He is our guest this week on the communicators. Commissioner welcome. The debate on Net Neutrality is a moving target right now on the hill and the fcc getting ready to do something. Whats the debate morph into at this point in your view . Guest first, peter thanks for having me on yet again and you picked a good time. The agency is em broiled in a number of high profile issues, Net Neutrality first and foremost among them. To me, the debate has morphed into a political football which i think is unfortunate because it obscures some Common Ground namely that everyone believes in a free and open internet. And i, for one, embrace as a part of that thenchairman powells four internet freedoms lawful content, applications of ones choice the freedom to attach devices to ones network and transparency in terms of service plan information. The question is how do we embrace those four freedoms in the context of regular ration . Regulation . I, for one, believe the bipartisan consensus that has be
Peter slen and our guest this week on the communicators is tj kennedy, acting executive director of firstnet. Mr. Kennedy, welcome, and what exactly is firstnet . T. J. Kennedy it is the first six the First Responder network authority. It is similar to what people use today with smartphones and having the ability to share voice and data, but doing it in a critical way that will support paramedics every day to do their job. Peter is there an issue with First Responders where they need their own network echo own network . T. J. Kennedy one thing that happens in big emergencies is that networks can often get caught, and those who need it most, Public Safety, dont always have the ability to get a signal when they need it. It has also relied for a long time on Radio Systems, and they serve a great focus great purpose. They are focused on voice technology. As you know, we are leveraging of what led leveraging what broadband can do. If you were able to leverage broadband for Public Safety the
Announcer cspan. Created by americas Cable Companies 35 years ago. Announcer on this weekend newsmakers Johnny Isakson is our guest. He is the chair of the Veterans Affairs community and talks about ongoing efforts to reform the v. A. Senator isakson i am an optimist, and i would say succeeding is not the main goal of the v. A. Statutory changes needed as well as leadership changes. Thats why i have said we need to have Bob Mcdonnells back and get the force of congress behind him to make sure he does the Accountability Measures necessary. I want to underscore this we have some of the finest Health Care Professionals and technicians in the world. Our problem is more the administration and accounting level of the v. A. That is the delivery of health services. That is where the problems come from for phoenix, and thats where the problems need to be created. While they are significant problems, they are correctable. Announcer you can watch newsmakers tomorrow at 10 00 a. M. And 6 00 p. M.
For a long time on land mobile systems, and they serve a great purpose, but theyre very focused on Voice Technology and most of us are leveraging what broadband can do. In the back of an ambulance or police and fire, the unique things that could be done to enhance safety and security if you were able to leverage broadband for Public Safety day in and day out. Host so is, mr. Kennedy, whats the current status of firstnet . Is it online . Is it available for First Responders at this point . Guest firstnet wan created in 2012 with the act in february of 2012 but we recently have really moved from standing up an organization to actually creating the initial consultation effort and the initial requirements for a draft rfp, and we released it host request for proposal. Guest request for proposal. So we are in the process of completing what is the our acquisition process with all the safety across the country, andzv those two are requirements of what we have to do to stand up the network. The
Unemployment insurance extension. The house not in session today. Members return tomorrow at noon eastern for legislative business. Among the bills being considered under suspension of the rules, one that authorizes 150 million in aid for ukraine and expands sanctions imposed this month by the Obama Administration against certain russian and ukrainian officials. This bill passed the Senate Last Week by a voice vote. Votes tomorrow are post poped until 6 30 p. M. Eastern time. You can watch live gavel to gavel coverage of the house on cspan and the senate here on cspan2. Cspan, created by americas Cable Companies 35 years ago and brought to you today as a Public Service by your television provider. Host david cohen is the executive Vice President of the comcast corporation, and hes our guest this week on the communicators. Be mr. Cohen, when it comes to the comcast Time Warner Cable proposed merger, whats the biggest hurdle that you see facing comcast . Guest so what a surprise we shoul