I think I’ve got a fairly good grip on what happened with the so-called public service spectrum in the latest FCC auction of radio frequencies.
You’ll recall that the upper portion of the 700 MHz radio band is currently being used by the UHF television stations (channels 60 – 67). But with the mandatory switchover to high-definition tv next February, that entire block on the spectrum, 745 MHz to 799 MHz, comes available.
The FCC parceled the frequencies into “blocks” to be auctioned off. One of these, the D-block, was set aside for the creation of a nationwide fully-compatible public safety network. Simply put, it would contain radio channels that every fire, rescue and police agency would have access to which would permit true mutual-aid communications. Whoever won that block would be required to build out the network following those rules.
The minimum allowable bid for the D-block was $1.3 billion. However, only one bid was placed on it for $472 million and that company went out of business before the auction closed last week. This chart shows how the available spectrum was divided into blocks and what the outcome of them is:
[photopress:spectrum_a.jpg,full,centered]
- The A blocks are less desirable because they are prone to interference. They had already been sold off earlier.
- The B blocks contain 226 regional licenses scattered throughout the country. AT&T won those frequencies.
- The C blocks hold 108 licenses and are more of a nationwide availability, rather than regional. Verizon won the C block portion.
- The D block is the public safety section that was not sold.
- The red portion, channels 63 and 64, that are marked Public Safety have already been apportioned to existing licenses of public safety agencies currently using the 800 MHz band. They are being switched down to the more favorable 700 MhZ band in order to free up their current space which will be used by Sprint.
Establishment of the public safety network is one of the projects mandated by the Sept. 11 Commission that was set up by Congress to improve homeland security. The failure of the D-block to be sold has concerned the respective congressional committee and they plan to convene hearings to determine why the bid failed and what sort of fine-tuning it needs to become successful. They want to get the spectrum sold and the network started by next February when the frequencies come available. (see C/Net news story HERE.)
Since I’m not a radio whiz, I could well have mis-stated something here, or even left something out. So please don’t hesitate to correct me if you have anything to add.
All right, let’s get the equipment checked out. I’ll get a fresh pot of coffee started.
[photopress:buckle_up_1_2_3_4_5_6_7_8_9_10_11_12_13_14_15_16_17_18.jpg,full,centered]
