FCC Revises 700 MHz Rules for Public Safety Communications, Wireless Broadband
August 6, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
| |
| Electronics & Telecom Docs |
IHS sells a full selection of standards documents & collections from the industry's top organizations.
To learn more, and for a free quote, please complete the form below. |
|
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revised the 700 MHz band plan and service rules to promote the creation of a nationwide interoperable broadband network for public safety and to facilitate the availability of new and innovative wireless broadband services for consumers.
The 700 MHz band spectrum, which runs from 698-806 MHz, is occupied by television broadcasters and will be made available for other wireless services including public safety and commercial services as a result of the digital television (DTV) transition.
The Digital Television and Public Safety Act of 2005 (DTV Act) set a deadline of Feb. 17, 2009 for the completion of the DTV transition. The DTV Act also requires the FCC to commence an auction of the previously unauctioned commercial spectrum in the 700 MHz band no later than Jan. 28, 2008.
The service rules the FCC adopts help create a national broadband network for public safety that will address the interoperability problems of the current system, provide for a more open wireless platform that will facilitate innovation and investment and facilitate the emergence of next generation wireless broadband services in urban and rural areas.
The FCC's ruling establishes a framework for a 700 MHz Public Safety/Private Partnership between the licensee for one of the commercial spectrum blocks and the licensee for the public safety broadband spectrum.
As part of the partnership, the commercial licensee will build out a nationwide, interoperable broadband network for the use of public safety. This network will facilitate effective communications among first responders not just in emergencies, but as part of cooperative communications plans that will enable first responders from different disciplines such as police and fire departments and jurisdictions to work together in emergency preparedness and response.
Under the partnership, the public safety broadband licensee will have priority access to the commercial spectrum in times of emergency and the commercial licensee will have preemptible, secondary access to the public safety broadband spectrum.
Many national and local public safety organizations expressed support for a public safety/private partnership approach, said the FCC. Providing for shared infrastructure is touted as helping achieve cost efficiencies while maximizing public safety's access to interoperable broadband spectrum.
In order to promote broadband competition and the development of innovative wireless services for consumers, the FCC's ruling also makes several changes to the rules governing the commercial services portion of the 700 MHz band.
Most notably, the FCC determined that licensees for one of the spectrum blocks to be auctioned - the large, 22-MHz upper 700 MHz C block - will be required to provide a platform that is more open to devices and applications. These licensees will be required to allow customers, device manufacturers, third-party application developers and others to use any device or application of their choice on their networks in this band subject to certain conditions.
The FCC also adopted several changes to the 700 MHz band plan, the build-out requirements for licensees and the auction procedures.
IHS electronics & telecom standards subscriptions can save you money!
More information on the 700 MHz band plan, public safety/private partnership, performance requirements for commercial spectrum, open platform and auction procedures can be found at http://www.fcc.gov/073107/700mhz_news_release_073107.pdf.
Source: U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Jane's Public Safety Handbooks - a collection of guides and handbooks designed to assist those with a vested interest in safety planning. Used by emergency management personnel, facility supervisors and school administrators, corporations, and private citizens.