Senate Hearing on 700 MHz

The U.S. Senate’s Commerce Committee met last Thursday to hear testimony on the issue of the 700 MHz spectrum auction, and more specifically hear about alternative proposals that might benefit public safety. APCO president Wanda McCarley offered testimony, along with Frontline Wireless partner James Barksdale, and officials of Verizon Wireless and New York City. Barksdale told the panel, “I am here today out of frustration, and out of hope.” McCarley said APCO’s support for a public-private partnership, “flows from our realization that there is simply no other viable method to pay for a national broadband network that will meet public safety requirements.” Read the full testimony or watch a Webcast of the committee session here. Read a news story about the hearings here.