The FCC was flooded with more than 100,000 comments and other filings on its October rulemaking notice that would deepen the FCC’s oversight of net neutrality as well as expand the rules to cover wireless. There were few surprises, with lines long drawn in the battle. Some major industry players including AT&T and Verizon are hinting at a legal challenge if the rules are adopted as proposed. A few traditional opponents found room for compromise.

Major public safety groups discussed the future of the 700 MHz D-block and a proposal to reallocate the spectrum for public safety use, at a meeting last week with Chairman Julius Genachowski, Public Safety Bureau Chief Jamie Barnett and other commission officials. “The public safety representatives discussed the importance of obtaining additional broadband spectrum adjacent to the current 700 MHz public safety allocation and to identify sources of sustained funding,” said an ex parte filing by APCO, NENA, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Major County Sheriffs’ Association, the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, the National Emergency Management Association and the National Sheriffs’ Association. “The D block allocation, which the representatives acknowledged is a matter for Congress to address, is necessary to meet public safety capacity requirements, promote interoperability, reduce overall network and equipment costs, and facilitate public-private partnerships.”

Public safety leaders seeking a national public safety wireless network flew into Washington, urging Congress to immediately reallocate 700 MHz D-block spectrum. Police, fire and other representatives held meetings Tuesday with Congressional leaders and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, they said at a press conference that evening. More than eight years after communications between public safety agencies broke down during 9/11, “we still do not have the ability to communicate with each other,” said Chief Robert Davis, president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. “We are profoundly disappointed that Congress and the administration have not acted to secure this critically needed spectrum for the protection of the public.”

AT&T asked the FCC to set a deadline to move telecom from circuit-switched to IP-based networks. The request came in comments this week on an FCC National Broadband Plan public notice that proposed the release of a notice of inquiry (NOI) on the transition. Small rural carriers cautioned the commission not to move too fast. Meanwhile, competitive carriers fought with Verizon over whether interconnection and traffic exchange requirements under Sections 251 and 252 of the Communications Act apply to IP networks. Wireless carriers said the rules should ensure regulatory parity.

Two major public safety groups, APCO and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, said the FCC should take public safety’s interest in the TV broadcast band into account as the commission examines where to find more spectrum for wireless broadband. Both groups filed on National Broadband Plan Public Notice No. 26, examining spectrum issues.

The National Emergency Numbers Association urged the FCC to establish a subsidy mechanism for public safety that follows the model of the Universal Service Fund E-rate program. In comments on a National Broadband Plan public notice on public safety broadband issues, NENA and other public safety groups said adequate broadband service isn’t available in rural and tribal areas. Meanwhile, disabilities-rights advocates backed upgrades to the 911 system to support relay services for the deaf.

Interest in aerial fiber backhaul is rising as wireless carriers look to reduce costs of upgrading networks for 3G and 4G broadband, but some fear stringing fiber from poles may leave cellphone networks more susceptible to outages. Aerial fiber is cheaper to install than buried plant but is more vulnerable to ice storms, hurricanes and other forces of nature, said industry officials. However, some said aerial fiber outages can be dealt with quickly if companies are prepared.

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) said Monday a letter that the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) sent last week (CD Nov 19 p11) reflects the council’s change of position to support reallocation of the 700 MHz D Block to public safety. “NPSTC shares NENA’s concern that adequate funding be obtained for the deployment and operation of the nationwide wireless broadband network,” the council said. “NPSTC will continue working with NENA and other organizations, including the Public Safety Spectrum Trust, to examine funding options.”

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) said Monday a letter that the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) sent last week (CD Nov 19 p11) reflects the council’s change of position to support reallocation of the 700 MHz D Block to public safety. “NPSTC shares NENA’s concern that adequate funding be obtained for the deployment and operation of the nationwide wireless broadband network,” the council said. “NPSTC will continue working with NENA and other organizations, including the Public Safety Spectrum Trust, to examine funding options.”

The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and AT&T continue to support a proposal they filed last year, along with Verizon Wireless and the Association of Public- Safety Communications Officials (APCO), for revised E-911 location accuracy rules, they said in new comments at the FCC. “We are interested in hearing from those carriers who did not support the proposal last year to determine if the same concerns remain a year later,” NENA said. “We also look forward to hearing from other parties to determine if any technological advancements have been made that might augment the ability to comply with our earlier proposals.” AT&T said it remains “firmly committed to improving wireless E911 location accuracy” rules. “APCO, NENA, and AT&T propose the adoption of aggressive accuracy standards and county level compliance benchmarks that will spur development and deployment of the technological advances necessary to improve location accuracy,” the telco said.