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Cybertelecom
Federal Internet Law & Policy
An Educational Project
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Wireless :: 700 MHz |
Notes
- TV Channels 52-69
- Legislation requires spectrum to be vacated by analog TV broadcasters by Feb 2009.
- Congress has allocated 24 MHz for pulbic safety, 84 MHz for commercial use
- 24 MHz of commercial spectrum already auctioned, auction of remaining 60 MHz must begin by Jan 2008 and end by June 2008
- FCC Seeks Comment On Possible Modifications To Rules Governing Wireless Licenses In Portions Of The 700 Mhz Spectrum Band, FCC, 8/8/2006 The FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making that seeks comment on possible changes to the rules governing wireless licenses in the 698-746, 747-762, and 777-792 MHz spectrum bands. News Release. (Dkt No 94-102 , 01-309). Adopted: 08/03/2006. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-266772A1.doc
| The Development of Operational, Technical and Spectrum Requirements for Meeting Federal, State and Local Public Safety Communications Requirements Through the Year 2010 tle |
In this Eighth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Eighth NPRM), we seek comment on whether certain channels within the current twenty-four megahertz of public safety spectrum in the 700 MHz public safety band (764-776 MHz and 794-806 MHz), should be modified to accommodate broadband communications. This action is consistent with national priorities focusing on homeland security and broadband and our commitment to ensure that emergency first responders have access to reliable and interoperable communications.
Nearly a decade ago, the Commission, at the direction of Congress, reallocated twenty four megahertz of the 700 MHz band from television broadcast services to public safety communications services. Congress contemplated that this spectrum would be available for public safety use as early as December 31, 2006, or as soon as existing TV stations vacate the spectrum as part of the transition to digital television (DTV). In discharging its Congressional mandate to establish licensing and service rules for this reallocated spectrum, the Commission established a flexible regulatory framework for public safety use of the 700 MHz band “ to enable public safety organizations to effectively use this new allocation for a variety of operational modes (voice, data, image/high speed data (hsd), and video) .” In designing this regulatory framework, the Commission sought to balance the need for “standardization necessary to achieve nationwide interoperability, the development of competitive equipment markets, and the degree of regional flexibility necessary to allow entities the opportunity to fashion approaches tailored to meet the individual needs of diverse regional communities .” Consistent with these principles, the Commission has made great progress towards ensuring different governmental agencies have the ability to communicate across jurisdictions . Although in many parts of the nation this spectrum remains unavailable for public safety use, Congress recognized in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004 (Intelligence Reform Act) that this spectrum is “ideal” for providing first responders with interoperable communications channels. As part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Congress has established February 17, 2009 as the date for the completion of the transition from analog to digital broadcast transmissions. Accordingly, it is imperative that once this spectrum is cleared of incumbent broadcasters, that the public safety community be able to fully utilize this spectrum.
Recently Congress asked the Commission, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security and the National Telecommunications Information Administration, to undertake a study and prepare a report assessing the short-term and long-term spectrum needs of emergency responders, including the potential for nationwide interoperable broadband mobile communications networks. In the Report to Congress submitted pursuant to Section 7502 of the Intelligence Reform Act, it was recognized that broadband communications applications offer the public safety community a number of benefits, including video surveillance, real-time text messaging and e-mail, high resolution digital images and the ability to obtain location and status information of personnel and equipment in the field. The Report found that emergency response providers would benefit from development of an integrated, interoperable network capable of delivering broadband services nationwide. The Report also found that the Commission should investigate whether some local broadband operations could be carried out within the existing 700 MHz public safety band.
It is our objective in this Eighth NPRM to determine whether we should modify the public safety portion of the 700 MHz band to accommodate broadband communications, and if so, how. We seek to develop policies that ensure that emergency first responders possess the communications resources needed to successfully carry out their mission . Broadband technologies, which encompass high-speed digital technologies, hold the potential to provide public safety entities integrated access to voice and high-speed data capabilities. A technology that can dramatically reduce the time it takes to access information during emergencies can mean the difference between life and death. Accordingly, in this Eighth NPRM, we describe the current configuration of the 700 MHz band and solicit comment on whether certain channels within the current 700 MHz public safety band should be modified to accommodate broadband communications. We also discuss and seek comment on specific band proposals offered by Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Lucent), Motorola, Inc. (Motorola), and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) to rechannelize twelve megahertz of the 700 MHz public safety band to provide for broadband applications . In addition, we offer parties the opportunity to update the record on wideband interoperability issues that were raised in the Seventh Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Seventh NPRM) in this proceeding.
