4.9 GHz Band Remains Underutilized by Public Safety, APCO Reports
Public safety agencies are using the 4.9 GHz spectrum, set aside for its use by the FCC more than a dozen years ago, APCO said in a report filed at the agency Monday. The band has been useful in meeting…
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the wide-area video surveillance needs of public safety agencies and is a good option for video in emergency response vehicles, APCO said. Spurring use of the spectrum has been a long-standing FCC priority. In June 2012, the agency approved revised rules designed to boost utilization of the band (see 1206140066). APCO cited applications in California, New York City and Washington state, though it conceded the band remains underutilized. “Acceptance and deployment has been slower than anticipated and still remains behind projected, and optimal, numbers,” the report said. “The importance of the 4.9 GHz band to public safety is likely to grow substantially in the near future. The 4.9 GHz band is unique in offering public safety users agency-specific and localized options for supporting high bandwidth video and data communications.” APCO urged more emphasis on frequency coordination and said the FCC should allow for airborne and robotics use of the spectrum.