Group Selects Radio Network Advisor

In a significant move, the group likely to be awarded a huge slice of spectrum to create a nationwide public safety network has selected its chief advisor–the man and group that suggested the idea in the first place. The board of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corporation (PSST) voted unanimously to select Cyren Call Communications Corp., headed by Nextel co-founder Morgan O’Brien. The selection was made from three finalists, who the PSST did not name in a press release announcing the selection. Harlin McEwen, chair of the PSST, said in a statement, “The Cyren Call team contains the right mix of skill and experience and we are confident their contributions will make the public safety network a success.” This marks O’Brien’s third big-ticket spectrum project, originally piecing together the Nextel nationwide network from various radio allocations. He also proposed and obtained FCC approval for the in-progress 800 MHz rebanding project. His latest effort required FCC approval for reallocating spectrum, being selected by whoever the FCC selects to manage the public safety network, and then, coming up, actually building and operating the network. The FCC has yet to select what public safety organization will manage the network, but the PSST has formed as the only multi-agency group able to tackle the task. Update: In turn, Cyren Call announced its partners on Oct. 11, including RCC Consultants Inc., 4DK Technologies Inc., and RACOM Corp. The group also said in a press release that it has, “begun conversations with parties potentially interested in bidding for the upper 700 MHz D Block license to partner with Public Safety in the creation of a nationwide, wireless broadband network.”