New CRS Report: Public Safety Communications and Spectrum Resources: Policy Issues for Congress October 14, 2009

This just in, courtesy of Open CRS:

http://opencrs.com/document/R40859/2009-10-14/download/1013/

Effective emergency response is dependent on wireless communications. To minimize communications failures during and after a crisis requires ongoing improvements in emergency communications capacity and capability. The availability of radio frequency spectrum is considered essential to developing a modern, interoperable communications network for public safety. Equally critical is building the radio network to use this spectrum. Opinions diverge, however, on such issues as how much spectrum should be made available for the network, who should own it, who should build it, who should operate it, who should be allowed to use it, and how it might be paid for. As a consequence, nascent planning for a national network is incomplete and some state and local network plans have been delayed. To resolve the debate and move the planning process forward, Congress may decide to pursue oversight or change existing law. Actions proposed to Congress include (1) authorizing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reassign spectrum and (2) changing requirements for the use of spectrum auction proceeds. In particular, legislation in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171), as amended, might be modified. This law mandated the termination of analog television broadcasting and the release of those channels for other uses, including public safety. The act identified the frequencies from the analog television channels that were to be auctioned by the FCC. It also created a trust fund that set aside part of the auction proceeds for a number of programs, with the balance destined for the U.S. Treasury. Among the programs receiving funds from the trust fund was a billion-dollar program for grants to public safety, the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant program. Under the law, states have until FY2010 to draw down these funds. Bills that would extend the deadline to the end of FY2012 have been introduced in the House and Senate. Alternative proposals on how to assign spectrum for public safety use have been presented to the FCC and to Congress. To build the needed network requires coordination at many levels: developing the network concept, identifying a governance structure that assures the network is built and maintained, and funding capital and operating costs. Many believe that empowering leadership and identifying funding sources should ideally be resolved before the final decision is reached about spectrum allocation. There is an opportunity for two transformative changes in policy: for public safety communications and for spectrum management. As old technologies give way to mobile Internet access, changes in spectrum management are required to accommodate new wireless technologies. For the public safety community to incorporate these new technologies into emergency communications would require a change in stakeholders’ planning goals. The interaction between spectrum policy and homeland security policy might be changed through the planning and execution of an interoperable network for public safety. Congress has recognized the value of using Internet protocols for IP-based networks for 911 communications, by supporting the transition of out-dated 911 systems to IP-based technologies. Congress has not previously considered giving the same attention to the adoption of IP-based technologies for public safety radio communications. Congress might provide leadership and resources that can bring a nationwide, interoperable network for public safety from concept to reality.

Open CRS, a project of the Center for Democracy & Technology,  attempts to pull together all available Congressional Research Service Reports in one easily accessible website. Lots of great information here.