The 4.9 GHz band is an important public safety spectrum resource, and a recent court decision has cleared the way for the FCC to continue implementing its plans for the band. On July 21, the D.C. Circuit upheld the FCC’s 2024 Order establishing a framework for managing and using this spectrum. APCO supported the FCC’s decision to establish a nationwide band manager, which would coordinate operations in the 4.9 GHz band and expand efficient public safety use through a sharing agreement with FirstNet.
APCO now is hopeful that the FCC will move swiftly to align the 4.9 GHz technical rules with the parameters necessary for 5G deployments and will move forward in the process of selecting a band manager so that this spectrum can be put to its full use.
