https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

APCO


Article

700 MHz saga nears conclusion

700 MHz saga nears conclusion

A public/private partnership to build a nationwide, wireless broadband network for public safety reportedly remains a key component of a draft of 700 MHz auction rules being considered by FCC commissioners.
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 1st August 2007

A public/private partnership to build a nationwide, wireless broadband network for public safety reportedly remains a key component of a draft of 700 MHz auction rules being considered by FCC commissioners amid intense lobbying and speculation that an order will be approved early in August.

Multiple Beltway sources and media reports indicate that the draft order being circulated within the FCC calls for the auction winner of 10 MHz of commercial spectrum to partner with a national licensee of 12 MHz of public-safety airwaves to build out a nationwide broadband network on the combined spectrum.

This arrangement was the foundation of the proposal from Frontline Wireless, but the FCC draft does not include many of the other conditions sought by Frontline, including provisions that would require the commercial auction to comply with open-access principles — which would allow any device to connect to any network — and adopt a wholesale-only business model. Many believe such encumbrances effectively would prevent incumbent wireless carriers from bidding on the public/private spectrum, leaving public safety to partner with a startup wireless company.

Not including open-access obligations was requested in a letter to the FCC and Congress written by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) that was endorsed by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials. The letter expressed support for a network buildout requirement obligating the commercial partner to provide coverage to a geographic area serving more than 99% of the population in the continental United States within 10 years and reiterated the need for a public/private partnership to make a nationwide public-safety broadband network a reality.

"Because public safety does not have access to funds even to build, much less to operate, maintain or refresh such a network, network deployment must be funded pursuant to a public-safety/commercial partnership between the NPSL and the E Block auction winner as codified in the FCC rules and in the Network Sharing Agreement to be negotiated between the NPSL and the E Block auction winner," the NPSTC letter states.

Probably the most controversial aspect of the NPSTC letter is the process that would be used to decide disputes in negotiations between the commercial auction winner and the public-safety licensee. Consistent with Frontline's proposal, NPSTC advocates that the FCC acts as the arbiter on such matters. However, NPSTC also contends that public safety should have the right to call for the commercial spectrum to be reauctioned if the national public-safety licensee does not like the FCC's resolution of disputes.

"If the FCC came back to us with unreasonable, unacceptable terms … at that last stage — if we don't agree that it's going to meet our needs — why should the highest bidder walk away with that spectrum?" NPSTC spokesman Harlin McEwen said. "Because at the end of the day, we don't get anything; we're right back where we started.

"We take the position that this is very different, very special, and we do need that ultimate veto power."

Whether such a stipulation was included in the draft order is uncertain, but several Beltway sources said the FCC has indicated that public safety would be "happy" with the language of the draft order.

Of course, what's included in a final FCC order can vary significantly from a draft proposal, particularly when something as valuable as prime 700 MHz spectrum is at stake. Lobbying from wireless trade association CTIA and many of its powerful members continues to focus on the success of past auctions without encumbrances, which the organization believes to be the way to maximize auction revenues for the U.S. Treasury.

But less than half of the commercial spectrum — 28 MHz of the 60 MHz to be auctioned — would fall into the unencumbered category. Conversely, in addition to the 10 MHz that would be used for the public/private partnership network, the draft FCC order reportedly calls for the winner of 22 MHz of spectrum to adhere to open-access obligations.

In an effort to curb any concerns about revenue shortfalls, the FCC draft reportedly also requires that all 60 MHz be reauctioned if bidding does not reach the $10 billion level anticipated by Congress and that the 22 MHz of open-access spectrum be reauctioned if those frequencies do not attract more than $4.6 billion in bids. Frontline Wireless Vice Chairman Reed Hundt, who served as FCC chairman when the agency began spectrum auctions in the 1990s, said the reported reserve prices would represent poor public policy.

"This is 10 times higher than any previous reserve price," Hundt wrote in a column for VentureBeat. "The time delay of a cancellation adds to the advantages of incumbents and discourages new entrants. It raises the cost of new entry. The very high reserve price is effectively a tax on starting a new business. … It's hard to imagine a less venture-friendly proposal than this reserve price."

But the reserve price was not a deterrent to Internet search-engine firm Google, which has advocated open-access and at least some wholesale stipulations on the 22 MHz swath of spectrum.

"Should the commission expressly adopt the four license conditions requested in our July 9th letter — with specific, enforceable, and enduring rules — Google intends to commit a minimum of $4.6 billion to bidding in the upcoming auction," Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt wrote in a letter to Martin.

As the FCC contemplates auction rules, other entities are busy determining their roles in whatever process that is adopted. A coalition of public-safety organizations has incorporated the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST), which hopes to become the national licensee for the 12 MHz of public-safety broadband spectrum in the 700 MHz band.

