Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program

PUBLIC SAFETY INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS GRANT PROGRAM
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration]
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Friday, February 16, 2007, to implement the $1 billion Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program to help state, local and federal first responders better communicate during a natural or man-made disaster. The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 (the Act) provides that the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information of the Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the DHS, shall make payments not to exceed $1 billion in the aggregate through fiscal year 2010 to carry out the PSIC program. The Act also directed NTIA, in consultation with DHS, to develop the grant program policies, procedures and regulations of the grants to be awarded in 2007, and grant projects will be completed in Fiscal Year 2010. As required in the recently enacted Call Home Act of 2006, the grants will be awarded by September 30, 2007. The grant program, which covers public safety agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and four U.S. territories, will assist public safety agencies in the acquisition of, deployment of, or training for the use of interoperable communications systems that can utilize reallocated public safety spectrum in the 700 MHz band for radio communication. Under this MOU, DHS’s Office of Grants and Training will provide grants management services to NTIA for the PSIC grant program. DHS, among other things, will: develop policies, procedures and regulations to govern the PSIC program; (2) develop a timetable to complete actions so that grants may be awarded by the established dates; (3) develop and distribute program application and guidance materials; (4) publicize the availability of grant opportunities; (5) provide technical assistance to applicants; (6) notify recipients of grant awards; (7) award grant funds by September 30, 2007; and (8) conduct site visits to verify progress and completion of funded projects. NTIA, among other things, will: (1) assist in the development of policies, procedures, and regulations governing the PSIC program and approve the same; (2) provide DHS with NTIA access rights to Grants.gov to post funding opportunity announcements and post NTIA grant award information to the Federal Assistance Award Data Systems; (3) participate in publicizing the availability of grant opportunities under the PSIC Grant Program; (4) approve final grant awards; (5) review and approve an annual administrative plan to implement the program; (6) jointly announce grant awards; and (7) provide funding to DHS for administrative costs and the grant awards.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/psic/PSICMOU_Executed_2-16-2007.pdf
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/psic/psicfaq.html