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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.

See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:

July 31, 2007

Chelsea Fallon: (202) 418-7991

Robert Kenny: (202) 418-2668

FCC REVISES 700 MHz RULES TO ADVANCE INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY

COMMUNICATIONS AND PROMOTE WIRELESS BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT

Washington, D.C. ­ In a Second Report & Order (Order) adopted today, the Federal

Communications Commission (FCC) revised the 700 MHz band plan and service rules to

promote the creation of a nationwide interoperable broadband network for public safety and to

facilitate the availability of new and innovative wireless broadband services for consumers.

The 700 MHz Band spectrum, which runs from 698-806 MHz, currently is occupied by

television broadcasters and will be made available for other wireless services, including public

safety and commercial services, as a result of the digital television (DTV) transition. The Digital

Television and Public Safety Act of 2005 (DTV Act) set a firm deadline of February 17, 2009,

for the completion of the DTV transition. The DTV Act also requires the FCC to commence an

auction of the previously unauctioned commercial spectrum in the 700 MHz Band no later than

January 28, 2008.

In implementing Congress' directive to reallocate the airwaves, the Commission is

focused on serving the public interest and the American people. The service rules the

Commission adopts today help create a national broadband network for public safety that will

address the interoperability problems of today's system, provide for a more open wireless

platform that will facilitate innovation and investment, and facilitate the emergence of next

generation wireless broadband services in both urban and rural areas.

Today's Order establishes a framework for a 700 MHz Public Safety/Private Partnership

between the licensee for one of the commercial spectrum blocks and the licensee for the public

safety broadband spectrum. As part of the Partnership, the commercial licensee will build out a

nationwide, interoperable broadband network for the use of public safety. This network will

facilitate effective communications among first responders not just in emergencies, but as part of

cooperative communications plans that will enable first responders from different disciplines,

such as police and fire departments, and jurisdictions to work together in emergency

preparedness and response. Under the Partnership, the Public Safety Broadband Licensee will

have priority access to the commercial spectrum in times of emergency, and the commercial

licensee will have preemptible, secondary access to the public safety broadband spectrum. Many

national and local public safety organizations have expressed support for a public safety/private

partnership approach. Providing for shared infrastructure will help achieve significant cost

efficiencies while maximizing public safety's access to interoperable broadband spectrum.