FoxNews.com – May 11, 2015
NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) – There’s a new push to provide a way for Amtrak police to communicate with other first responders in the event of an emergency. Senator Charles Schumer says he wants the FCC to grant the Amtrak police department full access to the key first-responder radio frequency.
It’s a move that would allow them to reach local fire and police departments in case of a disaster, such as a derailment or fire.
Currently, Amtrak police are not allowed to communicate on the same radio frequency as first-responders because they are not viewed as law enforcement.
The FCC has issued regulations determining which public safety entities may communicate on the public safety spectrum of the 700 MHz Band.
According to the FCC, Amtrak Police are part of the railroad and not viewed as law enforcement. Therefore, they are not eligible to communicate on the frequency.
Since 2013, the Amtrak Police Department has been asking for the ability to communicate with other first responders on the dedicated frequency. However, the FCC has not yet obliged.
According to Amtrak, more than 86,000 passengers ride more than 300 Amtrak trains each day and 600,000 people ride through Penn Station each day; tens of thousands using Amtrak.
Schumer says the current communication system is a disaster waiting to happen and points to what happened on 9/11 when NYPD and FDNY were not all on the same radio frequency.
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