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Nextel Announces Creation of Independent Fund for Wireless Enhanced 911 Improvement
URL(s): www.nextel.com
RESTON, Va., Jul 22, 2002 - Nextel Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL) today announced the creation of Wireless
E-911: The PSAP Readiness Fund, which will coordinate the dissemination of $25 million to the public safety community to improve wireless
enhanced 911 (E-911) services across the country. The PSAP Readiness Fund, a new non-profit organization, today held its initial board meeting in
Reston, Va.
The PSAP Readiness Fund will provide grants to organizations dedicated to the deployment of wireless enhanced 911 and will foster the
development and timely implementation of advanced location-based emergency services across the U.S., particularly in areas underserved by
modern communications technology. Grant recipients will include organizations that provide education, information, technical assistance and financial
support to the public safety answering point (PSAP) community.
"Nextel recognizes that the successful deployment of wireless E-911 requires more than E-911-capable wireless phones," said Nextel Vice
Chairman Morgan O'Brien. "The PSAP Readiness Fund will provide additional resources to the continuing efforts to meet the wireless E-911 needs
of those in the public safety community."
The Fund received grant requests from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officers International (APCO) and the National
Emergency Number Association (NENA). Representatives from both organizations presented grant requests to the board at today's meeting.
The PSAP Readiness Fund's board of directors is comprised of five individuals who have a demonstrated commitment to fostering excellence and
innovation in the telecommunications and public safety fields. The board collectively brings to the organization more than 150 years of experience in
both public safety and telecommunications.
The organization's board of directors includes:
-- Mary A. Boyd, director of Wireless Industry Affairs for the
wireless business unit of Intrado, Inc. Boyd is a leader on
911 issues at the local, state and national levels and
previously served as president of both NENA and the National
Association of State Nine-One-One Administrators (NASNA).
Prior to entering the private sector, Boyd served nearly 10
years as executive director of the Texas Commission on State
Emergency Communications, where she was involved in 911 system
design, implementation, funding and regulatory issues. She
also spent five years in 911 center operations management with
the cities of Austin and Houston, Texas.
-- John D. Lane, a private attorney in Washington, DC. Lane is an
expert in telecommunications law who is a past president of
the Federal Communications Bar Association and served for many
years as Washington counsel to APCO. His government service
includes positions within the U.S. Senate, the Treasury
Department and the White House Counsel's Office.
-- Morgan E. O'Brien, vice chairman of Nextel Communications.
O'Brien is a pioneer in the commercial development of wireless
communications who served seven years in the Federal
Communications Commission's (FCC) mobile services and private
radio bureaus. He is a co-founder of Nextel Communications and
was the company's chairman of the board between 1987-1996.
-- Richard J. Sheirer, a senior vice president with Giuliani
Partners. Sheirer formerly served as commissioner of New York
City's Office of Emergency Management during Mayor Rudolph W.
Giuliani's administration. He also served 28 years with the
Fire Department of New York City, rising to the position of
deputy, and then was appointed deputy commissioner for
administration and chief of staff for the New York Police
Department in 1996.
-- Mario H. Trevino, chief of the San Francisco Fire Department.
Trevino is the chairman of the board of the Metropolitan Fire
Chiefs and chairman of the National Technology Transfer Center
Advisory Committee. He also is an advisory board member of the
Fire and Emergency Television Network, a member of the Urban
Fire Forum and a member of the Fire Service Committee of the
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Trevino has served
nearly three decades in various fire service roles, including
head of the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Department and deputy
chief of the Seattle Fire Department.
In 2000 Nextel committed to the FCC to contribute $25 million for the upgrade and enhancement of public safety answering points to facilitate the
deployment of wireless E-911 in support of its relationship with the public safety community.
About Nextel Communications
Nextel Communications, based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest
guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Nextel and Nextel Partners,
Inc., currently serve 197 of the top 200 U.S. markets. Through recent market launches, Nextel and Nextel Partners service today is available in
areas of the U.S. where approximately 239 million people live or work. For more information about Nextel, visit www.nextel.com.
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