Lots of work needed to make 700 MHz proposal a reality

Aug 7, 2008 10:51 AM, By Donny Jackson

KANSAS CITY—Myriad technical, financial and operational challenges surround the proposed 700 MHz public-private partnership model that is designed to build and maintain a nationwide broadband network for public safety, but leaders within the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) remain supportive of the notion.

Craig Jorgenson, APCO’s representative on the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) board, and Robert Gurss, APCO’s director of legal and government affairs, both said media reports that APCO has considered relinquishing its spot on the PSST board are untrue.

“It’s always an option, but I’ve never been in a meeting where that’s been said,” Jorgenson said after participating on a panel discussing the matter yesterday.

Both Jorgenson and APCO have been critical of PSST operations in the past, with Jorgenson citing a lack of “transparency” within the PSST, and APCO asking the FCC to reconstitute the PSST board or replace it as the public-safety broadband licensee.

While such differences exist, Jorgenson said he is confident that the PSST leadership “wants [public-safety agencies] to be happy.” In addition, Jorgenson acknowledged that the PSST is in a difficult position of needing to perform outreach to potential public-safety users of the network and preparing to execute other responsibilities with no source of revenue other than a $4 million loan from advisor Cyren Call—a relationship that has been a lightning rod of controversy in the nation’s capital.

“The licensee was given the license and no money to do the work—the commission didn’t give them any money and Congress didn’t give them any money,” Jorgenson said, quickly noting that the FCC does not have the power to appropriate funds. “They said, ‘Oh, by the way, go do this.’ That’s kind of a silly way to do business.”

Several representatives of public-safety agencies—the potential users of the proposed broadband network—expressed the desire to have input into system, something Jorgenson has reiterated is necessary.

PSST Chairman Harlin McEwen, who was not a member of the panel but attended the session, said he believes the PSST would like to do more outreach with local public-safety agencies, but a lack of funds makes that difficult. In addition, he said it is questionable how beneficial such outreach would be when so many fundamental aspects of the arrangement are unknown.