Public safety group support M2Z Network

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A group of prominent U.S. public safety organizations have announced their support for the proposed M2Z Network's license application.

The proposed network would offer free broadband access nationwide to all registered public safety officers throughout the United States. Additionally, if the M2Z Network's license application is approved by the Federal Communication Commission, the network would offer family-friendly broadband services.

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Fire Chiefs have added their support for M2Z by submitting a joint letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.

"We do believe the proposal could provide a secondary broadband IP network to the public safety community and do so without using any public funds and at a very low cost," the APCO, IACP and IAFC wrote, in a statement.

M2Z's application calls for leasing fallow spectrum in the 2155 to 2175 MHz band. By adding their support the APCO, IACP and IAFC join the National Troopers Coalition and several police and fire chiefs throughout the country. If approved the M2Z broadband IP network would create for first responders an interoperable network-of-networks for public safety in the face of a national disaster.

"After repeatedly learning lessons about the lack of interoperability at Columbine, the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Hurricane Katrina, all of us have to work to make sure first responders can access interoperable networks at all times," said Milo Medin, co-founder, chairman and CTO of M2Z Networks. "M2Z will help meet that challenge using private sector capital and Silicon Valley ingenuity."