D-block: Momentum Builds as Commerce Committee Passes S.911

News pieces this week point to imminent reallocation of the D-block of 700 MHz spectrum.  This is big news for those who have been working towards legislation for Public Safety spectrum in recent months and years.  It took only one day for the Senate Commerce Committee to finish its markup and pass the D-block bill (known as the S. 911, the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act, or just Spectrum Act) yesterday. 

The first-responder community had qualms about language in one version of the bill requiring agencies to give up existing narrowband spectrum in auctions to help fund the new Public Safety LTE networks.  Most are wary of the proposal, but not entirely opposed to it, provided their narrow-band efficiency is not lost with the transfer to newer technologies.  APCO's position on giving back spectrum is that Public Safety will need 30 MHz of broadband spectrum, so the spectrum in question should be migrated to broadband, not given back. 

Amendments to the bill, suggested by Sens. John McCain and Joseph Lieberman, would change the language to requiring the FCC to review whether migrating Public Safety from below 512 MHz makes sense technologically and economically.  Sean Kirkendall, spokesperson for APCO, says this is much more acceptable than giving back the spectrum. 

According to the TV News Check article, the Spectrum Act includes the following key points:

• Setting the groundwork for a nationwide, interoperable, wireless broadband Public Safety network
• Allocating the 10 MHz of D-block 700 MHz spectrum to Public Safety
• Directing the FCC to set a standard of efficiency that will allow Public Safety networks to be loaned out to non-Public Safety during times of non-use
• Allowing incentive auctions, providing licensees the ability to relinquish currently unused spectrum, and allowing auction funds to pay for construction and maintenance of the new Public Safety network
• Directing the National Science Foundation and National Institute of Standards and Technology to conduct critical research on ground-breaking technologies

The passing of this bill is a significant stride, but the bill still has the obstacle of passing the whole Senate, and some say it will meet more opposition in the House.

Ranking member of the Committee, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has high hopes for the legislation, saying, "The Commerce Committee has come together to move forward the most significant piece of telecommunications legislation in a decade. It is imperative our communications infrastructure be ready to handle the growth and innovations of the future. We have a bipartisan agreement that will build, without taxpayer funds, a 21st century public safety network that gives first responders the tools to do their jobs. Our bill will spur job creation, generate hundreds of billions in economic activity, and drive research and development while bringing down the national deficit. This is a commonsense approach to a national priority, and I hope the Senate will pass S. 911 without delay."