On May 7, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO), together with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), submitted a filing to the Federal Communications Commission expressing support for Qualcomm Incorporated’s 5G device-to-device “sidelink” communications tool. Sidelink can provide communications coverage in areas where traditional network coverage is unavailable, offering the public safety community enhanced connectivity options that do not rely upon fixed infrastructure. APCO and its public safety partners urged the FCC to initiate a proceeding to examine spectrum and other associated policy questions raised by Qualcomm’s proposal.
