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Jan. 14, 2008

The Federal Communications Commission has expressed some concern for the portion of the 700 MHz spectrum that has been set aside for the creation of a national public safety network.

FCC's Kevin Martin says one of the most vocal contenders was Frontline Wireless, which recently went out of business, most likely due to lack of funding.

The 700 MHz spectrum auction is scheduled to begin Jan. 24.

Martin has said that he hopes another company will express strong interest in the public safety network project.

Martin said he is "still hopeful" that an interested party "will emerge as being willing to take on that challenge."

The spectrum license in the D-Band segment is expected to cost at least $1.3 billion.

Some wireless industry analysts are now speculating that only an established player in the industry will be able to come up with enough money to acquire the license and then build the emergency network.

If the minimum bid is not met for the D-Block, then that portion of the spectrum will be re-auctioned without the same conditions.

Not necessarily endangering the creation of a national emergency network, but not guaranteeing anything either.

While the PSST hasn't said anything about Frontline getting out the race, it did say that it hopes the FCC will continue to do all that it can to support the public-private partnership concept for the creation of a public safety network.

The FCC has currently awarded the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) as a sort of guardian of the D-Block license, requiring the winning bidder work with the Trust to ensure that the emergency network fully meets the specific needs of the public safety community.

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Source: Wireless Week

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