FCC Seeks Comment on Increasing Public Safety Interoperability by Promoting Competition

The Federal Communications Commission is seeking input on five questions:

1) What are the factors that affect the current state of competition in the provision of public safety communications equipment? Are there any additional barriers to additional manufacturers supplying network equipment to the public safety community for narrowband communications? For broadband communications?

2) How would additional competition in the provision of public safety communications equipment improve narrowband or broadband interoperability? Conversely, what impact does the current state of competition in the provision of public safety communications equipment and devices have on interoperability? Assuming additional competition would benefit public safety interoperability, what actions could the Commission take to improve competition in the provision of public safety communications equipment?

3) What are the limitations of Project 25 in promoting narrowband public safety communications interoperability? What actions, if any, should the Commission take to rectify these limitations?

4) Could open standards for public safety equipment increase competition? What actions could the Commission take to facilitate openness?

5) As the Commission considers requirements for the 700 MHz broadband public safety network, are there any requirements on public safety equipment or network operators that would increase competition in the provision of public safety equipment? How can the Commission's work on requirements for the 700 MHz broadband public safety network be leveraged to promote interoperability between narrowband and broadband networks?

Interested parties may file comments on or before September 20, 2010, and reply comments on or before October 18, 2010. (PS Docket No. 10-168)