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MEDIA ADVISORY: NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP CALLS ON CONGRESS AND THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO REALLOCATE BROADBAND SPECTRUM FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
WHO: The leadership of America's national public safety organizations:
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
- International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
- Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCC)
- Metropolitan Fire Chiefs (MFC)
- National Sheriffs Association (NSA)
- Major County Sheriffs Association (MCSA)
- Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International
- National Emergency Number Association (NENA)
- National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)
Also in attendance will be senior executives from major corporations which support this reallocation of spectrum. These companies include:
- ATT Wireless
- Verizon Wireless
- Motorola
- Harris
- Alcatel Lucent
WHAT: In an unparalleled event, the leadership of America's emergency first responders has come together to call on Congress to immediately reallocate the 700 MHz "D" Block spectrum to public safety. At this press conference, our nation's top police chiefs, sheriffs, and fire chiefs will highlight the urgent need for an interoperable public safety wireless broadband network. They will also report out on their meetings with key members of Congress and the Obama Administration that will have taken place earlier in the day.
WHERE: National Press Club
Zenger Room
529 14th Street NW
Washington DC
WHEN: Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 5:00 pm EST
CONTACT: Deputy Chief Chris Moore, San Jose Police Department at (917) 769-0750 or Deputy Chief Chuck Dowd, New York Police Department at (408) 219-0784
Public Safety Urgently Needs Access to Wireless Broadband
Police, fire, medical and other emergency public safety professionals must have access to modern and reliable communications capabilities; including high speed data and video, to have interoperable communications with each other and with federal officials across agencies and jurisdictions during emergencies.
State-of-the-art public safety communications are essential to provide the public with the protection and security it deserves. Public safety touches every facet of our lives, including the safety of our families and economic growth, and we urge Congress and the Administration to work with us so the nation's citizens will be able to receive the best possible public safety services.
Public safety agencies require access to broadband data applications; however Public Safety officials are constrained by the recurring costs imposed by commercial network operators and are reluctant to depend upon commercial networks that are not built to robust public safety standards and which may not be available during emergencies. A hardened broadband network designed to meet public safety operational requirements and provide seamless nationwide roaming capability is essential for public safety to meet its ever expanding mission. National policymakers must plan now for existing and future public safety wireless broadband needs.
The 700 MHz Spectrum Is Critical For Public Safety
A 700 MHz public safety nationwide broadband wireless network supporting both broadband voice and data will enhance interoperability in public safety emergencies requiring a multi-jurisdictional response. The September 2009 Draft of the National Broadband Plan calls for an eventual converged broadband voice and data network for public safety as a strategic goal. This vision will never be realized without a commitment by the Federal government to allocate the 700 MHz D Block to public safety now. Auctioning the D block is shortsighted as it precludes this possibility.
Public safety needs additional broadband spectrum for both current and future technologies such as streaming video, automated license plate recognition, biometric technologies including mobile fingerprint and iris identification. The 700 MHz band is ideal for public safety as it provides superior coverage and "in building" performance compared to higher frequency bands. Public safety needs to control this spectrum as it is the only way to guarantee that it will be available in an emergency. Many incidents have occurred where the commercial wireless companies could not or would not provide the bandwidth needed during an emergency.
The existing public safety 700 MHz spectrum allocation is inadequate to support public safety requirements. The D Block spectrum is crucial because it is adjacent to the existing public safety broadband allocation. Combining the existing public safety 700 MHz spectrum with the D block will simplify network design and deployment and will reduce handset costs. A single wireless broadband network combining the D Block and the adjacent public safety 700 MHz spectrum is the only logical choice to satisfy public safety broadband wireless spectrum requirements.
Widespread Support
The major national public safety associations representing police, fire, emergency medical and other public safety professionals have united in an unprecedented effort in support of the reallocation of the 700 MHz D Block spectrum to public safety and the creation of a truly interoperable public safety wireless broadband network.
The 9-11 Commission recommended that Congress enact legislation to increase assignment of radio spectrum for public safety purposes. Public safety needs 20 MHz of broadband spectrum now, and for applications envisioned for near future deployment (within 5 years).
Congressional Action is Required
In the absence of swift Congressional action to remove the D Block from auction, the FCC must, under current law, "expeditiously" re-auction this critical spectrum. This would effectively forever preclude public safety's ability to obtain 20 MHz of contiguous spectrum in the 700 MHz band.
Specifically, we request that Congress pass legislation directing the FCC to remove any auction requirements for the D Block and to allocate it directly to public safety as part of the nationwide Public Safety Broadband License (PSBL). This will result in public safety having access to 20 MHz of broadband spectrum that is essential to meet public safety's expanding requirements and to maximize efficient use of broadband technologies. We request that Congress and the FCC work with public safety to identify dedicated funding sources to build and maintain the nationwide public safety wireless broadband network. Additionally, a source of funding will be required to support the PSBL to help ensure a nationwide framework for interoperability.
Events Scheduled for January 12th in D.C.
On Tuesday, January 12th, the leadership of America's public safety associations will be coming to Washington D.C. to meet with key members of Congress and Administration officials to ask for their support for this critical initiative. This effort is particularly relevant in light of the Christmas Day terrorist attack over Detroit.
At 5:00 p.m. on January 12th, the se public safety leaders will hold a press conference at the National Press Club to report the results of their meetings and to highlight the importance of this initiative. Joining them will be senior officials from several key telecommunications companies including AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Motorola, Harris, and Alcatel-Lucent. These companies will be there to support our message.
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