Safety officials raised alarms about attacks on Cyren Call’s publ...
Safety officials raised alarms about attacks on Cyren Call’s public safety broadband plan, citing a form letter to Congress that they say attorneys for Verizon Wireless have been circulating. Two public safety sources said they received copies of the…
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letter and an accompanying brief laying out the case against Cyren Call (CD March 15 p7). Verizon Wireless wouldn’t confirm that the letter and brief were written on its behalf. The letter, intended to be signed and sent to Congress by supporters, says first responders need $1 billion in interoperability grants they are to get from the proceeds of an auction of 700 MHz spectrum. “Unfortunately, the Cyren Call proposal seeks to derail this progress and would stop the upcoming spectrum auction,” it says: “I respectfully ask that you support the spectrum auction and emerging efforts to develop a broadband network for first responders, so that further delays do not come at the expense of public safety and security.” A source contested a claim in the accompanying brief declaring that Cyren Call’s plan would “divert the spectrum to Cyren Call for free” if legislation the company seeks becomes law. “For Verizon’s attorneys/lobbyists… to suggest that Cyren Call is going to get the spectrum we are asking for is patently false,” the official said: “The spectrum in the Public Safety Broadband Trust proposal would be granted to the Public Safety Broadband Trust which would be managed by a board of directors with public safety representatives having the controlling votes. Cyren Call may or may not even have a part in the final management of the trust.”