Sen. McCain proposes nationwide emergency network at 700 MHz

U.S Senator and presidential candidate John McCain is proposing broadband legislation that would create a nationwide wireless data network for use by public-safety agencies across the country. The proposal, however, calls for using 30 MHz of radio spectrum in upper 700 MHz bands--licenses the wireless industry has been eyeballing--drawing a quick reaction from CTIA.

McCain said he was following the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations for allocating new spectrum for public safety and standardizing communications between the disparate first responder agencies. While the federal government has made progress in implementing standard communication procedures, providing funds for new equipment and implementing unified emergency plans, McCain said it has not yet provided new spectrum, which his proposal is designed to address.

“It is now time to think big and bold and solve the interoperability crisis once and for all. We are at a watershed moment where we can provide more of the 700 MHz spectrum to solve our national public-safety communications crisis and greatly enhance our emergency preparedness,” McCain said in statement. “If we do not act now, this valuable spectrum will be auctioned off and this opportunity will be lost forever.”

CTIA, however, said that emergency agencies don’t need new spectrum; instead they need to use the spectrum they have more efficiently.

"The basic facts of the matter should compel this important debate to be about providing first responders with funding, access to equipment and coordination, not more spectrum,” said CTIA government affairs vice president Jot Carpenter in a statement. “Right now, the public service community utilizes 47 MHz of spectrum to serve its public-safety users. At the same time, there are wireless carriers that use roughly the same amount of spectrum to deliver voice, data and advanced information services to many times that number of subscribers. More spectrum is clearly not the answer.”

Wireless carriers are hoping to buy up the 700 MHz spectrum--used currently by TV broadcasters--for advanced wireless data services. Qualcomm and HiWire are already using portions of the band from a previous auction to launch their mobile TV services. Other operators have proposed using the spectrum for 3G services, and rural operators are attracted to the spectrum because of its far-ranging propagation characteristics.