The FCC granted 21 conditional waivers to regional and local entities to begin building wireless broadband networks for first responders in the 700 MHz band (pdf).
The networks must have nationwide interoperability, use LTE as their over-the-air interface, and grant access to certain applications, including access to the Internet, to an incident command system, and to field-based server applications. The FCC stated that it was not endorsing LTE technology, but noted that requiring a single air interface standard for 700 MHz waiver applicants was reasonable to ensure interoperability.
In approving the petitions for waivers, the FCC placed several conditions on the networks, chief of which is that the networks be deployed in a common interoperability framework in coordination with the FCC’s Emergency Response Interoperability Center.
The FCC’s recommendation to leverage a commercial network build-out at the same time the public safety network is created would cost approximately $6.5 billion over 10 years, less than the projected $15.7 billion in capital costs associated with building a stand-alone public safety network.
Federal lawmakers aren’t expressing much support for dedicating the proceeds of a proposed 700 MHz D Block auction next year to help fund the deployment of a nationwide public-safety broadband network in the band, reports Urgent Communications.
Yucel Ors, director of legislative affairs for the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), said he is not optimistic that Congress will appropriate the $6.5 billion in grant money that the FCC requested to help fund the buildout of an LTE network for first responders.
With the D Block and the 10 MHz of public-safety broadband spectrum licensed to the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST), public safety would have 20 MHz for its network. Without the D Block, public safety would have 10 MHz of spectrum for its network, which likely would limit the network to purely public-safety use.
LTE public safety networks were approved for construction in 21 markets. The States include: Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Hawaii, Oregon, and the District of Columbia. Counties include: Adams County, CO; Los Angeles County, CA Cities: Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Chesapeake, VA; New York, NY; Pembroke Pines, FL; San Antonio, TX; Seattle, WA; Mesa, AZ. Regions include: Northern California Consortium (Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose,) Wisconsin Consortium (Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago Counties,) and TOPAZ Regional Wireless Cooperative (Arizona.)
Clearwire’s network withstood the recent floods in Nashville, Tennessee, in part due to Clearwire’s mobile backhaul network, while traditional cellular carriers were “trying to figure out how to get water out of their T1 lines.”
Using LTE in their 10 MHz of broadband spectrum would enable first responders to have nationwide interoperability.
APCO also wants D Block for their own. FCC officials are not convinced that public safety needs more than 10 MHz for its network. Instead, according to the Broadband Plan, D-Block would be auctioned off to cellular operators. That, says the FCC, would lower costs and increase penetration, enabling broadband wireless access to everyone, nationwide.
James Barnett Jr., chief of the FCC’s public safety and homeland security bureau said now is the time to implement the FCC proposal, which calls for building an interoperable public safety network in the so-called D block of the 700 MHz radio spectrum network. It would be shared by public service and commercial users.
“There’s broad recognition that we have one shot to solve the 9/11 problem, because if we miss the commercial network build-out [shared with public safety] then the public safety network price doubles,” Barnett said. “We want everybody to catch up with that recognition.”
Related Dailywireless articles include; FCC: Stop Complaining about Interoperability, Police & Fire: No Broadband for You, The 700MHz Network: Who Pays?, The National Broadband Plan, National Broadband Plan Previewed, D-Block: It’s Done; Congress Pays, AT&T/TerreStar Ready Satphone Service, TerreStar Phones Home, Motorola + SkyTerra Team for 700 MHz/Sat Radios, Alvarion, Open Range To Build 17 State Net, San Diego State: Wildfire GIS to Go, Emergency Mapping, Cascadia Peril, Commentary: Future of Public Safety Communications, New York Cancels Statewide Wireless Network, New York’s $2B Statewide Network Close to Canceling, M/A-COM to NY: We’re Good, NY Gives Tyco 45 days to Fix Network, Battle for Oregon’s State-wide Radio Net, Oregon’s $500 Million Statewide Wireless Network.
