For all the rhetoric that Congress puts out regarding the benefits our first responders provide us and yet they cannot authorize the transfer of D-block spectrum directly to first responders. Such an allocation would go a long way to innovating and improving communications between multiple jurisdictions. Do we have to see another terrorist attack for the point to be driven home? Should failure of the Joint Special Committee for Deficit Reduction be an excuse for not transferring the D-block?

Tomorrow, the Federal Communications Commission will hold a forum on restoring and maintaining our communications infrastructure during and in the aftermath of an earthquake. The forum is inspired in part by recent events in Japan.

One issue I expect that will be raised is the allocation of spectrum for use by emergency agencies. The FCC, as part of a proposed spectrum allocation scheme, considered a shared commercial/public agency framework where public safety agencies would take over some commercial spectrum for use during emergencies. Otherwise, the use of certain spectral ether would be in the hands of commercial users.

This is what I had to say in an earlier post on the matter:

“Policy makers are trying to decide between auctioning off spectrum or allocating it directly to first responders. Auctioning off spectrum to private carriers might raise capital for building out a network, but allocating the D-block of spectrum to first responders is a lot more efficient.

First responders have the expertise regarding the configurations of their networks and what is needed in terms of multi-jurisdictional communications. While the chances of an attack as diabolical as the September 2001 attacks have decreased over the past ten years, the probability is still there. Should we risk another break down in communications?”

I’m not an engineer, but as someone who volunteers with a search and rescue group, I would hope that out of this forum a conclusion will be drawn that it is best to outright allocate the D-block to first responders.

Also, given our apprehension and killing of the notorious Osama bin Laden, the threat of a terrorist attack has just gone up. If anything, this is when we want to ensure that first responders have the spectrum they need to deploy interoperable communications.

I took a little time out to read testimony delivered to the Senate homeland security and governmental affairs committee late last week. The information provided in the testimony is enough to remind the reader that although we have not been attacked on the magnitude of the September 2001 attacks in almost a decade, as Americans we need to keep our guards up against terrorism.

The former New Jersey governor Thomas Kean and former Indiana congressman Lee Hamilton shared their thoughts on spectrum needed desperately by our nation’s first responders.  

They reminded the Senate that there is legislation calling for the allocation of additional spectrum to law enforcement agencies. This additional block of spectrum would add an interoperable characteristic to communications between first responders, especially between multiple jurisdictions. They would be able to talk to each other.

The hold up? Policy makers are trying to decide between auctioning off spectrum or allocating it directly to first responders. Auctioning off spectrum to private carriers might raise capital for building out a network, but allocating the D-block of spectrum to first responders is a lot more efficient.

First responders have the expertise regarding the configurations of their networks and what is needed in terms of multi-jurisdictional communications. While the chances of an attack as diabolical as the September 2001 attacks have decreased over the past ten years, the probability is still there. Should we risk another break down in communications?

Great blog post on The Hillicon Valley. President Obama briefly painted a rosy view of broadband’s possibilities in the State of the Union. He did not complete the picture of the State of the Broadband Union, however.

A firm endorsement of reduced regulatory barriers to broadband and expressing firmer support for first responder access to broadband would have sent a clearer message to the Federal Communications Commission. That message would be that continuing light touch regulation would be more in keeping with promoting innovation.

Obama did make a fairly clear statement that regulatory barriers cannot be made to stand in the way of progress on this issue. It’s high time the FCC take notice.

With seven hours left to what we expect to be a pivotal State of the Union address, I’m wondering what President Obama will have to say about one of our most important resources, spectrum. Like you, I don’t have a clue what will be in his speech, but if the media is correct, Mr. Obama will be sharing his vision on the economy and might make some reference to our telecommunications infrastructure.

I’m all for economic development. I make no excuses about being a capitalist. I am a realist, however, when it comes to our domestic defense and public safety. This is why I am troubled about the prospect that a bill to auction of 10Mhz of spectrum to commercial use versus public safety use troubles me.

The attacks of September 11, 2001 should have put our country on notice as to the necessity of maintaining a robust communications network for first responders. Inter-jurisdictional and inter-agency communications are key during an attack or natural disaster. Any first responder member will tell you that without superior communications any mission is put in fatal jeopardy.

I understand that additional spectrum is crucial to civilian broadband adoption, but it would be a tragic irony that our first responders would not be able to save a broadband using populace if responders couldn’t use precious spectrum to maintain unimpeded communications with each other.