Last Thursday members of the House Communications Subcommittee approved a bill that would reallocate the 10 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum known as the D-block to Public Safety and provide at least $5 billion ($6.5 billion estimated in text) in funding for a nationwide LTE first responder network.
Public Safety Alliance spokesman Chris Moore released a statement praising Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and the committee for their work to inspire bi-partisan support for the bill and striking a balance "between the needs of commercial wireless, public safety, broadcast and other interests, and in very difficult economic times."
In December of 2009, when the public safety community met in New York City to strategize efforts to pass this comprehensive legislation, many had doubts of its possibility. Despite the challenges of achieving this lofty goal, lawmakers, Public Safety advocates, the FCC, and the Obama administration have been moving towards it, slow and steady.
Since the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Public Safety community has been struggling to improve interoperability and secure better operational capabilities for first responders. Access to a contiguous 20 MHz of spectrum is a leap forward for these efforts to come to fruition. Negotiations will continue among committee members, staff, and stakeholders as the JOBS bill is marked-up in the full committee this week.
Moore is chief of police for the San Jose, CA Police Department. He went on to comment, "On behalf of more than 2 million first responders nationwide, the Public Safety Alliance greatly appreciates and applauds their tireless efforts, countless hours of study, analysis, negotiation and results."
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