To establish an International Border Community Interoperable Communications Demonstration Project.

1. Adds SEC. 3005A. COMMUNICATION SYSTEM GRANTS on page 95, line 21

   Adds a sectionPrinted page

   Inserted: SEC. 3005A. COMMUNICATION SYSTEM GRANTS.

   Inserted: (a) Definitions.--In this section--

   Inserted: (1) the term "demonstration project" means the demonstration project established under subsection (b)(1);

   Inserted: (2) the term "Department" means the Department of Homeland Security;

   Inserted: (3) the term "emergency response provider" has the meaning given that term in section 2(6) the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(6)); and

   Inserted: (4) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Homeland Security.

   Inserted: (b) In General.--

   Inserted: (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Department an "International Border Community Interoperable Communications Demonstration Project".

   Inserted: (2) Minimum number of communities.--The Secretary shall select not fewer than 2 communities to participate in a demonstration project.

   Inserted: (3) Location of communities.--Not fewer than 1 of the communities selected under paragraph (2) shall be located on the northern border of the United States and not fewer than 1 of the communities selected under paragraph (2) shall be located on the southern border of the United States.

   Inserted: (c) Project Requirements.--The demonstration projects shall--

   Inserted: (1) address the interoperable communications needs of police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, National Guard, and other emergency response providers;

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   Inserted: (2) foster interoperable communications--

   Inserted: (A) among Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies in the United States involved in preventing or responding to terrorist attacks or other catastrophic events; and

   Inserted: (B) with similar agencies in Canada and Mexico;

   Inserted: (3) identify common international cross-border frequencies for communications equipment, including radio or computer messaging equipment;

   Inserted: (4) foster the standardization of interoperable communications equipment;

   Inserted: (5) identify solutions that will facilitate communications interoperability across national borders expeditiously;

   Inserted: (6) ensure that emergency response providers can communicate with each another and the public at disaster sites or in the event of a terrorist attack or other catastrophic event;

   Inserted: (7) provide training and equipment to enable emergency response providers to deal with threats and contingencies in a variety of environments; and

   Inserted: (8) identify and secure appropriate joint-use equipment to ensure communications access.

   Inserted: (d) Distribution of Funds.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary shall distribute funds under this section to each community participating in a demonstration project through the State, or States, in which each community is located.

   Inserted: (2) Other participants.--Not later than 60 days after receiving funds under paragraph (1), a State receiving funds under this section shall make the funds available to the local governments and emergency response providers participating in a demonstration project selected by the Secretary.

   Inserted: (e) Funding.--Amounts made available from the interoperability fund under section 3005(c)(3) shall be available to carry out this section without appropriation.

   Inserted: (f) Reporting.--Not later than December 31, 2005, and each year thereafter in which funds are appropriated for a demonstration project, the Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report on the demonstration projects under this section.

   Original wording

   On page 95, after line 21, insert the following:

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