Federal Communications Commission FCC 08-91 
STATEMENT OF 
COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS
Re:  Auction of the D Block License in the 758-763 and 788-793 MHz Bands (AU Docket No. 
07-159)
Seven years after the wake-up call of 9/11, America's first responders still need a 
national, interoperable wireless broadband network.  This is quite literally a matter of life and 
death.  Until they receive the communications resources they need, our nation's police officers, 
fire fighters, emergency medical technicians and other first responders will remain unable to 
adequately protect themselves--and all of us.  It is a travesty that our nation has failed, so far, to 
meet this urgent public safety challenge.  
Now we have another chance to build the network that public safety and the American 
public need.  I remain committed to working with my colleagues to succeed in this most 
important task.