Vice President Biden Announces Availability of the $4 Billion in Recovery Act Loans and Grants to Increase Broadband Access and Adoption
Vice President Biden today announced the availability of $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loans and grants to help bring broadband service to un-served and underserved communities across America. This is the first round of Recovery Act funding aimed at expanding broadband access to help bridge the technological divide and create jobs building out Internet infrastructure.

Final Rules For Enhance 911 Act Grants
The joint Final Rule implements the E-911 grant program authorized under the ENHANCE 911 Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-494, codified at 47 U.S.C. 942). The Act authorizes grants for the implementation and operation of Phase II enhanced 911 services and for migration to an IP-enabled emergency network. To qualify for a grant, an applicant must submit a State 911 plan and project budget, designate an E-911 coordinator, and certify, among other things, that the State and other taxing jurisdictions within the State have not diverted E-911 charges for any other purpose within 180 days preceding the application date. This Final Rule establishes the requirements an applicant must meet and the procedures it must follow to receive an E-911 grant. This Final Rule becomes effective on June 5, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program issues: Mr. Drew Dawson, Director, Office of Emergency Medical Services, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., NTI-140, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-9966. Email: Drew.Dawson@dot.gov.

FCC Approves Transfer of Control of Transition Administrator.

Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Seeks Comment on Region 10 (Georgia) 700 MHz Regional Plan.

FCC Seeks Comment on Petition to Address Tower Impact on Migratory Birds
FCC seeks comment on the Petition for Expedited Rulemaking and Other Relief on behalf of American Bird Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, and National Audubon Society regarding commission implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act ("ESA"), and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ("MBTA"), and their implementing regulations, and to carry out the mandate of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in American Bird Conservancy, Inc. v. FCC, 516 F.3d 1027 (D.C. Cir. 2008). Comments Due: 05/29/2009. Reply Comments Due: 06/15/2009.

EMS and 9-1-1 Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) Infection Guidance is now available!

APCO Comments on the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program

FCC SEEKS NOMINATIONS BY MAY 11, 2009 FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THE COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY, RELIABILITY, AND INTEROPERABILITY COUNCIL (CSRIC)
The Federal Communications Commission is seeking nominations and expressions of interest for membership on the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council. The Council is a Federal Advisory Committee that provides guidance and expertise on the nation's communications infrastructure and public safety communications. Nominations and expressions of interest for membership must be submitted to the FCC no later than May 11, 2009.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ADOPTS RULES TO EXPAND, ENHANCE FIRST RESPONDERS' USE OF 4.9 GHz BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS ACROSS THE NATION
The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) has adopted a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Order) addressing 4.9 GHz band rules, as well as miscellaneous Part 90 public safety rules. The rules will help expand and enhance first responders' deployment of broadband communication technologies across the nation in the 4.9 GHz band, thereby helping to stimulate the economy. The new rules will also better enable first responders to more easily share time-sensitive data and streaming video footage in emergencies or life-threatening incidents.

APCO International urges the FCC to take aggressive enforcement action against entities that manufacture, import, market or use devices designed to interfere with wireless telephone or other radio communications.