Congress Approves New Spectrum for Public Safety

February 03, 2006 05:56 AM

FAIRFAX, Va. — Congress has passed legislation to set a firm date for making vital spectrum in the 700 MHZ band available to public safety; the president is expected to sign it into law. “This victory is a direct result of the active and persistent involvement of IAFC member fire chiefs calling, writing and visiting with their members of Congress over the past three and more years,” said IAFC President Chief Bill Killen. “Thank you for your active participation on this important issue.”

The legislation (S. 1932, the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005) will:

Require television broadcasters to vacate channels 63, 64, 68 and 69 by February 17, 2009. These channels will then be dedicated for exclusive use by public safety agencies. The channels are in the upper 700 MHz band and near the lower 800 MHz band where public safety is being relocated as part of the Consensus Plan rebanding effort currently underway. This new 24 MHz is equal to the entire public safety spectrum currently available across 10 frequency bands. Essentially, this new law doubles the current spectrum available to public safety.

Require the FCC to auction the spectrum not dedicated to public safety by January 28, 2008. The first $7.363 billion raised from the auction shall be sent to the U.S. Treasury. Revenue in excess of that amount may become available for several purposes including:

establishment of a $1 billion grant fund for public safety interoperable communications

$156 million for public warning systems

$43.5 million to assist E911 programs

The legislation offers opportunities for fire chiefs:

new spectrum in the 700MHz band to increase capacity where no additional spectrum is currently available

the ability to expand communications capabilities to data and other wideband applications

funding to replace legacy communications systems with radio equipment manufactured today that can easily transition between 800/700 MHz frequencies

a date certain — February 17, 2009 — for chiefs and other local government leaders to begin the planning process to upgrade or replace existing radio systems the ability to more easily plan for interoperable systems

The IAFC has been part of a very active coalition involving the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties.