The Present and Future of Public Safety Communications was discussed today at a Senate Commerce Commission hearing (video).
Morgan O’Brien, Chairman of Cyren Call, joined Fire and Police Chiefs, the cellular Wireless Association (CTIA), and the CEO of Iridium Satellite with Senate testimony.
Cyren Call’s O’Brien explained his vision of 700 MHz spectrum sharing:
It is the combination of these factors that led to the creation of Cyren Call and its work with the public safety community in developing the concept of a governmental/commercial shared 30 MHz broadband network at 700 MHz, the license for which would be held by the Public Safety Broadband Trust (PSBT). The PSBT would consist of representatives of a broad variety of local, state and federal governmental entities and organizations. Excess capacity on the 30 MHz would be leased to commercial carriers for entirely commercial service in exchange for building, maintaining, operating and upgrading the network in accordance with specifications established by the PSBT.
The PSBT proposal contemplates that public safety entities would pay for their own subscriber equipment and for system access. However, they would avoid the infrastructure costs that require extraordinary bond or other taxpayer measures, measures that take years to effectuate and, at best, provide individual organizations with equipment that already may be outdated by the time it is deployed, and which then cannot be upgraded for years or decades without additional taxpayer funding.
Instead, the PSBT approach would mirror the commercial approach to network upgrades; public safety technology would be refreshed routinely in accordance with the demands of the consumer marketplace, although always consistent with the PSBT specifications as well. Public safety also would enjoy the cost economies of subscriber devices produced in volume for the broader consumer market, economies that continue to drive down the cost of cell phones and other wireless products.
The result would be a nationwide broadband network available to serve both public safety entities and the general public. It would not replace existing public safety voice facilities, but would provide access to a state-of-the-art system built specifically to public safety standards. On a day-to-day basis, the great majority of capacity would be devoted to commercial usage.
The Cellular Association believes “spectrum sharing” is a bad idea (pdf):
There is no dispute regarding the need to improve interoperability and the broadband capabilities of our nation’s public safety communications system; however, the Cyren Call plan or other proposals that stray from the path set by the DTV Act only serve to hinder and delay the transition.
It is the firm belief of CTIA and the wireless industry that now is not the time to alter the procedures set in place by the DTV Act. Congress and the FCC must remain committed to the current course, which promises an expedient transition to digital television, advanced wireless broadband services, and most importantly, enhanced interoperability for our first responders.
I would like to emphasize that the current interoperability challenges faced by first responders is not based on a lack of spectrum. Public safety will have 16 times more spectrum, per user, than the average nationwide carrier does now, and again, this figure does not include the 50 MHz of spectrum that public safety has been allocated in the 4.9 GHz band.
The Cyren Call proposal shortchanges the U.S. Treasury, and thus the taxpayers – potentially by billions of dollars. Under the terms of Cyren Call’s proposal, the corporation is entitled to purchase a chunk of the valuable 700 MHz band on a no-bid, non-compete basis, for an amount “not to exceed” $5 billion. Many recent estimates suggest this is likely to be far less than the spectrum would fetch at auction.
This plan offers little for those who live in the more sparsely populated areas of our country.
National Interop provides software defined radios for public service users. National Interop’s David Billstrom said:
An equipment-centric approach is very, very expensive. Which means it will take years. In Washington State, we have an initial estimate of $600M while Our Governor in Oregon has just proposed $561M for the first phase of the system there, which is likely to run past $1B when complete. Florida already has a $900M system and New York has started on their $2B system.
The math is fairly easy – if we continue in this direction there is a $50 to $100 billion dollar funding requirement for interoperability for state agencies.
The approach is upside down. We should be building public safety communication systems that first accommodate the 1.8 million local first responders, and then the 200,000 state and federal first responders, rather than the other way around.
If we want true interoperability, we need to move to an open, device-independent, standards-based, software so that the majority of our first responders can be included. And we may actually be able to afford it.
Former FCC Chairman Michael Powell sent a letter to Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) supporting the DTV transition bill’s plan for first responders and taking aim at Cyren Call.
O’Brien of Cyren Call said the 24 mHz the FCC has set aside isn’t sufficient critical mass to attract private capital. “It’s math, not politics,” he said.
Microsoft’s FCC application for the “WiMAX Zune phone” (right) listed Google, HP, and Intel as supporters, indicating that the FCC submission was spurred on in part by members of a larger coalition. Wireless Priority Service (Wikipedia), gives public service users priority on busy commercial cell sites.
The Seattle PI reports a Microsoft prototype capable of using 700 MHz “white spaces” was described in an unrelated FCC filing (pdf). Microsoft, Google and other DTV coalition members want the FCC to make the vacated airwaves available for unlicensed uses.
Related DailyWireless articles include; FCC to Rural Users: 700MHz is the Ticket, McCain Wants Commercial 700 MHz for Police and Oregon’s $500 Million Statewide Network.
