[opendtv] Re: FCC's public safety proposal gets mixed response

  • From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 06:24:15 -0500

At 3:52 PM -0600 3/1/10, Manfredi, Albert E wrote:
So, no one was interested in building out the public safety net using the D block of the 700 MHz spectrum. Guess what? We'll make them interested. We'll yank all of the 700 MHz spectrum for this public safety net. That'll show 'em.

This makes almost as much sense as the article Craig posted (rehash of half-truths we've seen many times now), where yanking away the broadcasters spectrum will fix the health care crisis, the deficit, our educational system, jobs, not to mention world peace.

These people have no shame. Hey, but if I jut my jaw and mention "public safety," who can possibly object? My motives can only be honorable.

Actually Bert, the article you posted was filled with some useful information and good ideas...

There may be a good reason that nobody stepped forward to build a separate public safety network in the D block. And that reason is cell phones.

At least in our area, just about every public safety person (fire, police, sheriff, etc.) now has a cell phone in addition to the public safety radios they have used for years. The reality is that the cost is fairly cheap and sharing the "private" broadband network works quite well during normal times.

The problem is those times when there is an emergency and public safety traffic increases.

As the article noted, there are relatively simple technology solutions to assure that adequate bandwidth is available during emergencies. These solutions may include the assignment of specific bands for public safety during emergencies, and priority access to the networks based on the identification of priority handsets and broadband access cards for PCs.

Frankly, it makes little sense to overbuild a public service network using separate bands, when much of today's public service traffic is already using cellular networks. Actually many of the responders LIKE having a cell phone so they can take conversations "off line." The public safety bands are heavily monitored, and officers often turn to their cell-phones to discuss issues that they would rather not discuss in "public."

My sense is that it makes more sense to sell the D-Block and create incentives for the carriers to support public service customers, and technology to give public servants priority access during declared emergencies.

Regards
Craig


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