ROBERT P. CASEY, JR. 
PENNSYLVANIA 
COMMITTEES 
AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, 
AND FORESTRY 
FINANCE 
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HEALTH. EDUCATION, 
LABOR, AND PENSIONS 
SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING 
JOINT ECONOMIC 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 l21h Street, S. W 
Washington, D.C. 20554 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510 
April 13, 2015 
RE: RM-11721- Petition For Ruiemaking OfThe National Public Safety Telecommunications 
Council Requesting Modification of Part 90 Of The Commission's Rules To Enable Railroad 
Police To Access Frequencies Reserved For Public Safety Interoperability. 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
I am writing to request that the Commission expeditiously consider amending its regulations to 
allow Railroad Police to access frequencies reserved for public safety operability to better 
facilitate communication between Railroad Police and other public safety entities. 
On October 23, 2013, the International Association of Chiefs of Police adopted a resolution 
supporting access to public safety frequencies for certain commissioned railroad police. The 
National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) submitted a Petition for 
Rulemaking requesting modification of Part 90 of the Commission's rules to permit Railroad 
Police to access public safety frequencies on May 27, 2014. During the comment period on the 
NPSTC's petition, the Commission received supportive comments from the Department of 
Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, the Association of American Railroads, and 
others. 
Rail is an integral part of how Pennsylvanians and Americans travel, as well as being critical to 
economic growth by allowing businesses reliable and affordable transportation of goods. 
According to Amtrak, an average of more than 86,000 passengers ride more than 300 Amtrak 
trains each day. In Pennsylvania alone, Amtrak saw six million passengers board trains in Fiscal 
Year 2014. Amtrak Police are responsible not only for the security of these passengers, but for 
the security of stations in more than 500 destinations, as well as the rail lines that connect those 
stations. 
PR0NTEO 0" RECYClED PAPfR 
At stations across the country, railroad police are tasked with addressing civil and criminal 
infractions, responding to safety emergencies such as fires and train derailments and monitoring 
possible threats to national security. It is truly an enormous undertaking, deserving of tools that 
will facilitate communication with state and local law enforcement as well as other public safety 
organizations to enforce laws and respond to emergencies as quickly and effectively as possible. 
Pennsylvania, like many other states, requires that railroad officers be commissioned under state 
law. Furthermore, federal law gives railroad police commissioned as law enforcement officers 
under state law authority to enforce the laws of jurisdictions in which the rail carrier owns 
property to protect passengers, employees, property and equipment, including authority to 
protect "personnel, equipment, and material moving by rail that are vital to the national defense." 
This grant of authority evidences the critical role of railroad police in law enforcement and the 
safety of our transportation system. However, railroad police are limited in their ability to 
communicate on the same frequencies that are available to law enforcement and public safety 
officials performing similar duties. Particularly given the frequency with which railroad police 
cross jurisdictional boundaries, reliable communication with state and local law enforcement and 
public safety officials is critical to their ability to prevent illegal activity, respond to emergencies 
and engage in public safety campaigns. 
As we approach a year fo llowing the filing ofNPSTC's petition, I respectfully urge the 
Commission to initiate a formal rulemaking process that will allow a full and fair consideration 
of this issue. I appreciate your consideration of my views, and I look forward to your reply. 
Sincerely, 
t»ra- t.~.~· 
Robert P. Casey, Jr. 
United States Senator