Nextel Forms Non-Profit for Phase II Grants

RESTON, Va.--July 22, 2002--Nextel Communications, Inc. today announced the creation of Wireless E-911: The PSAP Readiness Fund, which will coordinate the dissemination of $25 million to the public safety community to improve wireless enhanced 911 (E-911) services across the country. The PSAP Readiness Fund, a new non-profit organization, today held its initial board meeting in Reston, Va.

The PSAP Readiness Fund will provide grants to organizations dedicated to the deployment of wireless enhanced 911 and will foster the development and timely implementation of advanced location-based emergency services across the U.S., particularly in areas underserved by modern communications technology. Grant recipients will include organizations that provide education, information, technical assistance and financial support to the public safety answering point (PSAP) community.

"Nextel recognizes that the successful deployment of wireless E-911 requires more than E-911-capable wireless phones," said Nextel Vice Chairman Morgan O'Brien. "The PSAP Readiness Fund will provide additional resources to the continuing efforts to meet the wireless E-911 needs of those in the public safety community."

The Fund received grant requests from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officers International (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). Representatives from both organizations presented grant requests to the board at today's meeting.

The PSAP Readiness Fund's board of directors is comprised of five individuals who have a demonstrated commitment to fostering excellence and innovation in the telecommunications and public safety fields. The board collectively brings to the organization more than 150 years of experience in both public safety and telecommunications.

The organization's board of directors includes:

• Mary A. Boyd, director of Wireless Industry Affairs for the wireless business unit of Intrado, Inc. Boyd is a leader on 911 issues at the local, state and national levels and previously served as president of both NENA and the National Association of State Nine-One-One Administrators (NASNA). Prior to entering the private sector, Boyd served nearly 10 years as executive director of the Texas Commission on State Emergency Communications, where she was involved in 911 system design, implementation, funding and regulatory issues. She also spent five years in 911 center operations management with the cities of Austin and Houston, Texas.
• John D. Lane, a private attorney in Washington, DC. Lane is an expert in telecommunications law who is a past president of the Federal Communications Bar Association and served for many years as Washington counsel to APCO. His government service includes positions within the U.S. Senate, the Treasury Department and the White House Counsel's Office.
• Morgan E. O'Brien, vice chairman of Nextel Communications. O'Brien is a pioneer in the commercial development of wireless communications who served seven years in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) mobile services and private radio bureaus. He is a co-founder of Nextel Communications and was the company's chairman of the board between 1987-1996.
• Richard J. Sheirer, a senior vice president with Giuliani Partners. Sheirer formerly served as commissioner of New York City's Office of Emergency Management during Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's administration. He also served 28 years with the Fire Department of New York City, rising to the position of deputy, and then was appointed deputy commissioner for administration and chief of staff for the New York Police Department in 1996.
• Mario H. Trevino, chief of the San Francisco Fire Department. Trevino is the chairman of the board of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs and chairman of the National Technology Transfer Center Advisory Committee. He also is an advisory board member of the Fire and Emergency Television Network, a member of the Urban Fire Forum and a member of the Fire Service Committee of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Trevino has served nearly three decades in various fire service roles, including head of the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department and deputy chief of the Seattle Fire Department.

In 2000 Nextel committed to the FCC to contribute $25 million for the upgrade and enhancement of public safety answering points to facilitate the deployment of wireless E-911 in support of its relationship with the public safety community.

Nextel Communications announced Monday the creation of Wireless E-911: The PSAP Readiness Fund, which will coordinate the dissemination of $25 million to the public safety community to improve wireless enhanced 911 services across the country. The PSAP Readiness Fund will provide grants to organizations dedicated to the deployment of wireless enhanced 911 and will foster the development and timely implementation of advanced location-based emergency services across the U.S., particularly in areas underserved by modern communications technology. Grant recipients will include organizations that provide education, information, technical assistance and financial support to the public safety answering point (PSAP) community. The fund received grant requests from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officers International (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).

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