NATOA, NACo, NLC, USCM File Joint Comments in Public Safety 700 MHz Band
In joint comments filed today with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Association of Telecommunications Officers & Advisors (NATOA), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National League of Cities (NLC) and the US Conference of Mayors (USCM) stated, “Public safety agencies must have the option to make local and regional decisions and the ability to choose the solution that best serves their unique requirements and budgets. With the failure of the D Block to attract a winning bid at Auction 73, the Commission should not rush to take action. Rather, the Commission should adopt new rules and requirements for the public/private partnership plan only after full and fair consideration of the complete record.”The comments, prepared by NATOA, discussed clarifications and revisions to the public safety component of the 700 MHz public/private partnership, rules governing the partnership, and re-auction of the D Block. The comments establish that local governments “encourage the development of effective and efficient public safety communications infrastructures and strongly support efforts to achieve nationwide interoperability for our first responders.” The comments go on to propose that while the public/private partnership plan should be retained, improvements can be made, flexibility is critical and that, “The development of a nationwide, interoperable public safety wireless broadband network is too important to the nation; and, on behalf of the nation, the Commission is responsible to proceed deliberately.”