Charlotte Request on First Responder Definition Gets Broad Support
The city of Charlotte, N.C., got broad support from the Public Safety Spectrum Trust and other local governments on its request for clarity from the FCC that use of its proposed wireless broadband network should not be restricted to police, firefighters and emergency medical service providers. Charlotte asked the FCC in March for a declaratory ruling that other government agencies can also use the 700 MHz network. Charlotte was one of the public safety applicants that got a Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grant last year to build out an early network in the band.
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Charlotte raises an important issue, the PSST said in reply comments in docket 06-229. “The Request submitted by Charlotte is consistent with the [Communications Act] and with the PSST’s belief that the nationwide public safety broadband network must be under the direction of those with direct responsibility for protecting the public’s safety and property, and that those public safety representatives should be afforded sufficient flexibility to address unique local requirements,” the group said. The PSST noted that Charlotte said traditional first responders will be the major users of the network and access will be managed by the city. “The PSST is confident that public safety users can be relied upon to carefully manage this scarce and critical resource and prioritize communications use of the spectrum in an appropriate manner that will serve the public interest."
Miami-Dade County, Fla., said a narrow interpretation of permissible services permitted to use the network “would limit the public safety community in their efforts to establish beneficial partnerships and respond to a varied set of emergencies requiring assistance from a diverse set of government agencies.”
Charlotte noted in its original filing that public safety already shares radio systems in many areas with “co-employees” in charge of “public works, transportation, and even garbage collection with priority queues and ruthless pre-emption capability to ensure that the most urgent communications are given highest priority.”Harris Corp. said it supports giving local governments “flexibility” to “manage their own internal communications.” Harris said “the essential purpose and mission of all first responders and government personnel, presumptively, is to protect the safety of life, health, and property of all citizens."
"The record in this proceeding confirms that the Commission would be on firm legal and policy grounds if it issued the declaratory ruling requested by the City,” Charlotte said in its reply comments. Charlotte noted support for its request in initial comments by “virtually the entire public safety community,” including the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, APCO and the International Municipal Signal Association.