One of several key recommendations from the 2004 9/11 Commission report was for Congress to create an expedited and increased assignment of radio spectrum for public safety. Eight years later, Congress is still trying to figure out a way to reach a consensus on the matter. As YNN's Washington Bureau reporter Erin Billups tells us, Congress hopes to get this done this year.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "When our firefighters were running up those towers and our police officers and first responders were making sacrifices. If they had more information at that time, more lives could have been saved," said New York State Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

Numerous bills with the goal of creating a national broadband radio spectrum network for first responders have been penned since the 9/11 Commission's report called for it in 2004. But establishing a nationwide network by taking spectrum from broadcast companies, reallocating some of it to public safety and setting up a governance structure for it, has become a daunting task for Washington officials.

"We shouldn't let it get killed or fall by the wayside because of political bickering or infighting that is so prevalent here in Washington. It is an important issue, it should stand or sink on its own," said New York Representative Eliot Engel.

House republicans, though, propose including their spectrum bill in the controversial payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance extension bills, currently being hashed out through a joint House-Senate committee. They tout the revenue and job creation benefits that would come from auctioning off additional spectrum.

"We can't talk about the relief portion without also addressing jobs," said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton.
But differences remain between the two sides, like whether the oversight structure should be nationally focused or state by state, the Federal Communications Commission's role in auctioning off spectrum and how to repurpose public safety's current narrowband network to meet the growing demand for consumer wireless services.

While New York Congressman Engel favors the democratic bill he co-sponsored, he's says at this point, something simply needs to move forward.

"Personally, I could vote for either one of them. I think it's that important of an issue to bring to the floor and have a vote," Engel said.

The conferees have until the end of the month to reach a deal on a payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance extensions. We'll find out over the next several weeks whether a broadband network for public safety will be included in that plan.