The FCC should follow through on a recommendation that channels i...
The FCC should follow through on a recommendation that channels in the 900 MHz band be allocated to public safety for paging, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council said in a filing at the FCC. “Paging systems, possessing inherent…
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redundancy, can be more reliable than voice/cellular systems,” the council said. “Significant efficiency is gained by group pages transmitting critical information to alert thousands of units at the same time.” The recommendation was by the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks. The council said all public safety groups should be allowed to benefit. “Digital paging capability in the 900 MHz band will provide meaningful assistance to public safety agencies beyond emergency medical response,” the council said. “The fire services need efficient means to notify responding members, particularly where agencies rely upon volunteer forces that must be summoned from work or residence. It would be counter to the Commission’s history and commitment to public safety communications to limit access to particular public safety responsibilities.” The channels are in the business and industrial/land transportation (B/ILT) bands at 896- 901/935-940. In a May filing, the Enterprise Wireless Alliance said public safety applications should be accommodated in areas where spectrum capacity exists, adding that the paging operation can conform to rules on B/ILT use.