Homeland watch

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, a group of organizations involved in emergency communications, warns of negative effects from a recent ruling by the International Trade Commission regarding a dispute between Broadcom and Qualcomm. According to the council, the commission's decision will block Evolution-Data Optimized wireless mobile phone technology from being imported into the United States. The technology provides the location of a cell phone caller to 911 call centers. In many parts of the country, 911 centers do not have the capability to automatically locate cell phone callers.Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, and Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act on June 14. Under the legislation, the Coast Guard could not use a private-sector lead systems integrator for two years, and would be required to compete all Deepwater acquisitions. Furthermore, the Coast Guard would need third-party certification of all Deepwater assets. It also states that the head of acquisitions for the Coast Guard must be a civilian reporting directly to the commandant.The House approved a fiscal 2008 budget for the Homeland Security Department but must now ponder whether President Bush will carry out a threat to veto the bill. White House officials released a statement June 12 asserting that Bush would veto the House bill because it includes an "irresponsible and excessive" level of spending.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), responded: "I hope the clear bipartisan majority voting for the bill will encourage him to withdraw his misguided veto threat and adopt homeland security policies more in touch with the wishes of the American people."