FCC revives emergency communications plan

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The Federal Communications Commission approved a new framework for the creation of a nationwide emergency communications network Thursday amid concerns that the ongoing economic crisis may make it difficult to attract investors. This is the agency's second attempt to create a set of rules for the network, which would use public airwaves and private money. The first attempt flopped earlier this year when it failed to attract a bidder. The new framework includes more detail and makes the plan more attractive to private companies in several areas. The proposed network would be used by police, firefighters and other emergency crews responding to disasters or terrorist attacks. The basic concept is unchanged. The agency would auction a swath of airwaves - made available thanks to the transition to digital broadcasting - to a private bidder. That spectrum would be combined with a roughly equal portion of airwaves controlled by a public safety trust. The private investor would build a wireless network and lease access to emergency responders while selling wireless service to commercial users for profit.


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