DHS Secretary Napolitano yesterday joined Vice President Joe Biden and other top administration officials at a White House Summit focused on improving public safety communications systems for the nation's first responders. The President’s Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative will enable public safety agencies to transition away from the traditional, fragmented world of public safety communications to a next generation system.

Recent developments in broadband technology present an opportunity to improve the communications systems for emergency first responders.   The DHS Office of Emergency Communications is updating the National Emergency Communications Plan to support the operational and technological integration and transition needed to enable the use of broadband technology for voice and data communications. DHS is also working with its partners at all levels of government to plan for and deploy broadband technology for those working in public safety.