PSST Wins FCC Spectrum Deal

The FCC has selected the non-profit Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corp. (PSST) as the public trustee for 10 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band, which the Commission has designated to create a nationwide, public safety radio network. The quick appointment is intended to jump-start work on creating the public-private network, which could provide improved communications for the nation’s law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies, and allow interoperability among them. The trust is a coalition of several agencies, and will now begin work to contract with a private company to design, build and create the actual network. The concept for nationwide radio network was originally proposed by Nextel co-founder Morgan O’Brien, and his Cyren Call entity hopes to win the private contract from the PSST for the private portion of the project. Download (pdf) the FCC’s selection order here.