LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA), a coalition of the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association (PSBTA), commends the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on its decision today to approve new FCC rules contained in WP Docket No. 07-100. This amendment to Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules seeks to protect public safety operations in the 4.9 GHz spectrum band.
Once again, FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel and her fellow commissioners led a bipartisan ruling that protects public safety spectrum. “The PSSA and the thousands of first responders who have supported the process are grateful to the commissioners for listening to our collective voice allowing the band to be used by FirstNet,” said Sue Swenson, a PSSA member and former FirstNet Authority Chairwoman. “Today’s decision ensures that public safety will be able to meet its future spectrum needs,” added John Paul Jones, Executive Director of the PSBTA.
For more than four years, the PSSA has worked to educate the FCC and Congress on the need for updates to rules that will ensure the optimal use of the 4.9 GHz spectrum by America’s first responders. “Public safety has always known that spectrum is the single largest commonality within public safety nationwide. Spectrum is more important than funding. Spectrum is the fuel that drives the networks,” said Chief Chuck Dowd, NYPD (Ret.).
This effort has not only been supported by thousands of individual first responders, it has also been supported by numerous national and regional public safety organizations, many of which have also provided the FCC with their comments and suggestions to ensure greater use of the spectrum by public safety through revisions to current FCC rules.
“When public safety stands together, our voice is loud and clear. As I once stated in a congressional hearing, ‘we aren’t paid to quit.’ Our mission is to protect the American people and today the FCC again showed its support of that mission. We are eternally grateful to Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioner Carr, Commissioner Starks, and Commissioner Simington,” said Chief Jeff Johnson (Ret).