FCC Terminates Two Advisory Committees

The Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau terminates the authority of and dissolves the Emergency Response Interoperability Center Public Safety Advisory Committee (“PSAC”). The bureau also terminates the authority of and dissolves the Emergency Response Interoperability Center Technical Advisory Committee (“TAC”).

• Established on August 6, 2010, the PSAC, formed in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, was charged with making recommendations to assist the FCC’s
• Emergency Response Interoperability Center in developing a technical framework and requirements for interoperability to ensure that the public safety wireless broadband network is interoperable on a nationwide basis. On February 22, 2012, the President of the United States signed into law the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Spectrum Legislation). Among other things, this new law establishes the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and directs the Commission to reallocate the 700 MHz D block spectrum and existing public safety broadband spectrum to FirstNet. FirstNet is charged with ensuring the building, deployment, and operation of the nationwide public safety broadband network,” and must establish a new “standing public safety advisory committee” to assist it.
• Established on June 6, 2010, the TAC was charged with making recommendations to the Commission and the Emergency Response Interoperability Center regarding the Commission’s development of policies and rules concerning the nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network. On February 22, 2012, the President of the United States signed into law the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Spectrum Legislation). Among other things, this new law establishes the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and directs the Commission to reallocate the 700 MHz D block spectrum and existing public safety broadband spectrum to FirstNet. FirstNet is charged with ensuring “the building, deployment, and operation of the nationwide public safety broadband network,” and must establish a new “standing public safety advisory committee” to assist it.