Open access should not be required of the winner of the 700 MHz E...

and some of which we may not,” it said. One reason for NPSTC’s squishy position on open access is “due to the absence of a commonly agreed upon definition of what open access means.” To proponents, it means attaching any device to the network and requiring carriers to offer service to anyone. Frontline Wireless said Monday that if open access had been the rule, Apple would not have been forced to sign a 5-year exclusive deal with AT&T for its new iPhone (CD July 3 p3). The wireless industry has called open access “a poison pill.” Even without an endorsement of open access, seen as key to the Frontline proposal, Frontline issued a statement claiming to have won-over public safety. NPSTC’s statement “underscores that public safety supports a ‘national new build’ network funded by the E-Block licensee,” Frontline said. “That means way more than a cosmetic tweak of Verizon’s network. It means a real facilities-based alternative. That’s good for consumers and public safety: two sides of same coin.” NPSTC released several recommendations as the FCC considers service and auction rules for the 700 MHz band spectrum being made available with the transition to digital TV. NPSTC is asking the FCC to designate a National Public Safety Licensee (NPSL) to govern the use of 10 MHz of public safety’s 24 MHz. The spectrum would be combined with the E-block’s 10 MHz to form the public-private partnership. The 20 MHz network would be built under a specific process set forth by NPSTC. Auction participants should be reasonably certain of the public- safety network requirements so the FCC should specify them “both in terms of geographic scope and service levels consistent with public safety on street and in-building needs,” said NPSTC. To help, the FCC should encourage the NPSL to host a bidders conference to educate potential bidders about public safety’s needs. Once the auction is held, the NPSL and E-block auction winner would negotiate to develop a network sharing agreement. If no agreement is reached within a specified time, the FCC would resolve the differences. If the NPSL is satisfied with the FCC’s solution, the E-block licensee would be bound to it. If not, the E-block spectrum would be reauctioned and the process would begin anew, under the NPSTC plan.