Key holdouts endorse public safety plan

Two key supporters of a public safety plan authored by the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) have changed positions to support a White House proposal instead.

Former Gov. Tom Kean (R-NJ) and former Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-IN), the chairmen of the 9/11 Commission, switched their positions to back a spectrum plan offered by key senators and endorsed by the Obama Administration. Both Kean and Hamilton had been frequently invoked by those who want a D-Block auction rather than a direct allocation of airwaves to public safety agencies. If the FCC is to directly allocate airwaves to public safety, it needs a new law. Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) has introduced legislation, as has House Homeland Security Chairman Pete King (R-NY). It's unclear whether the proposal can get support from House Republicans worried about cost.