Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in a 3-2 vote, adopted an order that strips the 4.9 GHz band from public safety use. The majority, consisting of Chairman Pai and Commissioners O’Rielly and Carr, took this action against the wishes of a multitude of national public safety associations. Prior to today’s order, the FCC’s rules hamstrung public safety from making the best use of this important spectrum band. For years, public safety repeatedly offered specific proposals to the FCC to improve these rules so that law enforcement, fire, EMS, and 9-1-1 professionals could benefit from the multitude of broadband applications this band would make possible. Instead of granting these requested rule changes, the majority continued a false narrative that public safety is to blame for any underutilization and ignored public safety’s needs in an attempt to benefit commercial users.
Further, the FCC took this action while failing to provide sufficient notice of its actions. With public safety professionals facing unprecedented national emergencies and natural disasters, the timing of the majority’s action is especially unfortunate and misguided.
APCO INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE CHIEFS
MAJOR CITIES CHIEFS ASSOCIATION
MAJOR COUNTY SHERIFFS OF AMERICA
METROPOLITAN FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE EMS OFFICIALS
NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL
NATIONAL SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION
WESTERN FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION
