
Wireless Accelerated Responder Network (WARN). The WARN pilot is a city-wide broadband
wireless public safety network. The system uses commercial broadband technology for remote
surveillance, chemical and biological detection and several other emergency related services.
The WARN has been used by more than a dozen federal, District and local agencies during
events such as the Presidential Inauguration, International Monetary Fund demonstrations, and
Fourth of July celebrations to provide the agencies access to critical data.

"Our nation's Capital has the potential to be the template for satisfying the nation's public safety
broadband needs," said Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez "By leveraging state, local
and federal resources and using readily available commercial technology, the WARN system
delivers cutting-edge technology to first responders."

The report fulfills part of the President's 21st Century Spectrum Policy Initiative for improving
management of the nation's airwaves, and is available on the NTIA Web site at
www.ntia.doc.gov. The report addresses planning, usage and sharing of spectrum, and the
feasibility of using commercial services to meet the increasingly complex, public safety,
wireless, broadband communications needs.

Later this year, NTIA is expected to award $1 billion in grants to assist public safety agencies in
the acquisition of, deployment of, or training for the use of interoperable communications
systems. This funding may be used by state and local public safety officials in utilizing the
report's recommended commercial technologies and broadband services in satisfying their own
public safety needs.

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