First responders garnered Senate support for their effort to license the coveted D block range of frequencies with the July 20 introduction of a bill from Senators Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) John McCain (R-Ariz.).

At issue is a 10 megahertz chunk of the 700 MHz band--the D block--which the Federal Communications Commission is now lawfully bound to auction to the private sector. Many public safety groups have said that without their control of the D block license, plans for a national broadband wireless network won't come to fruition. The FCC has said public safety's existing 10 MHz license is sufficient.

In addition to giving public safety the D block license, Lieberman and McCain's First Responders Protection Act would also require the FCC to fund creation of a public safety broadband network with $5.5 billion from the proceeds of other spectrum auctions, and allocate another $5.5 billion in auction proceeds to cover recurring maintenance and operational costs. 

The senator's bill comes a few months after Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) introduced a House bill that now has 56 co-sponsors to likewise give public safety license to the D block, although his bill doesn't include any funding provisions.

In an unexpected twist, Lieberman and McCain could soon face competition from Sen. Jay Rockefeller, IV (D-W.VA.), who said July 21 he plans on introducing a D block public safety license bill that would also fund the public safety broadband network. His bill would introduce incentives for current holders of spectrum licenses to voluntarily give up them up for auction by promising the current holders a cut of the proceeds, Rockefeller said in a statement.

The Public Safety Alliance, a first responder lobbying effort managed by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials and whose members mainly are police and fire chief associations-said they applaud the actions of Lieberman, McCain and Rockefeller.

For more:
- go to the Public Safety Alliance's webpage
- read the text of King's legislation, the Broadband for First Responders Act of 2010 (H.R. 5081)

Related Articles:
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FCC: 10 MHz is enough for public safety broadband network
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