The Commission has defined “Interoperability” as “an essential communications link within public safety and public service wireless communications systems which permits units from two or more different entities to interact with one another and to exchange information according to a prescribed method in order to achieve predictable results.” See Development of Operational, Technical and Spectrum Requirements for Meeting Federal, State and Local Public Safety Agency Communications Requirements Through the Year 2010, WT Docket No. 96-86, First Report and Order and Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 14 FCC Rcd 152, 189-90 ¶ 76 (1998) (First Report and Order); 47 C.F.R. § 90.7. |
- FCC has made sigifnicant revisions to 700 MHz. See FCC 700 MHz Page
- Auction of 700 MHz Band Licenses Scheduled for January 24, 2008; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids,, Fed Reg 11/5/2007
- Report No: AUC-07-73-B Released: 10/05/2007. AUCTION OF 700 MHZ BAND LICENSES SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 24, 2008; NOTICE AND FILING REQUIREMENTS, MINIMUM OPENING BIDS, RESERVE PRICES, UPFRONT PAYMENTS, AND OTHER PROCEDURES FOR AUCTIONS 73 AND 76, FCC 10/18/2007
- Auction of 700 MHz Band Licenses Scheduled for January 16, 2008; Comment Sought on Competitive Bidding Procedures for Auction 73., FCC 8/23/2007
- FCC Revises 700 MHz Rules to Advance Interoperable Public Safety Communications and Promote Wireless Broadband Deployment, FCC 8/8/2007
- FCC REVISES 700 MHZ RULES TO ADVANCE INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS AND PROMOTE WIRELESS BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT. The FCC revised the 700 MHz band plan and service rules to promote the creation of a nationwide, interoperable broadband network for public safety and to facilitate the availability of new and innovative wireless broadband services for consumers. News Release. (Dkt No 06-150). Adopted: 07/31/2007. News Media Contact: Chelsea Fallon at (202) 418-7991 or Robert Kenny at (202) 418-2668 WTB. Contact Paul D'Ari at (202) 418-1550, email: Paul.Dari@fcc.gov or Jeff Cohen at (202) 418-0799, email: Jeff.Cohen@fcc.gov, or Paul Moon at (202) 418-1793, email: Paul.Moon@fcc.gov DOC-275669A1.doc DOC-275669A2.doc DOC-275669A3.doc DOC-275669A4.doc DOC-275669A5.doc DOC-275669A6.doc DOC-275669A1.pdf DOC-275669A2.pdf DOC-275669A3.pdf DOC-275669A4.pdf DOC-275669A5.pdf DOC-275669A6.pdf DOC-275669A1.txt DOC-275669A2.txt DOC-275669A3.txt DOC-275669A4.txt DOC-275669A5.txt DOC-275669A6.txt
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Released on FCC Seeking Comment on Proposals for Modifying 700 MHz Public Safety Spectrum to Accommodate Broadband Communications.
NPRM: Word | Acrobat
News Release (3/17/06): Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
- FCC Seeks Comment On Possible Modifications To Rules Governing Wireless Licenses In Portions Of The 700 Mhz Spectrum Band, FCC 8/8/2006
- FCC Seeks Comment on Possible Rule Modifications Governing 700 MHz Wireless Licenses, GT News 8/8/2006
- Released: August 8, 2000. AUCTION OF LICENSES FOR 700 MHZ GUARD BANDS. (DA No. 00-1800). Contact: Auctions Legal Branch: Howard Davenport at (202) 418-0660, Auctions Operations (regarding bidding and general filing status): Lisa Stover or Bob Reagle at (717) 338-2888. Internet URL: http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Public_Notices/2000/da001800.doc
- FCC 700 MHz Page. Service to be auctioned in 30 MHz bands
- Auctions Delayed; Guard Band Auction Set for Sept 6
News
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That's It! The 700 MHz Auction Is Ovah! On to Tasting And Judgment . . . ., Tales from the Sausage Factory 3/20/2008
- 700 MHz Auction (No. 73) Ends, Telecom Industry and Regulation 3/20/2008
- U.S. watchdog groups query part of wireless auction, CW 3/20/2008
- Verizon Emerges Big Winner in Spectrum Auction, Internet News 3/20/2008
