Issue Brief 12-34
September 7, 2012
Summary 


On February 22, 2012, the president signed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-96), which creates a single, nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network (PSBN) allowing public safety officials to communicate across agencies and jurisdictions. The law also provides up to $135 million in total funding for the State and Local Implementation Grant Program (SLIGP), which will assist state, regional, tribal, and local jurisdictions with planning and implementing the PSBN. On August 21, 2012, the Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the requirements for the grant program, which are summarized in this Issue Brief.