|
|
Wavelengths
Narrowband: The other side of the 700
MHz issue
By Donny Jackson
May 23, 2008
For better or worse, the fate of the 10 MHz D Block and the proposed
public-private partnership that would build a nationwide broadband
wireless network for first responders has become a hot topic in our
nation’s capital. The start of the comment period on the FCC’s
latest notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) promises to be just the
beginning of spirited debate and lobbying on the issue over the next
several months.
While most of the wireless industry understandably will be focused on
the broadband aspects of this matter, the decisions made also promise to
have a significant impact on public-safety narrowband operations in the
700 MHz band—a matter that has received virtually no attention from
the mainstream media.
The fact is, the spectral home for the proposed 700 MHz broadband
wireless network for public safety is occupied in some parts of the
country by narrowband public-safety communications systems. Obviously,
before there can be a nationwide broadband network on these airwaves,
these incumbent narrowband networks have to be relocated.
If this sounds conceptually similar to 800 MHz rebanding, it is.
Thankfully, it should not be as complicated, as there are relatively few
agencies that have deployed 700 MHz narrowband systems and they’ve all
been installed recently with fairly new equipment that can be relocated
more easily, so the technical issues are not nearly as great.
Still, it has to get done. In its 700 MHz order last summer, the FCC
charged the public safety broadband licensee—a designation later given
to the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST)—to devise a relocation plan
in conjunction with the commercial D Block winner. Within 30 days after
licenses were awarded from the 700 MHz auction, the two entities were
supposed to present a relocation plan to the FCC, with the D Block
winner agreeing to pay no more than $10 million for narrowband
relocation.
Of course, there was no D Block winner in the auction, which means there
is no funding source to pay for the relocation of narrowband 700 MHz
networks. Meanwhile, the FCC has taken no action to relax the rule
requiring narrowband 700 MHz systems to relocate by Feb. 17, 2009, when
television broadcasters nationwide also have to vacate the
spectrum.
In other words, public-safety agencies with 700 MHz narrowband systems
have less than nine months to relocate these networks, but “there is
absolutely no assurance that they’re going to get reimbursed until
this is all done,” PSST Chairman Harlin McEwen said yesterday during
an interview with MRT. Indeed, lawyers for some public safety entities
have told their elected officials to be prepared to pay the relocation
costs based on the current uncertainty.
McEwen noted that the PSST is responsible for developing a 700 MHz
relocation plan, despite the fact that the PSST currently has no source
of revenue. Furthermore, McEwen said the PSST’s initial research
indicates that the $10 million figure cited by the FCC will not be
enough to reimburse all public safety agencies operating in the
band.
While FCC commissioners have hardly mentioned the narrowband-relocation
aspect of the 700 MHz band plan, it has not been forgotten. In its NPRM
published this week, the FCC asks commenters to provide input on a
number of questions regarding narrowband relocation, including whether
the $10 million figure is appropriate, whether the D Block winner should
provide relocation funds, whether the relocation should occur by Feb.
17, 2009, and whether the PSST should continue to play a role.
In addition, the NPRM asks whether reimbursement—from whatever
source—should be provided for systems deployed after Aug. 30, 2007,
the FCC’s previous cutoff date for reimbursement. Extending the
deadline would increase the cost of relocation, but not doing so could
put an unwanted damper on narrowband deployment plans in the band.
There are legitimate arguments on each of these items. Hopefully,
commenters will not get so caught up in the broadband aspects of this
debate that the narrowband issues are ignored. The FCC needs to get this
right in both areas; otherwise, we face potential delays in the
deployment of both narrowband and broadband communications for first
responders in this valuable band.
E-mail me at donald.jackson@penton.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
New portable handheld spectrum analyzers from Agilent
With the new Agilent N9340A handheld spectrum analyzer, you're carrying
a 3 GHz spectrum analyzer that is designed specifically for rigorous
field work. It helps you achieve test efficiency you need, by providing
best usability, fastest measurement speed, best DANL, and narrowest RBW
in-the-class. To
learn more click here.
In the News
Comment
period begins on D Block
By Donny Jackson
May 23, 2008
The FCC’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
regarding the fate of the 10 MHz D Block was published in the Federal
Register this week, which officially started the comment period on the
open-ended item that seeks input on a number of issues regarding plans
for public safety in the 700 MHz band
Cobham
to buy M/A-COM unit
By Donny Jackson
May 21, 2008
Cobham recently agreed to pay $380 million for the
radio-frequency components and subsystem business of M/A-COM, which is
separate from the public-safety business of Tyco Electronics’ M/A-COM.
Click here for more
news
ADVERTISEMENT
 Likely, cloned radios are stealing valuable airtime on
your trunking system. CloneWatch from Genesis is a powerful add-on
module to our popular network management suite GenWatch3®. CloneWatch
identifies and helps eliminate cloned radios. Use it on your
SmartZone®, SmartNet® or P25 system as a powerful weapon against
hackers. www.genesisworld.com/CW
More News
House bill
advances rural telecom, 911
May 22, 2008
Radio IP Software
names CEO
May 22, 2008
Tektronix
adds UMA support
May 22, 2008
Proxim
Wireless unveils base stations, subscriber units, bridges
May 22, 2008
Safety Vision
unveils mobile digital video recorder
May 22, 2008
New
technology guides first responders
May 22, 2008
USA Today
Click here for more
news briefs
ADVERTISEMENT
Read this critical white paper: Incident Scene, Event and
Disaster Management
Public safety agencies have relied primarily on voice communication with
some use of data. Today, large repositories of vital data are available
at all levels enabling personnel to more fully asses a situation in
real-time, allowing for better decisions that lead to better outcomes,
ultimately saving lives. This white paper outlines the superior
situational awareness that broadband data provides on the incident,
event or disaster scene so agencies can deliver the right resources and
decisions to the right places at the right time. Read
now.
Brought to you by: Motorola
|
|
You are subscribed to this newsletter as #email#
To get this newsletter in a different format (Text or HTML),
or to change your e-mail address, please visit your profile
page to change your delivery preferences.
For questions concerning delivery of this newsletter, please contact our
Customer Service Department at:
Customer Service Department
Mobile Radio Technology
A Penton Media publication
US Toll Free: 866-505-7173
International: 847-763-9504
Email:mrtmag@pbinews.com
Penton Media
9800 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66212
Copyright 2007, Penton Media. All rights reserved. This article is
protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property
laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated,
transmitted,
displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium
without the prior written permission of Penton Media.
|
|
