Southern Governors Endorse Public-Private Partnership for Public Safety Network
The Southern Governors Assn. (SGA) endorsed a public- private partnership to build a nationwide interoperable public safety network, in a recently passed resolution. Collaboration between public safety and the wireless industry “will allow the public safety community to harness the power of the commercial markets, software, high-speed digital networks and advances in radio technology,” an SGA resolution said. The Assn.’s leadership also sent a letter May 15 to DHS Secy. Michael Chertoff, FCC Chmn. Martin and NTIA Dir. John Kneuer.
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The 4-page resolution makes several recommendations to DHS, the FCC, NTIA, and the public-safety community including a national dialog on spectrum resources, funding, the development of and the governance structure of a next- generation public-safety network, the inclusion of utilities and other emergency responders during times of crisis. The letter highlights the problem and issues a clarion call ahead of the proposed 700 MHz band auction.
After examining the issue for several months, SGA concluded that there’s disagreement whether public safety has the resources to build its own next-generation network without working with business, it said. “We believe it is critical that the answer to this question be determined prior to the FCC’s initiation of auction proceedings so that any required adjustments can be made,” said the letters signed by Govs. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
SGA called on DHS to “convene a dialog” with local, state and federal public safety officials to determine whether the current 24 MHz spectrum allocation to public safety is enough. “The outcome of this dialog” is to be submitted to the President, Congress and the FCC prior to start of the 700 MHz band auction, according to the resolution. “It is particularly concerning that there is still no-agreed upon conclusion between the federal government and the broad public safety community as to how much spectrum is enough,” said Barbour and Manchin.
In its inquiry, SGA received comments from several parties, including Verizon Wireless. The company proposed building a shared but dedicated public-safety data network using 12 of the 24 MHz available in the 700 MHz band for public safety (CD April 17 p6).
SGA’s resolution finds that public safety doesn’t have the money to do the R&D needed for a next-generation public safety network. According to the resolution, the network should: (1) Offer broadband data services not currently available in public safety land mobile systems. (2) Provide all levels of public safety with nationwide roaming and interoperability. (3) Provide access to the public-switched telephone network similar to commercial wireless networks. (4) Offer push-to-talk, one-to-one, and one-to-many calling capabilities. (5) Provide access to satellite service. (6) Cover 99% of the population in each state, regardless of population density. (7) Be built to public safety ruggedness specifications.
As it designs the rules for the public safety 700 MHz spectrum allocation and the proposed 10 MHz E-block, the governance structure needs to ensure that public safety controls the access and technical performance of the network, according to the SGA resolution. The rules must also weigh equally the needs of public safety and commercial operators, it said.
Utilities and other emergency responders should be given access to the network and other public safety spectrum resources below 1 GHz in times of emergency, said SGA. This will require both the FCC and public safety entities to review regulations and policies “that discourage utilities from building shared systems to support public safety communications,” it said.