Public Safety Spectrum No Go

National Broadband Safety NetworkAs I wrote the other day, the 700 Mhz Spectrum is closed but one auction did not meet its minimum – the spectrum to build the public safety network.

So, what happens now? The Congress is planning to hold meetings to decide just that. Maybe they’ll hold another auction. Maybe they’ll get rid of the minimum bid requirement. Maybe they’ll decide not to privatize the building of the safety network.

I wrote a lot about the public safety spectrum last spring:

More on the Public Safety Broadband Networks
Debate on the Emergency Broadband Network

The questions are similar to the questions floating around community access to broadband – how much should be left to the market and how much should government get involved?

Cyren Call is a company that approached the FCC in 2006 (I think) to take over the spectrum (for free) and build a safety net – but that didn’t work out. Last fall, they become advisors on the public safety spectrum. I didn’t find much info from them post Spectrum bidding.

This entry was posted in FCC, Policy by Ann Treacy. Bookmark the permalink.

About Ann Treacy

Librarian who follows rural broadband in MN and good uses of new technology (blandinonbroadband.org), hosts a radio show on MN music (mostlyminnesota.com), supports people experiencing homelessness in Minnesota (elimstrongtowershelters.org) and helps with social justice issues through Women’s March MN.

1 thought on “Public Safety Spectrum No Go

  1. Pingback: Congress wonders about emergency spectrum today at 9:30 am « Blandin on Broadband

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