STATEMENT OF ACTING CHAIRMAN MICHAEL J. COPPS Re: In the Matter of Amendment of Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WP Docket No. 07-100 I am pleased to support this Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. The 4.9GHz band holds great promise for enabling the use of new broadband applications in support of public safety, such as high-speed digital technologies and wireless local area networks for incident scene management. Today’s Report and Order provides more operational flexibility in the 4.9GHz service rules in order to facilitate deployment of additional broadband network facilities in the service of public safety needs in communities throughout the country. By clarifying that 4.9GHz fixed links that connect base and mobile stations used to deliver broadband services are afforded primary status under our rules, the Commission is promoting more intensive use of the spectrum for broadband applications in the band. This, in turn, will provide first responders with greater ability to use emerging broadband technologies to share crucial broadband data and thereby assist those in need, address emergency situations and disasters, and save lives. The Report and Order also brings several other revisions intended to clarify the technical rules and speed deployment in this public safety band. In addition, the Further Notice seeks comment on additional revisions that could improve frequency coordination in the band. I thank the Bureau for their efforts on this item.