DoD STANCE ON GLOBAL PUBLIC SAFETY BANDS COMPLICATES WRC PLANS

Item on agenda for WRC 2003 in Venezuela would consider identification of “globally/regionally harmonized bands, to the extent practicable, for the implementation of future advanced solutions to meet the needs of public protection agencies, including those dealing with emergency situations and disaster relief.” Work on U.S. draft proposal has been done by informal Working Group 6 of WRC 2003 Advisory Committee. E-mail went out to working group this week, informing members of Motorola’s changed role and soliciting new feedback from other participants.

FCC Comr. Abernathy recently has cited international role of both 4.9 GHz and Ch. 60-69 spectrum for public safety. In speech Fri. at conference sponsored by FCBA and Computer Law Assn., Abernathy highlighted importance of Ch. 60-69, in which FCC has set aside 24 MHz of spectrum for public safety operations. “If the WRC is to designate international public safety bands, I believe it is essential that the 60-69 band be at least one of these bands,” she said. “Manufacturers for American licensees should have the market scale and scope necessary to develop and maintain equipment that performs at a high level and American public safety entities should be able to communicate with their international brethren on this band. As international terrorism threats continue to cross all traditional borders, the notion of some internationally identified interoperability bands holds increasing appeal.”

But formation of U.S. position that would be harmonized with other WRC participants would be complicated if U.S. position on that agenda item ultimately backed only 700 MHz and 4.9 GHz for international harmonization, several sources said. U.S. is one of few countries that has designated 4.9 GHz and 700 MHz for public safety. In many regions, for example, 700 MHz is being used for broadcast, which has been case in U.S. with analog broadcasters that will be vacating band as part of DTV transition. In Europe, 380-430 MHz is among bands that have been harmonized for emergency communications on country by country basis. U.K., for example, allocated 380-430 MHz and 440-490 MHz to Tetra network of British Telecom for emergency communications. European Radiocommunications Committee has designated 380-385 MHz band, paired with 390-395 MHz, for introducing digital land mobile systems for emergency communications. Decision was designed to create harmonization for emergency services on national and international basis.

One source said U.S. govt. planners wouldn’t support position of Motorola and others that harmonized approach for this spectrum should include 380-400 MHz. Among factors under consideration have been extent to which public protection typically is national concern and extent to which spectrum is needed in disaster relief situations. “Unfortunately, public protection is usually a very local thing,” said industry source. But one advantage that participants in WRC advisory process have considered to global harmonization of this spectrum is cost-effectiveness of manufacturers being able to make equipment geared to one or several bands, source said.

DoD concerns over potential use of 380-400 MHz center on extent to which international identification of band for public safety could have ramifications for domestic spectrum decisions, one source said. (DoD couldn’t be reached for comment.) DoD hasn’t expressed concern about other countries’ using that band for public safety but extent to which international identification would leave open door for spectrum being considered at some point in U.S. for public safety. Motorola paper previously submitted to working group hadn’t sought use of 380-400 MHz for public safety, but backed it as one candidate band for multi-band approach to international harmonization. Similar multi-band plan was adopted at WRC 2000 for 3G spectrum. Latin American countries sought spectrum around 1.7 GHz for IMT-2000 services while European countries backed using single band of 2.5 GHz. Ultimate item covered several bands, including both of these and 806-960 MHz. This item led to examination for 3G in U.S. of 1.7 GHz band now occupied mostly by military users. While U.S. manufacturers make radio equipment for military to use at 380-400 MHz, “DoD is very concerned about that coming back to the U.S.” as public safety allocation at some point, industry source said.

DoD concerns about potential use of 380-400 MHz in U.S. aren’t new. Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC), chartered by NTIA and FCC to examine public safety spectrum issues, issued report in mid-1990s that noted this band was being released by NATO for cross-border public safety sharing in Europe, as long as spectrum was used on non-interference basis to military systems. PSWAC report said DoD “objects to any reallocation of this spectrum to public safety, even on a shared basis.” U.S. preliminary view on this WRC agenda item released last year said U.S. thought “it may be premature to identify future spectrum requirements and specific frequency bands at WRC-03 for global/regional harmonization for public protection and disaster relief services.” Document said if pending studies determine that spectrum harmonization for public safety is “desirable” or necessary, focus should be on bands already designated for such services. ITU Working Part 8A is undertaking studies related to public protection and disaster relief and plans to report results at WRC meeting set for June 2003 in Caracas, Venezuela.