- The end of the FCC 700 MHz auction, Google 3/20/2008
- Federal Strategic Spectrum Plan Released, NTIA 3/20/2008
- 700 MHz: Although Apparently The FCC Decided to Give Headlines . . ., Tales from the Sausage Factory 3/20/2008
- MAP Responds to 700 MHZ Auction Results, MAP 3/20/2008
- FCC auction nears conclusion, so what's next?, CNET 3/10/2008
- Senator Says FCC Auction Hinders Competition - Others more concerned with lack of public safety broadband sale, dslreports 3/3/2008
- Spectrum Auction Trickling to a Close - E-block remains the attention-getter in bids, dslreports 2/25/2008
- 700 MHz Auction: Whither The D Block?, Tales from the Sausage Factory 2/25/2008
- Chairman Kevin Martin on FCC's 'Transformative' Auction, Ecommerce Times 2/19/2008
- 700 MHz Auction Inches towards $20 Billion - People want an investigation into the D-block issue, dslreports 2/19/2008
- Briefing: 700MHz Auction: Has the FCC Fulfilled Its Congressional Mandate?, PK 2/13/2008
- Has Google Already Lost 700Mhz Auction? -, dslreports 2/7/2008
- Chutzpah, They Name Is Wireless Incumbent., Tales from the Sausage Factory 2/4/2008
- 700Mhz Auction Approaches $10 Billion - Carterfone conditions should be applied…, dslreports 2/1/2008
- Public-Safety Airwaves Have Just One Suitor, Wash Post 2/1/2008
- Watching the C Block Spectrum Auction in Real Time: Just Like E-Bay (if the Item was Worth about $5,000,000,000)., Sascha Meinrath 2/1/2008
- 700 MHz: Notes From The Spectrum New Hampshire Primary, C Block Not Dead Yet, Tales from the Sausage Factory 2/1/2008
- 700 MHz and the D block, Susan Crawford 1/29/2008
- Not Giving Up On The Great Google Prophecy, Tales from the Sausage Factory 1/29/2008
- 700 MHz auction time, PK 1/24/2008
- FCC Spectrum Bidding Underway, Internet News 1/24/2008
- 700 MHz Auction: D Block Panic, Damping Expectations, And My Final Thoughts Before the Opening Bell., Tales from the Sausage Factory 1/22/2008
- 700 MHz auction time, Susan Crawford 1/22/2008
- Regulators OK Google For Wireless Auction, Internet News 1/11/2008
- FCC Releases Details of the Upcoming 700Mhz Auction, CircleID 1/11/2008
- We Interrupt This CES Convention For A Breaking 700 MHz News Item, Tales from the Sausage Factory 1/9/2008
- List of 700 MHz Auction Bidders Yields New Surprises, IP Democracy 12/18/2007
- 700 MHz PreGame Show: Reading the Tea Leaves on Verizon and AT&T's Last Moves, Tales from the Sausage Factory 12/11/2007
- 700 MHz PreGame Show: Cable Cos Largely Pass — No Surprise And A Win for Public, Tales from the Sausage Factory 12/4/2007
- Cable Giants Not Bidding At 700Mhz Auction - Time Warner, Comcast aren't interested…, DSLreports 12/4/2007
- AT&T Hesitates About Joining Spectrum Auction - May not be a good business decision, DSLreports 10/23/2007
- AT&T buys high-speed wireless spectrum, CW 10/10/2007
- AT&T Grabs 700Mhz Spectrum - $2.5 billion nets them massive chunk., DSLreports 10/10/2007
- The 700 MHz Auction Pre-Show: Live from the AT&T/Aloha Bowl!, Tales from the Sausage Factory 10/10/2007
- More 700MHz Auction Fun: Frontline Asks FCC To Ban Verizon Wireless From Bidding, Techdirt 10/2/2007
- Potential Bidders Demand FCC Change Wireless Spectrum Auctions, Internet News 9/27/2007
- Verizon Sues Over 700Mhz - Slight chance of change worries lawyers..., DSLreports 9/14/2007
- Verizon Scrambles Lawyers to Keep the Wireless Market Closed, Save the Internet 9/14/2007
- Verizon Decides It Doesn't Like Open-Access Wireless Rules After All, Techdirt 9/14/2007
- Google CEO Says It Will 'Probably' Bid On Spectrum Licenses, Techdirt 8/24/2007
- Former FCC Chair Stumps For Spectrum, Internet news 8/24/2007
- In Case You Missed It, the FCC Actually Got Something Really Right on 700MHz, Gigaom 8/21/2007
- 700Mhz: Devil In the Details - Carterfone principles probably not enforceable, DSLreports 8/20/2007
- Response to the NY Times, Verizon 8/9/2007
