{
  "id": "R45213",
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      "id": 585534,
      "date": "2018-09-20",
      "retrieved": "2019-12-20T20:52:33.178214",
      "title": "Federal Grants and Loans for State and Local Emergency Communications Projects: Frequently Asked Questions ",
      "summary": "Improving emergency communications has been an area of congressional interest for many years. Before September 11, 2001, Congress provided funding through grants, which could be used to improve state and local emergency communications through purchases of police and fire radios, construction of communication towers, and disaster planning, training, and exercises. After September 11, 2001, Congress increased funding to improve interoperability between public safety agencies at all levels of government to enhance communication and coordination during response. \nCongress has also supported investments in broadband for public safety through several grant and loan programs, many focused on expanding broadband to rural areas. In 2012, Congress provided $6.5 billion to create the First Responder Network (FirstNet), a new nationwide public safety broadband network. While this provides public safety agencies with a common platform to communicate, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies may look to federal funding to equip responders with devices, and to enhance coverage.\nAs a result, many state and local public safety agencies are continually seeking out federal grant and loan funding for emergency communications. In the current portfolio of federal grants and loans that are available to state, local, tribal, and territorial entities, there are currently 24 programs that can support emergency communications projects. The programs fund different costs. For example, the programs may fund firefighter radios, border communications, 911 equipment, or broadband improvements. The costs may also change from year to year. For example, in 2018, several Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programs can fund costs related to FirstNet. While program requirements fluctuate year over year, many state, local, territorial, and tribal entities have been able to use federal funding to improve emergency communications systems and enhance response. \nThese federal programs are sometimes difficult to access, primarily because they are administered by different federal departments and agencies, are released at different times each year, have complex application processes, and may be only briefly open to accept applications. For example, many of the 2018 FEMA grants that fund emergency communications are open for 30 days (from May 21, 2018 to June 20, 2018). \nThis report provides congressional staff with information on current federal grants and loans that fund emergency communications, information on the application process, eligible communications activities, and other resources they can provide to constituents seeking federal grant and loan funding to support emergency communications projects.",
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      "id": 581607,
      "date": "2018-06-01",
      "retrieved": "2018-06-12T14:10:19.314937",
      "title": "Federal Grants and Loans for State and Local Emergency Communications Projects: Frequently Asked Questions ",
      "summary": "Improving emergency communications has been an area of congressional interest for many years. Before September 11, 2001, Congress provided funding through grants, which could be used to improve state and local emergency communications through purchases of police and fire radios, construction of communication towers, and disaster planning, training, and exercises. After September 11, 2001, Congress increased funding to improve interoperability between public safety agencies at all levels of government to enhance communication and coordination during response. \nCongress has also supported investments in broadband for public safety through several grant and loan programs, many focused on expanding broadband to rural areas. In 2012, Congress provided $6.5 billion to create the First Responder Network (FirstNet), a new nationwide public safety broadband network. While this provides public safety agencies with a common platform to communicate, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies may look to federal funding to equip responders with devices, and to enhance coverage.\nAs a result, many state and local public safety agencies are continually seeking out federal grant and loan funding for emergency communications. In the current portfolio of federal grants and loans that are available to state, local, tribal, and territorial entities, there are currently 22 programs that can support emergency communications projects. The programs fund different costs. For example, the programs may fund firefighter radios, border communications, 911 equipment, or broadband improvements. The costs may also change from year to year. For example, in 2018, several Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programs can fund costs related to FirstNet. While program requirements fluctuate year over year, many state, local, territorial, and tribal entities have been able to use federal funding to improve emergency communications systems and enhance response. \nThese federal programs are sometimes difficult to access, primarily because they are administered by different federal departments and agencies, are released at different times each year, have complex application processes, and may be only briefly open to accept applications. For example, many of the 2018 FEMA grants that fund emergency communications are open for 30 days (from May 21, 2018 to June 20, 2018). \nThis report provides congressional staff with information on current federal grants and loans that fund emergency communications, information on the application process, eligible communications activities, and other resources they can provide to constituents seeking federal grant and loan funding to support emergency communications projects.",
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          "source": "IBCList",
          "id": 4871,
          "name": "Telecommunications & Internet Policy"
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  "topics": [
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}