GENE GREEN
29TH' DISTRICT, TeXAS
D 2470 RAYBURN
WASHINGTON. DC 20515
(2021 225-1688
D 256 N. SAM HOUSTON PKWY. E.
SUITE 29
HOUSTON. TEXAS 77060
(281) 999-5879
D 1 181 1 1- 10 EAST
SUITE 430
HOUSTON. TEXAS 77029
(7131 330-0761
Qrongress of tl1e Initeb itates
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lIulllIington, 111aL 20515-4329
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE
• RANKING MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON
ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY
• SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND
INVESTIGATIONS
• SUBCOMMITIEE ON ENERGY AND POWER
DEMOCRATIC SENIOR WHIP
D 909 DECKER
SUITE 124
BAYTOWN. TEXAS 77520
(281) 420-0502
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May 2, 2012
The Honorable Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
Re: The Texas Interoperability Showing, v9
Dear Chairman Genachowski:
I am writing to request that the Texas Interoperability Showing, v9 be approved as soon as
possible in order to allow Harris County, Texas, to conclude the necessary Interlocal Agreements
and proceed with all necessary preparations to become operational by the required "Go Live" date
of May 31, 2012.
I am in the process of working with my Congressional colleagues to send a Houston area
delegation letter to you, but this is of such an urgent nature I wanted to bring it to your attention
immediately.
Harris County has been anticipating approval of the Interoperability Showing based on
communications with the FCC and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) since February.
On the February 21, 2012 Docket # 06-229 filing, DPS clearly requested prompt action in
approving the Interoperability Showing, stating, "The State is eager to address and close all
outstanding issues which are preventing the Bureau from granting the State permission to begin
Public Safety LTE operation. We appreciate the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau's
prompt action on this request" but the Bureau recently conveyed that they understood the requested
date for approval from the FCC to be May 30, 2012, just one day before the planned go live date.
This is an apparent misunderstanding, which the State and Harris County are working to
clarify. An approval date from the FCC of May 30, 2012, is too late to meet the May 31 "Go
Live" date.
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Harris County needs a decision from the FCC because:
• Interlocal Agreements with local jurisdictions such as the City of Baytown, The
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, The Harris County Toll Road
Authority and others are extremely difficult to consummate without the authority to
operate;
• Partnering with commercial carriers for site sharing and roaming agreements are
affected;
• Harris County needs for adequate lead time for system testing with non-county
subscribers; and
• Harris County is unable to test and validate new RF sites.
Harris County and its constituents have spent millions of dollars in equipment, services and
civil works and so I urge you to facilitate this approval process so Harris County can meet the May
31, 2012 goal to be operational.
I request that you respond to these concerns no later than Monday, May 7, 2012. Thank
you for your prompt consideration of this request.
1 e/L
Gene Green
Member of Congress
Cc: RADM James Arden "Jamie" Barnett, Jr., USN (Ret)
Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau