Interop Grants Moving Slow, Will Meet Deadline

A program of almost $1 billion in federal grants for states to create interoperable radio network for public safety operations has already missed one deadline, and has given out only one-third of its money to states, according to an annual audit. In addition, the audit found that several states are having trouble meeting the grant matching requirements of the Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program (PSIC), putting millions of dollars in jeopardy of being lost. The fund is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), whose auditors said grant matching was a “significant concern,” but who believe close monitoring of the program could bring successful completion by the new deadline—either fiscal 2011 or 2012 depending upon how quickly the money is disbursed. The program was originally scheduled to be complete by last September, but states moved too slowly and the deadline was extended. Download (pdf) the auditors’ report here, and download individual states audits: California, Florida, New York, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Louisiana,