Creating Choices, Flexibility and Real Solutions for America's First Responders

Last week, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and Barnett rolled out highlights of the public safety goals and recommendations of the FCC's National Broadband Plan. A major set of recommendations is related to the creation of a nationwide interoperable wireless broadband network for public safety.

The following are highlights of the Plan's recommendations:

• Creates a nationwide interoperable wireless broadband network for public safety. The network will be interoperable across America: in the big cities, the suburbs and to the rural counties;
• Maps out a path forward to build out a network for public safety in a cost-efficient way, hand-in-hand with commercial entities.
• Gives public safety choices, flexibility and control on how they would like to deploy and operate their 700 MHz broadband networks in coordination with commercial entities;
• Expands and enhances public safety's access to the entire swath of the commercial 700 MHz band of spectrum, totaling 80 MHz. (Note: this provides a quantum leap in resiliency. If one network fails, public safety has at least one back up and maybe more!).
• Enables public safety to obtain priority access service on commercial spectrum at reasonable cost when spectrum is needed most. (Note: this isn't your dad's priority access, but a dynamic broadband priority access).
• Provides opportunities for roaming on commercial spectrum at reasonable rates for public safety, creating options for accessing additional spectrum.
• Ensures public safety's access to cutting-edge technology, including devices, at consumer electronic prices.