Pull 4.9 GHz Item From Meeting Agenda, Public Safety Groups, AT&T Ask FCC

the sheriffs group, posted Wednesday in docket 07-100. “Local public safety agencies have spent millions of dollars investing in networks on the 4.9 GHz band. These systems are particularly important now during our nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, large scale wildfires, and hurricanes.” AT&T, which is building a network for FirstNet, said adoption “would be unlikely to lead to more efficient use” of the band, in calls with aides to Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel, Brendan Carr and Geoffrey Starks. “Saying the band has ‘fallen short of its potential’ is not an accurate statement,” said the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association. “The FCC did very little, if anything, to promote or ensure this frequency band was being utilized to its potential,” said the Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association: “Public safety agencies nationwide are constantly faced with difficult financial decisions and a project this size takes a tremendous amount of time and planning.” Public safety groups raised similar objections Tuesday (see 2009220056); the agency hasn't been commenting. The Wireless ISP Association supported the draft. “Despite many attempts to maximize use of the band, it remains largely unused outside of metropolitan areas,” said Louis Peraertz, vice president-policy: “This leasing model will streamline use of the vastly underutilized band without compromising the ability of public safety users to access the spectrum.”