Uncertainty Remains for Governments Building First Public Safety Networks in 700 MHz Band
PHILADELPHIA -- Seattle Chief Technology Office Bill Schrier warned Wednesday at the Association for Public-Safety Communication Official’s meeting that all seven of the jurisdictions that received Broadband Technology Opportunities Program grants to build out early public safety networks in the 700 MHz band may be hard pressed to do so in the two years they have left under BTOP rules. Meanwhile, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski closed the conference with a speech promising the agency would move forward on an ambitious program of improving 911 communications.
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"It’s going to be a challenge,” said Schrier, who also is chairman of APCO’s Broadband Committee, in an interview. “In places like Los Angeles they're going to be challenged to roll out a $154 million system in two years without a [request for proposals] on the street.” Schrier said aside from the seven, the other 15 jurisdictions that got waivers from the FCC but not grants will be hard pressed to construct proposed networks. He said at least 45 other jurisdictions have asked for waivers, but the FCC has not acted on the applications.
One note of hope, Schrier said, is that local governments have historically had to rely on a variety of funding mechanisms to build traditional radio systems. “They've passed property tax levies with general tax levies,” he said. “They've issued bonds and paid them back. They've created communications districts with sales tax levies. They continue to do that.” Schrier said the question becomes when local governments will use various financing schemes to pay for data and not just traditional voice radios used by public safety. “If we can get to mission critical voice over LTE, then all a community has to do is build out an LTE network,” he said. “It’s a chicken and egg thing with the technology."
Schrier said local governments also hope for some clarity on whether Congress will authorize money for a national network before they dedicate funds in a time of budget cuts. “If we get some certainty out of Washington, local governments can decide whether to proceed or not,” he said.
Genachowski told APCO he’s “deeply concerned” that Congress hasn’t acted on legislation that would give the FCC authority to hold incentive auctions while using part of the proceeds to pay for a public safety broadband network. “Unfortunately, I can’t give you the news we all want to hear, that Congress has funded a nationwide interoperable broadband for public safety,” he said. “The network won’t get built across the United States if Congress doesn’t fund it. Of course we're living in a time of serious fiscal constraint, but there is a mechanism to fund the public safety broadband network without adding a penny to the deficit. … The clock is ticking.”
Genachowski announced Wednesday he plans to ask the FCC to approve a rulemaking at the Sept. 22 meeting on accelerating the buildout of a next generation 911 network, asking questions about how to enable text, photo, and video transmission to 911 call centers. The need for the public to be able to text 911 has been a recurring theme for the chairman. The FCC said in a news release this will include a look at “interim solutions” for ensuring that carriers and service providers support transmission of text-to-911.
"It’s hard to imagine that airlines can send text messages if your flight is delayed, but you can’t send a text message to 911 in an emergency,” Genachowski said. “With NG911, no matter how you try to contact 911 your call for help will be delivered. The information you have will be put to use.” Genachowski said the ability to send texts to 911 is especially critical for the deaf and hard of hearing. He said without a national push the U.S. will see a “patchwork” deployment over the next five to 10 years with many parts of the country seeing no NG911 at all.
Genachowski laid out a five-step plan, starting with a proceeding the FCC launched in July seeking comment on providing automatic location accuracy information in a NG911 world. The next step is all development of NG911 technical standards, followed by a NG911 governance framework and then a “cost model” on how to pay for 911 modernization. “Part of the effort is to identify the ways that we can lower the costs of NG911 deployment,” he said. “We also want to ensure that states don’t divert the 911 fees that they collect for other purposes.”
"We will work with all stakeholders to help resolve these issues, which will help ensure that NG911 is employed consistently throughout the country,” he said.