August 5, 2016–The American Petroleum Institute’s telecommunications subcommittee submitted an ex parte filing today endorsing the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council’s national plan for improving use of the 4.9 gigahertz band. The plan was submitted in 2013 (TRDaily, Oct. 24, 2013). “It includes frequency coordination to help minimize interference, bandwidth limits to increase spectral efficiency, provisions for new airborne and robotic applications to enhance incident response and opportunities for spectrum access by critical infrastructure,” said the API filing in WP docket 07-100, PS docket 06-229, and WT docket 06-150. “Allowing CII to share 4.9 GHz spectrum with public safety would provide an efficient use of the spectrum and would provide for a migration point for those applications currently grandfathered in the 3.65 GHz band. Broader primary access will foster a more responsive, robust, and economically competitive equipment marketplace. API believes that the time has come for the FCC to implement NPSTC’s plan.” API previously submitted positive comments on the NPSTC plan (TRDaily, Nov. 27, 2013).

Courtesy TRDaily