FCC ‘Stimulates’ Public Safety Wireless Data

The FCC has issue a Report and Order that will help “stimulate the economy,” in the Commission’s word, by expanding and enhancing first responders’ deployment of broadband communication technologies in the 4.9 GHz band. A portion of the 4.9 GHz band was allocated to public safety in 2003, and has been lightly used, mostly by large agencies for point-to-point video surveillance systems. The current order sets regulations that give primary status to the fixed-link 4.9 GHz systems that connect video and other types of systems, set revised power measurement procedures to make them easier and quicker to get approved, and made certain VHF radio rule changes. In particular, the FCC cleaned up several rule sections to clarify that cross-band repeaters are permitted in all public safety radio bands. In a statement, FCC acting chair Michael Copps said the rules give agencies “more operational flexibility” to deploy wireless networks and share information. Download (pdf) the complete 44-page R&O here.