NPSTC Files
Reply Comments on Proposed National Public Safety
Licensee in 700 MHz Band
(Littleton, Colorado, June 4, 2007) -The
National Public Safety Telecommunications Council
(NPSTC) filed reply comments addressing the
proposed National Public Safety Licensee and the E
Block licensee proposal recommended by Frontline
Wireless, LLC, today. The reply
comments were in response to the Federal
Communications Commission (Commission's) Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) addressing
the structure and rules of the commercial and
public safety segments in the 700 MHz band.
NPSTC's
comments address concerns about the viability of
the National Public Safety Licensee network and
the E Block's licensee's ability to pursue its
commercial strategy while deploying and
maintaining a public safety network consistent
with mission-critical public safety
standards.
E Block operations must coexist and not
interfere with the mission-critical public safety
network.
Operations in adjacent bands must not
disrupt the public safety network.
The
challenge is to ensure that a market-driven model,
whose success is based on investment return, is
accountable to the Commission and able to deploy
and maintain a network whose success is measured
by the effectiveness of emergency response.
NPSTC
believes that the Commission must monitor and
supervise how the public safety network meets this
standard. The Commission's supervision and active
role is important to ensure that the E Block
licensee pursues its obligations and that the
commercial interests involved comprehend this
premise.
An effective public private partnership
will only emerge with a commitment by the
Commission to vigorous supervision.
NPSTC is
a volunteer council of state and local public
safety organizations that serves as the collective
voice of public safety communications representing
the leaders and policymakers for the broader
nationwide public safety communications community.
Achieving that collective voice occurs through
informed discussion and debate and the development
of consensus positions reflecting the input of
NPSTC's members.
