NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 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). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: December 20, 2006 Robert Kenny: (202) 418-2668 Email: Robert.Kenny@fcc.gov FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF A NATIONWIDE, BROADBAND, INTEROPERABLE PUBLIC SAFETY NETWORK IN THE 700 MHZ BAND Washington, D.C. – The Commission today adopted a Ninth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes a national, centralized approach to maximize public safety access to interoperable, broadband spectrum in the 700 MHz band. In addition, the initiative seeks to promote the deployment of advanced broadband applications, related radio technologies, and modern, IP-based system architecture. The proposals contained in this item are designed to meet the following public safety objectives: (1) opportunities for broadband, national, interoperable use of 700 MHz spectrum; (2) new sources of funding for the build-out and operation of the national public safety network; (3) economies of scale and scope in production and competition in supply to maximize cost effectiveness; (4) efficient spectrum use; (5) network robustness and survivability; and (6) flexible, modern IP-based wireless system architecture. Specifically, this item proposes that the Commission (1) allocate 12 megahertz of the 700 MHz public safety spectrum from wideband to broadband use; (2) assign this spectrum nationwide to a single national public safety broadband licensee; (3) permit the national public safety broadband licensee also to operate on a secondary basis on the narrowband public safety spectrum in the 700 MHz band; (4) permit the licensee to use its assigned spectrum to provide public safety entities with voluntary access to a public safety broadband service on a fee-for-service basis; (5) permit the licensee to provide unconditionally preemptible access to its assigned spectrum to commercial service providers on a secondary basis, through leases or in the form of public/private partnerships; (6) facilitate the shared use of CMRS infrastructure for the efficient provision of public safety broadband service; and (7) establish performance requirements for interoperability, build-out, preemption of commercial access, and system robustness. This Ninth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment generally on the above proposals or alternatives, as well as on spectrum leasing and Section 337 issues. Action by the Commission, December 20, 2006, by Ninth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, (FCC 06- 181). Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell with Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell issuing statements. Docket Nos. WT 96-86; PS 06-229 Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Contact: Jeff Cohen (202) 418-0799, jeff.cohen@fcc.gov. -FCC- News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission is available at www.fcc.gov. 2