FCC to decide fate of valuable wireless spectrum

The FCC will soon decide how much radio spectrum to reserve for a state-of-the-art emergency response system for police, firefighters and ambulance crews, The Wall Street Journal reports

With broadcasters freeing up analog spectrum as they convert to digital, a battle is brewing between commercial interests and those that want to reserve spectrum for emergency services.

"The country's not going to have this opportunity again in my generation," says Janice Obuchowski, a telecom official in the first Bush administration whose new company, Frontline Wireless, is one of several with mixed-use proposals on the table. "There's no other spectrum this attractive that is not occupied," Ms. Obuchowski says.

The FCC is auctioning off some 60 megahertz to commercial wireless businesses but pressure is now building to hold back some of that spectrum. Between turning it all over to industry or holding more of it back for public use, some people are recommending a Third Way: public/private partnerships.

Frontline Wireless proposes to take half of the 24 megahertz spectrum already set aside by Congress for emergency purposes, bid in the auction for an additional 10 megahertz, and then build a broadband network for joint use, giving priority access to emergency services during crises. Backing the plan, Ms. Obuchowski joined forces with Reed Hundt, FCC chairman during the Clinton administration, and Haynes Griffin, a founder of Vanguard Cellular Systems Inc., which was bought by AT&T in 1998.

An earlier proposal backed by Nextel would have sold half the 60 megahertz to a nonprofit trust for joint use. That was rejected by lawmakers but is still supported by first-responder groups. Some lawmakers think the 24 megahertz already promised is enough.

"The burden of proof rests with those who advocate that an even greater amount of spectrum should be made available to emergency services over and above what they have already been given," says Rep. Rick Boucher of Virginia, an influential Democrat on the House Commerce Committee.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin seems to signalling preference for emergency use of the spectrum.

"In general, public-private partnerships do serve a very valuable purpose and can achieve very good goals," Mr. Martin says. "But in this case, you've got to make sure that when first responders have an emergency, they get the kind of access they need."

Mr. Martin says the FCC could opt to set national standards and leave it up to local emergency services to find the funds to build a broadband service that fits their needs. The FCC chairman says the Frontline plan raises questions because it essentially seeks to limit bidders for the 10 megahertz of spectrum.