The House subcommittee marked up H.R. 451, the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act of 2019.  The bill was passed through the subcommittee on an unanimous vote after an amendment by Congressman Walden (Ranking member of the full House Commerce Committee) was adopted which would tie the repeal to direct the FCC to implement rules that would prohibit states from diverting fees collected from consumers for 911 services.

The pictures were at a press conference in the Capitol building organized by Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts who has been leading the effort in the Senate.  The press conference lasted about an hour and was well organized and attended. Following this, a meeting was held on the House side with Congressman Max Rose who represents Staten Island and lower Brooklyn NY.  Rose defeated Dan Donovan who was the Republican head of the House Homeland Security subcommittee on communications.  He pledged to help and lead an effort to get more co-sponsors for the bill.  Many spoke at the meeting including NPSTC Government Relations representative Jim Goldstein, and NPSTC National Sheriff's Association representative Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald who told the Congressman he has been working these issues since 2007, and that FirstNet is not a replacement for mission-critical voice.  Goldstein told the Congressman that the NPSTC reports were critical to an understanding of the impracticability of the law's provision and the General Accountability Office (GAO) agreed with the NPSTC findings.  He also mentioned the FCC Chairman, who is tasked with auctioning the spectrum, is opposed to the T-Band auction.

The final meeting was with Nancy Pelosi's personal staff (versus the leadership staff).  They pledged Pelosi's support.

Overall, a good day.  NPSTC thanks the groups that worked to organize this event.  Some of the public safety attendees represented:  International Association of Fire Chief (IAFC), LA-Rics, ICE from LA, New York City Police and Fire, NewYork State Fire Chiefs Association, BAPERN and the Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association.  Also supporting public safety was Mark Crosby from EWA and James Crandall from the American Petroleum Institute, to name a few.  Many other supporters attended as well.

Chief Hicks from the Boston area representing the Greater Boston Police Council (BAPERN)		Harold Schaitburger of the IAFF		Chief Gary Ludwig of the IAFC
H.R. 451 T-Band Audience		Congressman Eliott Engel from Westchester County, NY who is a sponsor of the bill, and Congressman Lee Zeldin (shown just right of and facing Engel) from Suffolk County, NY (R) who is a co-sponsor of the bill