FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
TH E CHAI RMAN July 23,2015
The Honorable Robert A. Brady
U. S. House of Representatives
102 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Brady:
Thank: you for your letter requesting that the Commission grant the Amtrak Police
Department access to public safety frequencies. I wholeheartedly agree that efficient and
effective communication during emergencies is critical. Your views on this issue are very
important to us.
In that regard, I recently circulated a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to
my fellow Commissioners that addresses the issue you raise. The draft NPRM builds on a
petition for rulemaking filed by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council
(NPSTC), which urges the Commission to permit railroad police, including Amtrak police, to use
interoperability and mutual aid channels in several public safety spectrum bands for the purpose
of communicating with state and local law enforcement officials in railroad-related emergencies.
I appreciate your interest and will be happy to keep your office updated on additional
action that the Commission may take in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further
assistance.
smcerelYI!~ /.
ifeeler