Motorola Exec To Congress: Improve Communications

Sept. 29, 2005
EE Times

MANHASSET, N.Y. ? Gary Grube, Motorola Inc.'s corporate vice president of technology, called on Congress to immediately improve the nation's emergency communications infrastructure.

Recommendations included making 700 MHz of spectrum available for emergency communications and the use of a network based on the Project 25 standard for first responders.

Appearing at a congressional hearing of public safety officials and communications providers, Grube told the the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee U.S. public safety communications networks must be fixed before the next disaster strikes.

"We should establish standards for response that assure minimal communications shall be restored in any area of the country within 12 hours," Grube said. "This can be accomplished by prepositioning trucks that are self-contained and come equipped with hundreds of portable radios for immediate deployment."