The Public Safety Spectrum Trust’s board of directors today endorsed a position statement adopted by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International’s executive committee last week supporting a single public land mobile network identifier (PLMN-ID) for a nationwide public safety broadband network (TRDaily, Aug. 9), and it authorized PSST Chairman Harlin McEwen to apply for a PLMN-ID “within an appropriate time frame” at his discretion.

At APCO’s annual conference in Philadelphia last week, Mr. McEwen took issue with officials in the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau because he said they opposed the public safety community’s position that there should be a single PLMN-ID for a nationwide network, rather than multiple PLMN-IDs (TRDaily, Aug. 10).  Mr. McEwen said that with only one PLMN-ID, roaming would only be required between public safety users and commercial operators and this could be accomplished with one roaming agreement.  He also said that adopting a nationwide network concept, rather than a network of networks concept, would ensure that network upgrades are made in a consistent fashion.

“This is another indication of the vision and goal of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust board of directors to have a successful nationwide public safety broadband network,” Mr. McEwen told TRDaily after today’s unanimous approval of a single PLMN-ID.

In an ex parte filing last month reporting on a meeting with Public Safety Bureau officials, Mr. McEwen. said the PSST was being encouraged by recipients of 700 megahertz band network waivers to apply for a PLMN-ID, but bureau staffers said they didn’t believe the PSST was eligible for one because it wasn’t a network operator (TRDaily, July 21).

In a statement last week, Public Safety Bureau Chief Jamie Barnett said the FCC has not made any conclusions yet about the PLMN-ID issue.