Gutierrez, Chertoff Announce Nearly $1B in First Responder Communications Grants Funds

Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Allocations
Fact Sheet: Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program
U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and U.S. Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff announced today $968 million Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grants to help state and local first responders improve public safety communications and coordination during a natural or man-made disaster.
The PSIC grant program will assist public safety agencies in the acquisition, deployment, and training of interoperable communications systems to enhance interoperable communications of voice, data, and/or video signals. Also, released today are the grant guidance and application kits. Applications are due in 30 days, and grants will be awarded by September 30, 2007, as required by the Call Home Act of 2006. The U.S. Congress authorized $1 billion to establish the PSIC program as a one-time, formula-based, matching grant program in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. The program will fast track awards to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
“When disaster strikes, first responders must have the tools to communicate,” said Secretary Gutierrez. “Under this streamlined program, states will be given grants to use technology that will make our cities and states safer.”
“Achieving interoperable communications is a major priority for our department and should be a priority for every community across our nation,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “These grants will help states and cities purchase equipment, conduct training and exercises, and develop effective interoperable communications plans to get this important job done.”
(DHS press release; DHS PSIC Funding allocation list; DOC PSIC Web site; DHS Grants by State; Washington Post story; Washington Technology story)