- Is Verizon's flip-flop on the 700MHz auction rules for real?, CNET 7/27/2007
- Verizon Gives Wink, Nod to Martin - FCC, incumbent stage show continues..., DSLreports 7/27/2007
- FCC to vote on 700MHz spectrum auction rules, CNET 7/27/2007
- FCC Won't Sign Off On Google's Vision - Wholesale open access just isn't happening..., DSLreports 7/27/2007
- 700MHz statement, Verizon 7/27/2007
- 700 MHz Endgame: Wholesale Open Access Down, But Not Quite Out., Tales from the Sausage Factory 7/27/2007
- Kevin Martin is right about DTV spectrum auction: put consumer interests first, Cisco 7/27/2007
- We Promise Broadband For All! - but don't call our bluff, DSLreports 7/26/2007
- Could Google kill the cell phone industry?, CNET 7/24/2007
- Google Waves $4.6B in The Face of Spectrum, Internet News 7/24/2007
- Our commitment to open broadband platforms, Google 7/24/2007
- AT&T Responds to Google Wireless Bid, Gigaom 7/24/2007
- More 700 MHz Auction Action, Isen 7/24/2007
- Google's Billion-Dollar Gambit Forces FCC's Hand on Open Access, Save the Internet 7/24/2007
- 700 MHz Endgame: Martin Antes. AT&T Raises. Google Calls. Does AT&T Fold or Call?, Tales from the Sausage Factory 7/24/2007
- TPW 21: The Battle for 700 MHz, Tech Lib Front 7/22/2007
- 700 MHz Endgame: AT&T Reverses Course So Fast It Gets Whiplash, Tales from the Sausage Factory 7/22/2007
- AT&T Hints At FCC Lawsuit - ... if FCC tries to attach conditions to 700Mhz spectrum, DSLreports 7/18/2007
- 700 MHz Endgame: Has AT&T Asked Bush to Put Thumb On Scale?, Tales from the Sausage Factory 7/18/2007
- FCC chief backs some open access in airwave auction, Globe and Mail 7/10/2007
- Martin Wants 'Open Access' 700Mhz - Who are you and what did you do with the FCC chief?, DSLreports 7/10/2007
- Feds to require 'open' wireless networks?, CNET 7/10/2007
- The promise of open platforms in the upcoming spectrum auction, Google 7/10/2007
- FCC Doubts MS, Google Broadband Plan - Doesn't see evidence that tech giants are serious..., DSLreports 6/15/2007
- 700 MHz Auction Update - FCC Republicans Interested In Public Interest Proposals While Sena..., Tales from the Sausage Factory 6/13/2007
- Limiting Participation in the Upcoming 700 MHz Auction Will Increase Competition, PK 6/13/2007
- Stacked Deck at 700 MHz Hearing, Isen 6/13/2007
- Spectrum Comments Flood FCC, Internet News 6/5/2007
- 250,000 Americans Urge the FCC: Use the Public Airwaves for the Public Good, Free Press 6/5/2007
- Senate Commerce Committee Schedules USF, 700 MHz Action Hearings, Senate 6/5/2007
- Wireless Open Access Works, PK 6/1/2007
- Look Who's Talking 700 MHz: Edwards, Bloggers, and Moveon, Oh my!, Tales from the Sausage Factory 6/1/2007
- Wireless Bureau Extends Reply Comment Period to June 4, 2007 in 700 MHz Band Service Rules Proceeding., FCC 5/30/2007
- Public Interest Groups Want FCC To Create Wireless Broadband Competition, PK 5/25/2007
- The 700 MHz Auction as the Next Front In the Cable/Telco War., Tales from the Sausage Factory 5/8/2007
- Open Access Included in Spectrum Notice! Fish In Trees! Rivers Running Uphill!, Tales from the Sausage Factory 4/27/2007
- We Live To Fight Another Day!, PK 4/27/2007
- FCC Punts on 700 MHz rulemaking, Gigaom 4/27/2007
- Adelstein to Tech Sector & Frontline: Can You Hear Me Now?, Tales from the Sausage Factory 7/5/2007
- Open Access Gains Another Convert, AT&T Denies Poisition Change, Tales from the Sausage Factory 7/5/2007
- Google Lobbying for Open Wi-Fi Spectrum, CircleID 6/15/2007
- Network Neutrality Does Wireless, Internet News 6/15/2007
- Kerry: Don't auction 700 Mhz to "privileged few", MuniWireless 6/15/2007
- Unlicensed 700Mhz Access - FCC lays out digital migration spectrum roadmap, Broadband Reports 9/12/2006
- FCC Postpones Airwaves Auction Aug 3, 2000 thestandard
- FCC Delays Airwave Auction For Wireless Aug 1, 2000 techweb
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