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ComCARE Alliance Applauds Senate Introduction

25 September 1998

ComCARE Alliance Applauds Senate Introduction of the Wireless Communications And Public Safety Act of 1998

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 --  The ComCARE Alliance, a coalition of
emergency medical professionals, public safety, citizen and industry
representatives, expressed their gratitude to Senate Commerce, Science, and
Transportation Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Communications
Subcommittee Chairman Conrad Burns (R-MT) for introducing the Wireless
Communications and Public Safety Act of 1998.  The legislation provides
incentives and grants to state and local governments for the deployment of
seamless and reliable end-to-end systems for connecting millions of wireless
users to emergency agencies through upgraded 9-1-1 systems.
    K. Sue Hoyt, chair of ComCARE and the immediate past president of the
Emergency Nurses Association, said, "Chairman McCain is responding to an
urgent and critical need.  This legislation encourages linking modern
technology and emergency services to create end-to-end communications systems
that will dramatically reduce emergency response times.  With these systems --
that can swiftly integrate and deliver victims' crash data and location
information and more to emergency medical professionals -- we will be able to
deliver the best medical care more quickly and efficiently than we ever
imagined possible.  Passing this legislation will help us save more lives
every day."
    Jim Brady, Chairman of the Brain Injury Association and a ComCARE member,
praised the bill's introduction, saying, "For critically injured victims,
reducing response time by mere minutes can enormously improve the chance of
recovery.  This bill provides incentives for vastly upgrading our nation's
emergency response systems.  These improvements could give so many crash
victims the second chance they deserve.  Thank you to the Senators who are
supporting this effort."
    Tom Wheeler, President and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry
Association, also a member of ComCARE, commented, "The wireless industry is
very proud that our advanced technologies and 63 million wireless phone users
are critical links in the life-saving end-to-end system called for in this
important legislation by Chairman McCain."
    The Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1998 provides block
grants to the states to: designate 9-1-1 as the universal emergency number;
help cities and counties upgrade 9-1-1 networks; expand drunk and aggressive
driving prevention efforts, and other pre-hospital emergency activities; and
develop coordinated state plans for linking the public to emergency services.
In addition, the Act funds Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) field research,
encourages private sector efforts to connect wireless to smart cars, and helps
to establish seamless wireless telecommunications networks by facilitating
antenna siting on federal property.  The Act does not require the use of
existing federal funds.  Instead its grants are funded by the leasing income
federal agencies collect by making their property available for antenna siting
(consistent with a Presidential Executive Memorandum issued in 1995).
    The ComCARE Alliance is a broad based coalition formed to support and
promote the nationwide development of end-to-end communications networks to
enhance public safety.  ComCARE ("Communications for Coordinated Assistance
and Response to Emergencies") is working with public and private sector
leaders to "connect the dots" between the many currently available life-saving
technologies and the people who need them.
    Please visit the ComCARE Alliance's Web site at http://www.comcare.org