The Rural Cellular Association pushed for interoperability in the 700...
The Rural Cellular Association pushed for interoperability in the 700 MHz band at a Capitol Hill briefing Wednesday. That’s key to a successful public safety network, said RCA CEO Steve Berry. RCA is working closely with Sens. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.,…
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and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, on their interoperability amendment to Senate spectrum legislation by Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. RCA was “heartened” when Rockefeller committed to helping the group “find solutions” on the issue, Berry said. It’s unclear what form that might take, he said: “It may or may not be an amendment on the floor.” While RCA still supports auctioning the D-block, it’s now pushing more on the interoperability issue, Berry said. He said Rockefeller “has made his decision” to reallocate the D-block, while the House is leaning the other way. The choice is “political” and RCA isn’t “going to be able to make that decision,” Berry said. RCA had 50 members lobbying on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Berry said, and noted that in meetings they're raising concerns about AT&T buying T-Mobile, and they're supporting interoperability, the FCC’s data roaming order and technology-neutral Universal Service Fund revisions.