To advance the creation of a nationwide interoperable broadband network for public safety, as well as facilitate the availability of new and innovative wireless broadband services for consumers, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has revised the 700 MHz band plan and service rules. As a result of the digital television (DTV) transition, the 700 MHz band spectrum, which runs from 698 MHz to 806 MHz and is currently occupied by TV broadcasters, will be made available for other wireless services, including public safety and commercial services. The Digital Television and Public Safety Act of 2005 (DTV Act) set a firm deadline of Feb. 17, 2009, for the terrestrial broadcasters to complete the DTV transition. It also requires FCC to commence an auction of the previously unauctioned commercial spectrum in the 700 MHz band prior to Jan. 28, 2008 .

The new service rules adopted by FCC will help create a national broadband network for public safety that will address the interoperability problems of today’s system, and provide for a more open wireless platform that will facilitate the emergence of next-generation wireless broadband services in both urban and rural areas (sees Table 1 and 2).

As stated in the release, this July 31 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 have expressed support for a public safety/private partnership approach.

In order to promote broadband competition and the development of innovative wireless services for consumers, the order 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.

For more details, go to www.fcc.gov

Table 1: Revised 700 MHz band plan for commercial cervices

Table 2: Revised 700 MHz band plan for public safety services

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