T-Mobile, Verizon back new 4.9 Gigahertz public safety coalition

The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) wants to keep the 4.9 Gigahertz (GHz) spectrum under the control of public safety and critical infrastructure industry users and out of the hands of FirstNet, whose 700 Megahertz network is run by AT&T. T-Mobile, Verizon and UScellular are among the founding members of the CERCI, along with the Competitive Carriers Association, National Sheriffs Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and Edison Electric Institute. The group sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) outlining the importance of maintaining the 4.9 GHz band as a locally controlled public safety communications resource that serves the public interest. They’re responding to a proposal from the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance that calls for the FirstNet Authority to be awarded a nationwide license for the 4.9 GHz band and to select a new band manager. CERCI argues that incumbent public safety licensees within the 4.9 GHz must be protected so they can approve all spectrum leases that could impact their licenses and weigh potential changes to the band. “Above all, coordination and leasing rules for public safety broadband should align with the FCC’s broader goal of preserving and protecting local control of public safety operations in the band,” the coalition said.