FCC Seeks Comment on Public Safety Broadband Networks

On May 13, 2010, the Federal Communications Commission released an order granting conditional waivers to twenty one public safety entities (Petitioners) for early deployment of public safety broadband networks in the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum (PSBB Block). The Waiver Order establishes technical, operational and governance conditions for early deployment and requires each Petitioner to submit to the Bureau, within a specified time window, a detailed plan for achieving interoperability with other public safety broadband networks. The release of this order is a major step towards development of a nationwide public safety broadband network. However, there remain open several key technical issues focused on network deployment. In this Public Notice, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau seeks further comment on interoperability, out-of-band emissions, and equipment certification surrounding public safety broadband network interoperability which will serve the basis for final rules for the public safety broadband network.