Defense Dept. (DoD) said in report to Congress released Tues. tha...

and NTIA that indicated there were no readily available spectrum bands that would be alternatives for public safety users besides 138-144 MHz. Both reports depicted congestion that public safety systems experienced in existing spectrum, such as VHF high band. “We believe it is possible to share portions of the 138-144 MHz band with public safety users on a limited, coordinated basis,” said Steven Price, deputy asst. defense secy. for spectrum and command, control & communications. He said DoD was willing to work with NTIA, state and local govts. and first responders on “a case-by-case basis to explore sharing the band for the common good.” Pentagon said 138-144 MHz still was “critical to DoD operations” but that department had found it helpful in emergencies to share communications systems with other first responders. “A small number of channels may be shared on a regional basis when it is to the mutual benefit of DoD and public safety officials,” Pentagon said. Operations that it said could feel impact of “heavy use of too many channels” included air-surface-air systems, air traffic control and ground support functions at military airfields, tactical communications for close air support, land mobile radios for installation infrastructure support, land mobile radios, specialized equipment for training and test range support. Other systems include fire and security alarms and hydrology and utility controls. Report to Congress was conducted by DoD’s Joint Spectrum Center. DoD operations in band cover nearly entire continental U.S. “Large distance separations would be required to prevent co- channel and adjacent-channel interference between DoD equipment and potential state and local public safety systems, particularly in the case of DoD air-ground-air radios,” DoD said. Fiscal 2001 defense authorization legislation required studies by FCC, NTIA and DoD to examine possibility of sharing in 138-144 MHz band by existing military users and public safety systems. In fiscal 2000, defense authorization language had directed President to reclaim for “exclusive” use on primary basis bands totaling 3 MHz between 138-144 MHz. Bands were part of spectrum chosen for reallocation from govt. to nongovt. uses in 1997 Balanced Budget Act. Fiscal 2001 defense authorization legislation then required DoD and other agencies to identify any part of that band that military could share in various geographic areas with public safety services.