Just reallocating the 700 MHz D-block to public safety agencies will not satisfy demands for a fully-funded national public safety network, the National Emergency Number Association said in a letter released Wednesday. NENA and other public safety groups met at New York City police headquarters last week, to discuss their disagreement over the future of the D-block, but without reaching an agreement. “Our colleagues in public safety have asked us to support a reallocation to public safety of the 700 MHz D Block,” said the letter to eight other public safety organizations signed by NENA’s leaders. “Many public safety organizations believe this to be the best option to achieve a public safety nationwide wireless broadband network. Legislation to this effect has been proposed. However, while the current draft legislation addresses public safety spectrum needs, it does not explicitly consider long-term, recurring funding needs.”

A late push by broadcasters to insert FM chipsets into cellphones (CD Nov 13 p11) threatens to derail efforts to develop an emergency alert system for wireless, CTIA warned the FCC in comments on the National Broadband Plan notice on public safety issues. CTIA said the Commercial Mobile Service Alerts Advisory Committee already considered and rejected using FM chipsets for emergency alerts. Public safety groups, meanwhile, offered some additional advice on how first responders may use a national wireless network if one is eventually put in place.

Serving people with disabilities must be a high priority of U.S. broadband policy, said FCC Commissioners Michael Copps, Mignon Clyburn and Robert McDowell, during a commission field hearing at Gallaudet University, a school in D.C. for people with impaired hearing. “It’s not just something nice for us to do,” said Copps, who hosted the event. “It’s their right. … Access denied is opportunity denied.” Marlee Matlin, an actress who has won an Academy Award and is deaf, called for closed captioning in video media streaming online. The hearing followed an FCC order late Thursday clearing up outstanding technical issues related to the Nov. 12 transition of Internet-based telecom relay services to 10-digit phone numbers.

Two leaders of the House Homeland Security Committee asked the FCC to grant waivers sought by various cities and local governments so they can make early use of 700 MHz D-block spectrum. As expected, the waiver requests got widespread support from various public safety and industry groups. Others, including the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), urged the FCC to act with care, so as to not create problems later on as a national public safety wireless broadband network is put in place.

A public-private partnership remains a good solution for creating a nationwide, interoperable public safety network, said House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D- Calif., at a Communications Subcommittee hearing Thursday. Several groups offered proposals for solving the longstanding lack of a nationwide public safety network, as well as ways to pick up the pieces after the failed auction of spectrum set aside for such a network in the 700 MHz auction last year. But no consensus emerged among lawmakers or witnesses. Lawmakers did agree a solution is imperative either through legislation or FCC action.

Twelve of the 13 associations taking part in a National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Governing Board meeting Tuesday opposed reallocating the 700 MHz D- block to commercial use, as proposed by the National Emergency Number Association. Only NENA dissented. “NPSTC does not support the proposal to reallocate the 10 MHz of public safety 700 MHz broadband block to commercial use, as it would give back scarce public safety spectrum,” the group said. “Doing so would also undermine progress made during recent meetings among numerous major public safety organizations to further address matters related to the development of a nationwide interoperable broadband network.” The group said NENA should “abandon the promotion of its proposal to remove current spectrum from public safety and instead … support current efforts by the majority of the national public safety organizations that would increase spectrum for public safety.” NENA CEO Brian Fontes told us the vote played out as expected. “They are opposed to two of the elements in the NENA proposal,” he said. “They oppose the notion that we still believe that an auction is a viable approach, and they oppose the fact that we would consider exchanging 10 MHz of public safety spectrum for something of equal or greater value, meaning access to a 20 MHz broadband network. It’s just an example of reasonable minds differ[ing].”

The FCC should approve eligible telecommunications carrier status for prepaid wireless carriers Conexions and Consumer Cellular only if they meet the same 911/E911 provisions imposed on TracFone and Virgin Mobile, the National Emergency Number Association said in separate filings. Both seek to offer Lifeline service though the Universal Service Fund program. They should be required to certify “full compliance with any applicable [state] 911/E911 obligations, including obligations relating to the provision, and support, of 911 and E911 service,” NENA said. That requirement was not mentioned by the FCC when it sought comment on petitions from Conexions and Consumer Cellular, NENA said.

National Emergency Number Association CEO Brian Fontes Wednesday proposed two alternative plans for the 700 MHz D- block in a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. In the wake of the failed D-block auction, various public safety groups, supported by AT&T and Verizon Wireless, have instead urged the FCC to petition Congress to change the law so that the spectrum can be given directly to public safety to use, bypassing another auction. Fontes suggested that an auction remains a viable alternative.

The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates opposed petitions by i-Wireless and Head Start, both of which ask the FCC to forbear from enforcing a requirement that eligible telecom carriers offering Lifeline service provide service at least partly over their own facilities. Both companies are resellers which offer service using other carrier’s facilities. The National Emergency Number Association also raised concerns, saying the FCC should impose the same E-911 requirements imposed on wireless resellers TracFone and Virgin Wireless.

As one of his first acts as FCC chairman, Julius Genachowski sent acting Public Safety Bureau Chief David Furth a memo Tuesday asking for a top-down review of public safety preparedness at the FCC. Industry sources said the memo likely will be followed by others as Genachowski attempts to get a handle on the agency he took over Monday.