Martin Calls in PSST, Cyren Call to Discuss D-Block
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin asked officials of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust and Cyren Call, the PSST’s advisor, to meet Monday with him at the FCC. Also on hand: Commissioner Michael Copps and the chiefs of the FCC Wireless and Public Safety bureaus. The meeting came as the FCC renews its study of the D-block’s future and ways to find a licensee willing to work with public safety to build a national, interoperable wireless network.
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The hour-plus meeting broke little new ground, focusing on logical next steps and how to move forward. The FCC inspector general is investigating questions by public- interest groups led by Public Knowledge on discussions before the auction among Cyren Call, the PSST and Frontline Wireless, Martin said last week (CD March 21 p1). Cyren Call officials said at the meeting they were willing to explain their side on the allegations, but did not go into detail, sources said.
“During the meeting, PSST and Cyren Call discussed their views regarding the future re-auction of the D Block,” the two entities said in an ex parte. “PSST and Cyren Call also discussed the public safety community’s continuing need for a nationwide, interoperable broadband network.” The ex parte said other participants included Morgan O'Brien, founder of Cyren Call, FCC Chief of Staff Daniel Gonzalez, Wireless Bureau Chief Fred Campbell and Public Safety Bureau Chief Derek Poarch.
Harold Feld, senior vice president of the Media Access Project, said Wednesday that the FCC should examine options for making the spectrum more attractive to a nationwide licensee or regional licensees, including eased build-out requirements. Officials with Consumers Union and Free Press said Wednesday that they endorse a broad rulemaking to probe the why the D-block did not attract more bids.
“The FCC needs to be asking what are the real costs, what are the expectations,” Feld said. “I am confident that the FCC did not see this as a way to create some kind of revenue stream on the public safety side. The notion was to get the network built in an affordable way.” Feld said Cyren Call is entitled to “an agent’s fee” as advisor to the PSST, adding that payments to the company should be limited.
Qualcomm alone bid on the D-block, at well below the reserve. Frontline Wireless said before the auction it would not bid.