WEC Files Comments Regarding Service Rules for Public Safety Spectrum

WEC Files Comments Regarding Service Rules for Public Safety Spectrum

06.19.2008 – The Wireless Emergency Communications (WEC) Project of the Wireless RERC filed comments in the FCC’s Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the service rules for the re-auction of the 700Mhz D-block spectrum [WT Docket No. 06-150 and PS Docket No. 06-229].  The D-block was set aside to be a public-private partnership between public safety and the commercial winner of the license.  However, the initial auction of the D-block failed to receive a bid that met the reserve price.  The FCC sought comment on service rules that would encourage a successful bid for public-private partnership that is mutually beneficial to public safety and the commercial provider and/or recommendations for achieving public safety goals without requiring a public-private partnership.  WEC’s comments endorse the deployment of the national interoperable wireless broadband network, with the availability of a full range of applications and services to users of the network for the delivery of emergency information that is accessible to the public, including persons with disabilities.  Specific comments include encouraging the establishment of a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Communications Systems (FICECS) to (a) develop a coordinated strategy for migrating the nation’s public safety systems to a new broadband interoperable network, (b) develop strong, consistent guidance to states and localities to ensure all systems are migrating toward the same common interoperable national network, and (c) facilitate coordinated emergency response and citizen preparedness, especially for persons with disabilities; providing pre-established funding mechanisms to incentivize public safety migration to the new network; adopting technical network guidelines relying on existing global standards, and public comments filed in the proceeding prior to the commencement of an auction of the D-Block; ensure that the community of hearing aid users is not left unable to access these new devices developed for deployment in the 700 MHz spectrum; as well as other recommendations concerning the reserve price, network service fees, negotiation of the network sharing agreement, and initiating public safety priority access to the shared network.  To access the full submission go to [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6520030634]