WASHINGTON-A Federal Communications Commission advisory committee last week launched the biggest effort yet improve a public-safety communications regime plagued by severe spectrum shortages and the lack of technical interoperability among fire, police and emergency medical agencies.
“Public is playing urgent catch-up,” said Kathleen Wallman, chairwoman of the FCC’s Public Safety National Coordination Committee, at the group’s first meeting. “There’s no time to waste.”
The NCC, whose work is expected to be completed by September 2002, is helping the commission to plan and administer the licensing of 24 megahertz of public-safety spectrum in the 700 MHz band-the largest single public-safety allocation ever.
Congress in 1997 reallocated TV channels 63, 64, 68 and 69 in response to findings that inadequate spectrum was available to meet future public-safety communications needs, especially in major urban markets like New York, New Jersey, Chicago and Dallas.
Public-safety 700 MHz licensing is expected to begin in 2007 in areas of the country where affected TV channels operate, earlier in locales without incumbent broadcasters on some or all of the four TV channels.
A big challenge for public safety will be in making the transition into spectrum held by TV broadcasters, which have a powerful lobby in the nation’s capital. Another challenge will be setting technical standards in a way that will enable public-safety agencies to choose from competing wireless vendors.
The public-safety plan at 700 MHz represents a huge financial opportunity for wireless equipment manufacturers.
Today, some public-safety radio systems are stressed and limited by antiquated technology that operates on a slew of frequency bands. Not only does this situation handicap police, firefighters and medics in their life-saving duties, but the patchwork arrangement increases equipment and system costs for financially strapped municipalities, which must underwrite the agencies to the extent they can.
The NCC said its goals include formulating an operational plan to achieve national interoperability; recommending interoperability digital modulation, trunking and receiver standards; offering voluntary assistance to develop coordinated regional plans; and providing recommendations on other technical matters common to the public-safety community generally.
Wallman noted work already has begun on the standards front.
“We have no intention of starting from scratch,” she said.
Under Wallman will be a nine-member steering committee (including representatives from Motorola Inc. and L. M. Ericsson) and three subcommittees on interoperability, technology and implementation.
Michael Wilhelm, an attorney with the Public Safety and Private Wireless Division of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, is the designated federal officer for the NCC.
Serving with the FCC as co-sponsors to the NCC are the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Department of Justice, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Treasury.
“We are at a very significant junction in the regulation of public safety,” said WTB Chief Thomas Sugrue. “This won’t be a walk in the park for anyone,” Sugrue cautioned attendees. “The recommendations you come up with will shape public safety for the future.”
The lack of public-safety communications interoperability has cropped up in small and major emergencies alike. In the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, for example, only those with access to fire department frequencies were aware of the possibility of a second bomb.
“The goal of the NCC should be to make recommendations swiftly,” said FCC Commissioner Susan Ness, subbing for Chairman William Kennard. “Every day counts.”
