Judging from its name, you might be inclined to think that FirefighterNation.com is a "firefighters only" social network.
While the site is maintained by Dave Iannone- who himself has over 20 years experience in the fire/rescue services, and is the founder and former publisher of Firehouse.com- FirefighterNation.com is for all firefighters, rescue, EMS professionals and other emergency responders.
Check 'em out! And while you're there, be sure to add the FRC as a friend and join the "Make September 25th National First Responder Appreciation Day" group!
The Federal Communications Commission released yesterday the rules it adopted for the auction of spectrum in the 700MHz band, marking an important step towards the creation of a nationwide public safety-commercial broadband network.
As RCR reports, "The agency voted to designate for auction a nationwide 10MHz spectrum block adjacent to a 12MHz public-safety block that will be available for consumer and first-responder communications, with the latter having priority access during emergencies."
Dailywireless.org provides a detailed breakdown of the 700 MHz Band Plan, but I've distilled the most significant public safety provisions below.
The 10MHz Upper D Block will be licensed on a nationwide basis and will become part of a 700 MHz Public Safety/Private Partnership.
Within the 24MHz of public safety spectrum, the public safety wideband spectrum is being re-designated for broadband use (12MHz of narrowband and 12MHz of broadband) to allow for nationwide interoperable broadband communications by public safety users.
The public safety broadband spectrum is placed in a 10MHz block at the bottom of this band (creating a 22MHz broadband block), and the existing public safety narrowband spectrum is consolidated in a 12MHz block at the top of the band.
There will be a single, nationwide license for the public safety broadband spectrum, assigned to a Public Safety Broadband Licensee, which will work with the adjacent commercial D Block licensee as part of the 700 MHz Public Safety/Private Partnership.
The Upper D Block commercial licensee and the Public Safety Broadband Licensee will form a Public Safety/Private Partnership to develop a shared, nationwide interoperable network for both commercial and public safety users.
It's good to see that the many competing proposals considered by the Commission haven't derailed the DTV transition, which the FRC has long supported. The DTV transition is the fastest method for improving first responder communications and achieving interoperability, and the many "last-minute" and unproven proposals introduced, while well-intended, threatened to undo much of the work Congress had done to improve first responder communications.
While the FCC's rules are a positive step forward for achieving first responder interoperability, much work remains and many questions have been left unanswered.
What will the "public/private" partnership envisioned by the FCC look like? Under the conditions set by the FCC, who will be willing to partner with first responders on a shared national wireless network?
Will court challenges to the FCC's 700MHz rules complicate matters for the agency and first responders, thereby delaying the strides being made towards interoperability?
What additional action will Congress and policy makers take to provide funding and support to fix interoperability? If the 700 MHz auctions yield sufficient revenue, should additional funds beyond the $1 billion be allocated to public safety interoperability efforts? (Hint: YES!)
How can we facilitate greater cooperation between local, state, and federal governments - a persistent hurdle in efforts to achieve interoperability?
And will the Administration ever set a "date certain" by which to achieve interoperability so the nation can unite behind a single goal for our first responders?
