From Charleston Gazette
Original publication date: May 2, 2011

Charleston, W.Va. — TV stations formerly used a wide section of the public airwaves to send out their programs. Radio stations, cellphone systems and other transmissions use nearby segments of the electromagnetic spectrum. With changes in technology and the arrival of digital transmission, broadcasts now use smaller portions of bandwidth. That leftover space offers an opportunity for a significant improvement in public safety, says Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.

While visiting Charleston last week, Rockefeller touted his bill, the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act, that would redistribute access to unused airwaves and generate billions for the public. The bill would:

• Invite companies to voluntarily return control of unused airwaves to the government. The companies, which bought this access at a public auction in the past, would be compensated for surrendering this asset.
• Set aside 10 megahertz of spectrum, (called the “D-block”) for public safety and establish a plan to develop a nationwide wireless broadband network for public safety. The system would connect all police and fire departments and other first-responders across the country – even IN rural areas.
• Direct the Federal Communications Commission to set standards to allow public safety officials to lease their excess airwave capacity to other users.

“It never made sense to me in the Kuwait war,” Rockefeller said, when he learned that various branches of the military could not readily communicate. Each had its own system, and they didn’t talk to each other. But the same thing happens in communities across the country. A new system would give police, fire and other emergency responders voice access to each other as well as the ability to download information.

Not all broadcasters would be willing to part with any portions of spectrum, Rockefeller said, because they are always looking for access to more airwaves.

“It would be a harder sell at Defense or AT&T,” he said.

But plenty of others have spectrum that they are not using and cannot sell.

Improved communication is also among recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, he said. Certainly every time emergency responders roll onto a scene, whether it’s a local incident or a national disaster, they must overcome this communication barrier.

Rockefeller’s bill, which has a great deal of support from the White House and from emergency responders around the country, is a good idea that will take some years to implement. The sooner the better. 

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