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APCO CELEBRATES SENATE PASSAGE OF BILL TO EXTEND VITAL PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING
October 16, 2009, Alexandria, Va - The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International today applauded the Senate's passage of a bill that will extend the current spending deadline for the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant program to 2012. The PSIC program was originally established by Congress to provide one-time funding of $1 billion to state and local governments toward achieving interoperability among our first responders.
"The public safety communications community continues to be constrained by financial issues as well as time constraints when it comes to technological progress," APCO International Executive Director George Rice said. "APCO International is pleased Congress has recognized the importance of this program in achieving interoperability."
"APCO International again thanks Senators Rockefeller and Hutchison for their leadership in prioritizing this vital public safety issue," APCO International Director of Legislative Affairs Yucel Ors said. "We look forward to continuing to work with them, as well as their colleagues in the House, to secure final passage of this critical extension."
APCO International continues to urge Congress to fully fund the follow-on to the one-time PSIC funding, entitled the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP), at its maximum authorization level of $400 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011.
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About APCO International
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is the world's oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. APCO International serves the professional needs of its 15,000 members worldwide by creating 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 throughout the world. For more information, visit www.apcointl.org.
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