PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 
418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
 
DA 12-1571
Released:  October 1, 2012
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU PREPARES TO GRANT THE 700 
MHZ PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND SPECTRUM LICENSE TO THE FIRST RESPONDER 
NETWORK AUTHORITY
By this Public Notice, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) 
provides notice of its intent to grant to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), as 
expeditiously as possible, a nationwide license for use of the existing public safety broadband 
spectrum and the 700 MHz D Block, i.e., the 758-769 and 788-799 MHz bands,1 as required by 
Section 6201(a) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (“Public Safety 
Spectrum Act” or “Act”).2
On September 7, 2012, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released a 
Report and Order (Bureau Report and Order) implementing clear directives of the Public Safety 
Spectrum Act.3 The Bureau Report and Order reallocated the D Block for public safety services 
and deleted the rules that had established the statutorily-superseded “Public Safety Broadband 
License” and its associated public safety broadband licensing scheme, to prepare for the eventual 
licensing of FirstNet as required under the Act.4 The Bureau Report and Order further provided 
that the Bureau would grant FirstNet its license under a new call sign “as soon as possible after 
FirstNet informs the Bureau that it has been established in accordance with the terms of the 
Public Safety Spectrum Act and submits a request for the license specified by Section 6201 of 
  
1 This includes the guard band spectrum at 768-769/798-799 MHz. The “nationwide” service area of the licensee 
granted to FirstNet will extend throughout the United States in accordance with the Commission’s authority under 
Sections 1 and 2 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, defined to include “the several States and 
Territories, the District of Columbia, and the possessions of the United States.”  47 U.S.C. §§ 151, 152(a), 153 (50).  
See also Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-96, 126 Stat. 156, § 6003(a) (2012) (Public 
Safety Spectrum Act) (Commission shall implement Act as if a part of the Communications Act).  
2 See Public Safety Spectrum Act § 6201(a) (2012). 
3 See Implementing Public Safety Broadband Provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 
2012, PS Docket No. 12-94, Report and Order, DA 12-1462 (rel. Sept. 7, 2012).
4 See id. at 1-2 ¶ 2.
the Public Safety Spectrum Act.”5 On September 25, 2012, Samuel Ginn, the Chairman of the 
FirstNet Board, submitted such request by letter to Bureau Chief David S. Turetsky.6
The Bureau is prepared to grant FirstNet its license under a new call sign as soon as 
possible once the Bureau Report and Order becomes effective, i.e., thirty days after its 
publication in the Federal Register.  Consistent with Section 6201(b) of the Act, the license will 
be granted for an initial term of ten years and will be eligible for renewal.7
For further information contact:  Gene Fullano, Associate Chief, Public Safety and 
Homeland Security Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20554. Phone: 202-418-0492. 
Email: genaro.fullano@fcc.gov.  
Action by the Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
- FCC -
  
5 Id. at 7 ¶ 21.
6 See Letter from Samuel Ginn, Chairman of the Board, First Responder Network Authority, to David S. Turetsky, 
Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (dated Sept. 25, 2012).  A copy of this letter was filed in WT 
Docket No.06-150, PS Docket No. 06-229 and PS Docket No. 12-94.   
7 See Public Safety Spectrum Act § 6201(b).