Governor David A. Paterson today announced that $34 million in homeland security grant funds have been awarded to the New York City urban area as part of the federal government’s Urban Area Security Initiative. The funds are made available through the federal Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program that will help fire, police and other first responders better communicate during emergencies.

The New York City Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) includes NYC, Yonkers, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The region will receive the $34 million from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). With the award of the PSIC grant, the NYC UASI region can now begin using the funds to advance several critical communication initiatives, including:

– Technology to enhance communication within the MTA tunnel system;
– A shared communication platform for the first responder agencies within the region and gateway technology to integrate some of the existing legacy systems into the overall communications effort; and
– Enhanced public safety communications technology within the Port Authority Trans Hudson (PATH) Railroad system.

“Communication is the cornerstone of effective emergency response,” said Governor Paterson. “This funding will enhance the State’s communications capabilities and I’m encouraged to see that the Department of Homeland Security recognizes the importance of supporting first responders in the New York City metro region.”

New York City Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno said: “The PSIC funding is critical to continuing our efforts to bolster emergency communications. Since 2001, New York City has worked with our state and regional partners to evaluate our interoperable communications needs, and this federal grant will allow the region to further improve our emergency communications infrastructure.”

Senator Chuck Schumer said: “Securing this funding is a breakthrough in our continuing effort to protect New York. This will help modernize our public safety system and allow our first responders to better coordinate in the event of an emergency.”

Senator Hillary Clinton said: “This is an important investment in our first responders. Effective communication is critical to allowing our first responders to do their jobs properly and I am pleased that the Department of Homeland Security is making these funds available.”