Although the FCC officially has not established the need for a national public-safety licensee, the PSST has released a request for proposals to serve as the new entity's agent/adviser. One expected respondent to the RFP is Cyren Call, which initiated the idea of a public-private partnership for a broadband network more than a year ago. While Cyren Call's proposal no longer is being considered, Cyren Call still could fulfill the role it envisioned if selected by the PSST.

"Our preferred role is to be an adviser to the public-safety community," Cyren Call spokesman Tim O'Regan said. "If for some reason that is not possible, we would not rule out our participation in the auction, but that is not our preferred role."

Frontline Wireless has anticipated participating in the auction, but it could face some difficult decisions if the FCC adopts final rules similar the its draft order. Frontline Wireless has advocated putting public/private and open-access obligations on the same spectrum. If the FCC separates these conditions on different swaths of spectrum as proposed in the draft order, it's doubtful that Frontline Wireless would be able to finance serious bids for all 32 MHz of spectrum. Likely, the company would have to focus its resources on one swath.

Meanwhile, a wild card in the entire scenario is Verizon Wireless, which has been active at the FCC and in private meetings with public safety. As of press time, the giant wireless carrier still had not offered any public plans for working with public safety, but many observers believe the provider is considering a bid on the 10 MHz block of spectrum that would be earmarked for a public/private partnership.

As of press time, the FCC had not scheduled an open meeting for July, an unusual development. In theory, the commission could approve 700 MHz auction rules without an open meeting, but most industry observers believe the commission will want to make its statements on such a high-profile issue in a public meeting. Most Beltway sources said they expect the FCC to rule on the matter in an early August meeting.

PSST: Not A Secret Anymore

Public-safety organizations participating in the Public Safety Spectrum Trust

  • American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
  • Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO)
  • Forestry Conservation Communications Association (FCCA)
  • International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
  • International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
  • International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA)
  • National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO)
  • National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC)
  • National Sheriffs Association (NSA)
Tags: Regulation APCO FCC NASEMSO NPSTC Policy Public Safety Article

Most Recent


  • The shine begins to wear off 5G private wireless
    Verizon had high hopes for private wireless networking. The company had predicted that by now it would be well on its way to making billions of dollars from the sale of custom 4G and 5G networks dedicated exclusively to its enterprise customers. Indeed, during 2021 Verizon execs pegged the total addressable market for private wireless at around […]
  • Phishers trick Microsoft into granting them 'verified' Cloud Partner status
    Late last year, a group of threat actors managed to obtain “verified publisher” status through the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program (MCPP). This allowed them to surpass levels of brand impersonation ordinarily seen in phishing campaigns, as they distributed malicious applications bolstered by a verified blue badge only ever given to trusted vendors and service providers in […]
  • Shapeshifting robot can morph from a liquid to a solid
    A new shape-shifting robot can reversibly morph between liquid and solid shapes. The novel design was created by a team of engineers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Carnegie Mellon University. Inspired by sea cucumbers’ ability to go both soft or rigid depending on its environment, the miniature robot was built using magnetic […]
  • Automakers against stampede to BEV dominance
    When the president of the world’s biggest carmaker talks, people listen. So, when Toyota President Akio Toyoda said, in September of last year, that bans on ICE cars within 10 to 15 years  will be “rather difficult to achieve” because EVs “are just going to take longer than the media would like us to believe,” […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Open-source tools for the IoT ecosystem
  • New Orleans-area 911 center inks multiyear APEX deal with Carbyne to replace call-handling system
  • 700 MHz saga nears conclusion
    Newscan: Feds recover millions from pipeline ransom hackers, hint at U.S. Internet tactic
  • Cyber is the new Cold War, and AI is the arms race

Commentary


How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient

26th January 2023

3GPP moves Release 18 freeze date to March 2024

18th January 2023

Do smart cities make safer cities?

  • 1
6th January 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

The shine begins to wear off 5G private wireless dlvr.it/Shth0P

3rd February 2023
UrgentComm

Phishers trick Microsoft into granting them ‘verified’ Cloud Partner status dlvr.it/Shqngn

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

Shapeshifting robot can morph from a liquid to a solid dlvr.it/Shqk9K

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

Automakers against stampede to BEV dominance dlvr.it/ShpX08

2nd February 2023
UrgentComm

FCC nominee Gigi Sohn headed for third Senate hearing dlvr.it/ShpDcZ

1st February 2023
UrgentComm

Sign up to learn how to successfully manage your Motorola ASTRO® 25 System: spr.ly/60143j8fp https://t.co/XcxiUwzN27

1st February 2023
UrgentComm

Hytera parent cites financial health, but unable to make royalty payment to Motorola Solutions dlvr.it/ShlrlM

1st February 2023
UrgentComm

NATE: Todd Schlekeway highlights organization’s safety, legislative initiatives dlvr.it/ShljHj

1st February 2023

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.