Jeffrey Silva of RCR News says after six months, the FCC has put Cyren Call’s plan for sharing 700 MHZ out for comment:
Six months after receiving Cyren Call’s plan for a public-safety wireless broadband network the private sector would build and share with first responders, the FCC is now asking for public comment on the controversial initiative.
The plan, which pushes for additional public-safety spectrum, has attracted support from police, firefighters and medics, and has prompted the wireless industry to offer a number of alternatives.
Comments are due at the FCC in late November.
Cyren Call wants the FCC to create a Public Safety Broadband Trust to hold a license for a 30 megahertz chunk of the 700 MHz band worth billions of dollars. The 30 megahertz sought by Cyren Call is different from the 24 megahertz at 700 MHz Congress earmarked for public safety.
Cyren Call has a relatively small window to make its case and win any necessary regulatory and legislative approvals, says RCR News. “Congress will have the final say over how best to use this valuable spectrum resource,” said Cyren Call Chairman, Morgan O’Brien.
The Cyren Call proposal has spawned competitors for the 700 MHz space.
Verizon Wireless, which uses CDMA technology, has an alternative solution that would use 12 of the 24 megahertz for a public-safety network that could utilize Verizon Wireless’ infrastructure.
CTIA, the national cell phone association, is also examining whether it can develop a plan for commercial/public-safety sharing.
IPWireless thinks its UMTS TD-CDMA technology can be used for public-safety. They and Northrop Grumman plan to deploy the technology in New York City as part of a $500 million public-safety communications contract.
Related DailyWireless stories include; 700-mhz Spectrum Grab, New 700MHz Rules?, NYC’s Huge Safety Net, Joint Commecial/Muni Proposed for 700Mhz and Sprint: It’s WiMAX!.
.gif)
