FCC Asks How to Proceed on D Block Re-auction

The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comment on how the Commission should proceed with the re-auction and licensing of the 700 MHz D Block spectrum while maximizing the public safety and commercial benefits of a nationwide, interoperable broadband network. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) the Commission asks for comment, ideas, and recommendations on how to revise the rules for the D Block. First, the NPRM asks whether it remains in the public interest, following the 700 MHz Auction, to retain a Public/Private Partnership between the D Block licensee and the Public Safety Broadband Licensee. The NPRM also seeks comment on various potential modifications to the current rules governing the Public/Private Partnership. For instance, the FCC asks whether only entities that provide public safety services, as defined in the Communications Act, are eligible to use the public safety spectrum portion of the shared network established by the Partnership. Comments are also sought on the technical requirements of the shared wireless broadband network. In this regard, the NPRM includes information on a possible technical framework that identifies in greater detail parameters for the shared wireless broadband network. The NPRM also seeks comment on how the D Block should be auctioned and licensed for commercial use if it were not required to be part of a Public/Private Partnership. The FCC requests input on other ways to facilitate the deployment of a public safety broadband network if it found such a partnership were no longer in the public interest. The FCC notes that, if the D Block no longer contained the Public/Private Partnership condition, additional actions by Congress may be necessary to support the cost and build-out of a nationwide, interoperable broadband network for America's first responders. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said he still supports the concept of a public/private partnerships, but he was pleased that the notice "turns a critical eye on the specific parameters of the partnership, and ways to ensure the commercial viability of this endeavor by providing greater certainty to all parties involved." The FCC needs to deal with the public-safety spectrum issue "thoughtfully and quickly," Chairman Martin added. Commissioner Michael Copps raised concerns there are "daunting technical issues" that need to be addressed with the public-safety network, but the FCC hasn't appointed a technical advisory council to help with that task. The best solution for public safety agencies would be a network funded by the Congress, but the cost takes that option off the table, added Commissioner Copps. "In the seven years since 9/11, three years since Hurricane Katrina, and one year since we began the most recent auction of the 700MHz spectrum band, we have learned two hard and disappointing lessons," Commissioner Copps said. "First, that America desperately needs to improve the communications tools available to its heroic first responders. And, second, that achieving this task is not going to be easy."
* Press Release
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-282151A1.doc
* NPRM
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-128A1.doc

D BLOCK RIDES AGAIN
[SOURCE: Tales from the Sausage Factory, AUTHOR: Harold Feld]
[Commentary] Feld believes the Federal Communications Commission is united around the following principles: 1) We all want to see a working public/private partnership that gets the network built and serves the interests of public safety. 2) None of us really knows how to make this happen. We hope someone out there who writes real fast knows how and can tell us what to do preferably by next month. 3) One thing we do know, no more of this “we'll make up the specs and network requirements as we go along” crap. Before this goes to auction, we will make damn sure we get the business arrangements of the D Block partnership nailed down. 4) Did we mention we're hoping someone out there has some bright ideas? And, wow, a NPRM released the same day it was adopted -- will the sky fall?
http://www.wetmachine.com//item/1186

HARMAN BILL WOULD FUND PUBLIC SAFETY NETWORK
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Rep Jane Harman (D-CA) introduced a bill that would fund administrative costs of a national interoperable public-safety network for first responders. Rep Harman said her bill was the "best chance" to solve the interoperability problem. It would authorize Congress to fund the administration and management of the public-safety network, rather than making first responders come up with the money to manage it. Rep Harmon's bill would authorize a "modest" $4 million to help cover expenses.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6561015.html?rssid=193