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WAGNER HAILS N.J. FEDERAL APPROVAL OF $39.6M TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Connie Wagner on Wednesday praised New Jersey’s Congressional delegation for bringing $39.6 million to New Jersey to improve public safety communications during emergencies.
The money will create an interoperable wireless public safety broadband network to improve how first responders in New Jersey communicate during police, fire and other emergencies. The network would be used by public safety agencies in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Union and Passaic counties.
“The awful events of Sept, 11, 2001 are forever a stark reminder of the need for the best emergency communications system possible, and thanks to the hard work of our Congressional delegation we will soon see a vastly improved system for 51 agencies and more than 30,000 first responders,” said Wagner (D-Bergen). “This is especially important in an area such as Bergen County, where so many different agencies must work together during times of crisis.”
Wagner noted how U.S. Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez (both D-N.J.) and nine members of New Jersey’s House delegation sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission supporting the state’s petition for the network. The FCC approved New Jersey’s petition in May, making Thursday’s grant possible.
“I thank our Congressional delegation for their hard work and dedication to protecting the safety of our first responders and the public,” Wagner said.