The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council has submitted an ex parte filing firing back at recent submission in the FCC’s 4.9 gigahertz band docket. In the earlier filing (TRDaily, March 14), Presidential Partners Consulting said that a 4.9 GHz band proposal submitted by NPSTC “is flawed in that the process to create regional plans is slow and at many times ineffective in maximizing use and it drives [sic] to carve up the spectrum among the NPSTC participants. The simple fact remains that if public safety had a high demand and need for this spectrum they would have found ways to deploy it.”

Instead, the firm said, the FCC should pursue a course where chip sets would include the 4.9 GHz band, Band Class 14 overseen by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), and commercial cellular frequencies.

“In summary, NPSTC opposes a number of the claims and recommendations made by Presidential Partners Consulting, as addressed above,” NPSTC said in its filing yesterday in WP docket 07-100, PS docket 06-229, and WT docket 06-150.  “PPC misrepresents public safety’s use of the 4.9 GHz spectrum. There is ample evidence in the record of public safety use in the 4.9 GHz band. Furthermore, PPC’s criticism of NPSTC recommendations ignores the open and inclusive process NPSTC used.”

NPSTC added that it “opposes any recommendation to open the 4.9 GHz band to consumer use through commercial networks or unlicensed operations, as PPC apparently supports. Such use would further erode public safety confidence in the band, counteracting the recommended addition of more rigorous frequency coordination as recommended by NPSTC.” —Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily