Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), the senior Republican member of the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced legislation April 20 that would reserve a portion of the 700 megahertz band for first responders.

The Federal Communication Commission, under its National Broadband Plan, proposes selling access rights to a 10Mhz swath of the 700 MHz band--the so-called "D block" of spectrum--to the private sector, with the proviso that first responders would get roaming and priority access when their own wireless networks are overwhelmed.

The plan has drawn criticism from the National Governors Association and Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, which prefer that the D block be given entirely over to public safety.

King's bill, the "Broadband for First Responders Act of 2010," has garnered the support of one Democrat, Rep. Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), chairwoman of the Homeland Security Committee's emerging threats, cybersecurity and science and technology subcommittee.

APCO rushed to praise the bill but the National Governors Association had no immediate printed reaction.

For more:
- read the public safety chapter of the FCC's National Broadband Plan (.pdf)
- see APCO's statement of support for the Broadband for First Responders Act of 2010
- go to the Republican House Homeland Security Committee website

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