NENA/APCO Letter on 911 Funding

APCO and NENA have sent a joint letter to U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens supporting legislation he introduced to help fund implementation of 911 systems through federal grants. The bill does not appropriate any money itself. Instead, it strangely authorizes the NTIA to borrow $43.5 million, the amount appropriated last year in the Deficit Reduction Act. However, last year’s appropriation is to come from the proceeds of a spectrum auction not scheduled until 2008 or 2009. This latest bill allows NTIA to borrow the money and then immediately give out grants to local agencies as established in the ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004. The ENHANCE 911 Act established up to $250 million in grants, which must be matched 50% by the receiving agency.