FCC grants extension in 700 MHz proceeding
Commenters will have an additional month to provide input to the FCC on key questions associated with the proposed nationwide, 700 MHz public-safety wireless broadband network, according to a public notice released yesterday.
In the proceeding, the FCC is seeking comments on an interoperability public notice for the proposed network that included questions on out-of-band emissions and equipment certification. Under the original petition, comments would have been due on Thursday. Under the new public notice, comments will be due on July 19.
“We had a request from the District of Columbia (D.C.) to extend the comment period, and we did,” Jeff Cohen, senior legal counsel for the FCC’s public safety and homeland security bureau, said during yesterday’s meeting of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC).
In a recent filing with the FCC, Kenneth Boley — D.C. chief technology officer — noted that D.C. and 20 other 700 MHz broadband waiver jurisdictions are trying to meet a July 1 deadline for submitting applications for Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) funding that would be used to build 700 MHz broadband networks. With resources focused on the BTOP applications, D.C. asked for an additional month to file comments in the interoperability proceeding.
