Policymakers and public safety agencies should look beyond radio ...

-- through pro-market and innovative spectrum policies -- to develop effective offerings for public safety agencies.” Written by U. of Colo. profs. Dale Hatfield and Phil Weiser, the paper envisions flexible public safety networks integrating multiple technologies. “Contrary to traditional thinking on the subject,” policymakers’ approach “should not be centered on how much spectrum in the 700 MHz band needs to be dedicated specifically for public safety uses,” the report said: “Policymakers should focus on making spectrum generally available for broadband uses, whether via unlicenced WiFi- like systems, licensed commercial carriers, or satellite providers.” The paper suggests integrating satellite, terrestrial and emerging wireless broadband networks with traditional public safety land mobile radio systems (LMRs), which the authors said always will play a vital role in public safety networks. But the best strategy for developing a next-generation public safety network is “not necessarily to promote next generation private LMR systems operated by local public safety agencies. Indeed, committing to such a limited vision might well prove problematic,” the paper said. Policymakers should make more spectrum available for public safety applications provided commercially, the authors said. “In short, policymakers should appreciate the importance of committing spectrum to commercial providers who can offer service to public safety agencies,” the report said: “In the case of satellite providers like MSV, it is not merely sufficient for the FCC to allocate spectrum for use by satellite providers, but it is also critical for it to provide certain and stable assignments of satellite spectrum.”