Feds award $150M for responder systems

Homeland Security Department

From Boston to Clallam County, Wash., 31 communities across the country have been awarded nearly $150 million in federal funds this week to help them develop demonstration programs of interoperable communications systems for first responders.

Agencies under the Homeland Security and Justice departments jointly administered the Interoperable Communications Technology Grant program. The funds are "intended to uncover solutions that will guide future communications funding" for other communities to develop interoperable systems, said Tom Ridge, DHS secretary.

DHS' Federal Emergency Management Agency will distribute nearly $80 million to 17 communities, while Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) awarded $66.5 million to another 14 municipalities.

The maximum federal contribution for each award is capped at $6 million; local communities contribute a 25 percent match. Funds will pay for communications equipment, enhancements to the communications infrastructure and project management expenses.

The competitive grant process was not open to all communities. The 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the country and the largest metro areas in each state were invited to apply for the COPS share of the funding. Additionally, governors were asked to nominate local jurisdictions to submit applications for FEMA's share. Proposals that included regional and cross-jurisdictional partnerships were encouraged.

Peer review panels — including representatives from the fire, law enforcement and emergency medical communities and from several federal programs — evaluated proposals.