Fergie's Tech Blog

Who's The Boss of $1B DHS Interoperability Fund?

Alice Lipowicz writes on GCN.com:

The Homeland Security Department has no clear authority at this time over a $1 billion fund for public safety agency interoperable communications equipment that it has been publicizing as a first responder grant program, according to a Congressional Research Service memorandum.

The Feb. 12 memo was addressed to Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., in response to her request for further information about the fund. DHS said in a Feb. 5 fact sheet released with its fiscal 2008 budget request that it will be co-administering the interoperability grants program with the Commerce Department.

However, according to the CRS memorandum, the department’s authority over the $1 billion fund is not yet established. The funding is to be administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and no memorandum of understanding exists at this time between DHS and the NTIA on administration of the program, CRS said.

posted by Fergie @ 2/16/2007 01:21:00 PM