June 1, 2016–The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International today panned the proposed use of a spectrum access system (SAS) to maximize use of the 4.9 gigahertz band. In a filing last month, Federated Wireless, Inc., suggested the Commission approve an SAS in the spectrum, saying it would maximize use of the frequencies (TRDaily, May 19). The company pointed out the Commission adopted a three-tiered sharing framework and SAS use in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service in the 3.5 GHz band.

“Federated Wireless’s proposal ignores the importance of frequency coordination for public safety,” APCO said in its filing today in WP docket 07-100, PS docket 06-229, and WT docket 06-150. “Clear and interference-free operation is a fundamental requirement of public safety communications. The [APCO] 4.9 GHz Task Force found that this is especially true for this band, given its ability to handle broadband data and thus carry large amounts of sensitive, mission-critical information.”

“Adopting an SAS-administered framework for 4.9 GHz would … be ill advised until it has been proven effective for public safety use. Unlike CBRS, the 4.9 GHz band is designated for support of day-to-day public safety operations throughout the country. Mission critical communications should not depend on technology that is unproven in real-world deployments,” APCO stressed. “The 4.9 GHz band has already proven to be of significant value for public safety. However, public safety cannot fully rely on 4.9 GHz unless they can be assured that they will have interference-free priority access so that, particularly in times of emergencies when spectrum is most likely to be limited, public safety is able to operate without delay.

“Finally, we also disagree with Federated Wireless’s proposed tiers,” APCO added. “First, FCC rules do not and should not afford radio astronomy a higher status than public safety. Second, as noted in the 4.9 GHz Task Force Report, ‘this band is intended primarily for public safety users and care must be taken to ensure that any use by CII of this band not prohibit or in any way inhibit public safety users.’ Per NPSTC’s recommendations, critical infrastructure industries would have limited and controlled use of 4.9 GHz. Thus, public safety should have overall priority throughout most of the band with respect to the critical infrastructure industry.” – Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily