FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          AG
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1997                         (202) 616-2777
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

       STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO ON PROPOSAL
  TO SET ASIDE COMMUNICATIONS FREQUENCIES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY USE

     "The safety of all Americans depends on the ability of law
enforcement officials to communicate quickly and very effectively
with each other.  We all know that in an emergency, minutes can
save lives.  But in many urban areas, public safety frequencies are
becoming congested.  New technologies can transmit mug shots and
fingerprints instantly--but only if more frequency space is
available for state and local law enforcement.  And in a crisis,
the limited frequencies now available hamper the ability of
federal, state and local agencies to coordinate their efforts when
lives are on the line.

     "For example, rescue efforts at the World Trade Center were
hindered when police and fire fighters one floor apart could not
talk to each other.  In Oklahoma City, agencies had to briefly
resort to runners to communicate after the Murrah Building was
bombed.

     "Today as part of his 1998 budget, President Clinton will
announce a proposal to help America's police and other public
safety workers face these critical challenges.    

     "The President will seek to reclaim certain rarely used
frequencies--now used as television channels 60 through 69 -- and
to reserve 40 percent of those frequencies--an additional 24
megahertz of radio spectrum -- for the exclusive use of police,
fire fighters and other public safety workers.  

     "In June 1995, the FCC and the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration brought together affected entities into
a Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee to determine the
spectrum needs of the public safety community through the year
2010.  With me today is the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Mr.
Philip Verveer.  We welcome you sir.

     "Today's proposal will implement the first and most urgent of
the Advisory Committee's recommendations.  And it will put new
technologies to work saving lives -- by relieving communications
congestion on existing frequencies, by providing new spectrum to
boost communications in a crisis, and by helping America's police
harness 21st century technologies and make our streets and our
neighborhoods safer."

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97-057