more excuses to make a bigger, eviler, nastier police state!!! Original Article McCain, colleagues decry lack of reliable communication gear The Arizona Republic Sept. 20, 2005 12:00 AM WASHINGTON - The "horrific" breakdowns of Gulf Coast phone lines, cell towers and electrical systems after Hurricane Katrina should move Congress to "finally" provide rescuers with more reliable emergency communications systems, say Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and three other lawmakers. McCain, Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and Reps. Jane Harman, D-Calif. and Curt Weldon, R-Pa., made their plea in an op-ed column appearing Monday in the Washington Post. They noted it was four years ago this month when New York's fire, police and Port Authority officers were unable to talk to one another when responding to the collapse of the Twin Towers from a terrorist attack. But they wrote, "(T)he federal government has sat by and allowed this problem to remain unresolved for four years following the devastation of Sept. 11, 2001, even as many predicted another disaster. "In the past few weeks, we have seen an even more devastating breakdown in emergency communications, as phone lines, cell towers and electrical systems were wracked by Hurricane Katrina, making it nearly impossible at times for many first responders and government officials on the Gulf Coast to talk to each other." All this occurred, the lawmakers added, as people across the country were able to watch the crisis unfold on television. The reason: "It's because public officials have yet to get serious about developing and funding a safety communications system for all local, state and federal first responders. This reality became all too clear during the bungled response to Katrina." McCain and his colleagues ask: "After watching the horrific communications breakdowns that occurred during Katrina, will we wait another four years before acting? How many more lives will be lost? What kind of catastrophic disaster is necessary for Congress to give these heroes the tools they need to save lives?" The column reflected the tone of a speech last week by McCain on the Senate floor. In both, it was noted that Congress has taken some steps toward achieving what is known as an "interoperable" emergency communications system for local, state and federal first responders. "Interoperable" refers to an ability of one public safety agency to communicate instantly by radio, cellphone or wireless device with personnel from other agencies. But the column Monday also noted that Congress has yet to develop a comprehensive emergency communications plan and equipment standards or act on legislation to provide added equipment and radio spectrum to enable first responders to communicate over long distances using the same radio frequencies and equipment. McCain is among those in Congress upset by legislative delays in broadcasters' handing off spectrum for use by first responders. McCain has estimated the costs of "interoperability" could reach as high as $15 billion.